What’s
the problem?
According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
world population is expanding
at a mind-boggling rate. The
world reached 1 billion people
in 1800; 2 billion by 1922;
and over 6 billion by 2000.
It is estimated that the population
will swell to over 9 billion
by 2050. That means that if
the world’s natural resources
were evenly distributed, people
in 2050 will only have 25% of
the resources per capita that
people in 1950 had.
The
world has a fixed amount of
natural resources - some of
which are already depleted.
So as population growth greatly
strains our finite resources,
there are fewer resources available.
If we intend to leave our children
and grandchildren with the same
standard of living we have enjoyed,
we must preserve the foundation
of that standard of living.
We save for college educations,
orthodontia, and weddings, but
what about saving clean air,
water, fuel sources and soil
for future generations?
Some
of the greatest threats to future
resources come from things we
throw away everyday. Household
batteries and electronics often
contain dangerous chemicals
that may, if sent to a local
landfill, leak through the bottom
barrier and pollute the groundwater.
This can contaminate everything
from the soil in which our food
grows, to the water which will
eventually come out of aquifers
and into our tap water. Many
of these chemicals cannot be
removed from the drinking water
supply, nor from the crops that
are harvested from contaminated
fields. The risks to human health
are tremendous.
Throwing
away items that could be recycled
diminishes energy, water and
natural resources that could
be saved by recycling.
Did
you know...
- For
every ton of paper that
is recycled, the following
is saved: 7,000 gallons
of water; 380 gallons of
oil; and enough electricity
to power an average house
for six months.
- You
can run a TV for six hours
on the amount of electricity
that is saved by recycling
one aluminum can.
By recycling just one glass
bottle, you save enough
electricity to power a
100-watt bulb for four
hours.
- The
more we throw away, the
more space we take up in
landfills. When a landfill
becomes a “landfull”,
taxpayers have to build
a new one. The less we
throw away, the longer
our landfills will last.
The amount of taxpayer
money we save by extending
the longevity of our landfills
is an important community
benefit.
taken
from GoGreenInitiative.org.
Need
(more) reasons to go green this
year, or go greener? Here you
go!
1.
Losing weight.
Follow
this simple, monthly plan for
the new year from The Green
Guide to green up your life,
and you will have dropped 3,000
pounds by the end of year ...
3,000 pounds of carbon that
is.
2. Losing weight, the other
kind too.
It
wouldn't be a new year's list
without a mention of body weight.
Try to eat more whole foods
and reduce your dependence on
packaged food. You may realize
an added bonus, along with reducing
all of that packaging waste,
you may find you'll lose a few
pounds from your waist!
3. Hauling less trash out to
the curb.
More
careful recycling (and possibly
composting) will mean less and
less trash to haul out to the
curb each week. Being more thoughtful
with your purchases before you
buy them, known as precycling,
could even have a larger effect.
4. Saving money.
As
you try to take some simple
steps to green your home, like
lowering your thermostat a bit,
trying to find second-hand versions
of things you need before you
buy new, and generally following
the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle lesson,
you may find that you'll start
saving money too.
5. Looking cool at the supermarket
or the coffee shop.
Bring
your reusable bags to the supermarket
and that reusable mug to the
coffee shop and you'll be looking
all hip, not unlike all those
Hollywood folks.
6. Being a good role model
for your kids, nephews, nieces.
The
best way to teach kids about
the environment is to be a good
role model. When kids see you
recycling and being careful
with your consumption and taking
them outside for a nature walk
instead of to the mall, they
learn to appreciate the natural
world.
7. Expanding your horizons.
You
may find that you'll start wanting
less and less, and start questioning
your purchases, "Do I really
need that?" As you reduce
your need for physical things,
you may find that you start
seeking more real-life adventures
and experiences, enriching your
life.
8. Indulging your competitive
streak.
Challenge
yourself. See how little trash
you can produce this month,
how long you can make that tank
of gas last, how low you can
set your thermostat. One fun
game is to make some simple
changes at home regarding electricity
and heat. Then analyze your
energy bill to see how much
your usage went down. The result
may shock you!
9. More time.
You
may find that you have more
time. Time that you used to
spend shopping (and returning),
or maintaining all of your stuff.
More time to hike, bike, walk,
read, think or just chill.
10. More happy vibes.
You may find your home will
become a happier, more grooving
place as you strive to make
it greener. Less clutter, less
waste, more of the good things
of life.
taken
from "Top Ten Reasons to
Go Green in 2008" by Patricia
Mayville-Cox, December 31st
2007, www.GreenDaily.com
