| Earth Day comes around every year in April. It's | | | | other parts of the world, it's nevertheless a viable |
| a day when all attention turns to the environment | | | | option in most parts of the U.S. If you do decide |
| and what we can do to make this a better and | | | | to take public transportation, you'll need to plan |
| healthier planet to live in. But, why should we do | | | | ahead and allow yourself extra time to complete |
| this only on one day of the year? | | | | your journey (I can attest to that from personal |
| Let's face it, with the damage we've done over | | | | experience - it took me over an hour and 2 bus |
| the centuries to this beautiful planet of ours, it | | | | transfers to complete the 5 mile journey from |
| needs all the help it can get to not only get back | | | | my home to work; that same journey took |
| to the clean, healthy place we originally inhabited | | | | about 10-15 minutes by car). |
| but to even survive. | | | | But, with a bit of forward-planning and patience, |
| So, here are a few things we can do each and | | | | you'll get to your destination, probably feeling |
| every day to help make the Earth a greener, | | | | more refreshed and alert than you'd normally feel, |
| healthier and safer place, and, hopefully, we're not | | | | and with the satisfaction of knowing that you |
| too late to make it a place that will be around for | | | | reduced your carbon footprint and did your part |
| future generations to enjoy and wonder at. | | | | to help the environment. |
| You Can Start Small | | | | Another option is to jump on your bicycle, if you |
| They say giant oaks from little acorns grow. Well, | | | | have one, and ride to work, not only helping the |
| we can use that same analogy for the | | | | environment but getting some exercise in into the |
| environment and conservation, because you don't | | | | bargain. Just stay alert and be aware of other |
| have to make some kind of grand gesture to | | | | road users and you'll get there safe and sound |
| make a difference. | | | | and with a good workout under your belt. |
| If you're in the habit of throwing things away | | | | Of course, if neither of those options is a |
| without giving it a second thought, why not take | | | | possibility, how about checking with a co-worker |
| a look at what it is you're about to throw away | | | | to see if car-pooling is feasible? If not, there are |
| and check to see if it's something that can be | | | | online services available that match people willing |
| recycled? That way, instead of going to our | | | | to carpool with like-minded individuals, so jump on |
| already overfilled landfills, the item you were | | | | the computer and see what's available. |
| about to throw away can be converted to | | | | Reduce Your Energy Usage |
| something else to be reused by someone else at | | | | Take a look around your home and see the |
| another time. For example, that sheet of paper | | | | number of potential energy saving measures you |
| you were about to throw away can be sent to a | | | | could take. If you need to use major appliances, |
| recycling plant and turned into pulp before being | | | | try doing so in the evening when rates are lower. |
| converted to new paper products such as | | | | Do you wash your dishes in a dishwasher? |
| cardboard, tissue, etc. | | | | Instead, run some hot water in the sink or a bowl |
| Leave The Car At Home | | | | and wash the dishes by hand - a bit more effort |
| In the U.S., most people are so accustomed to | | | | but potentially big savings on your energy bill. |
| jumping in their car to go somewhere - even if | | | | Wash full loads of clothes, then hang them out to |
| it's just around the corner! - that they hardly ever | | | | dry the next day. |
| give a second thought to the fact that they may | | | | These are a few things you can do to do your |
| have other options. This is definitely a car-centric | | | | part to contribute to making Earth Day a success. |
| society, and the car is such an integral part of the | | | | But, why stop there? There are many |
| fabric of U.S. society that most other | | | | opportunities for you to reduce your carbon |
| transportation options are given very little | | | | footprint if you think about it and make a |
| credence. | | | | conscious effort to make changes. Then. keep it |
| And, while it's true that public transportation in the | | | | going and turn a single day event into a lifetime's |
| U.S. lags well behind what's available in Europe and | | | | habits by making every day Earth Day. |