The future of this world we live in is in our hands. Isn't that a humbling thought? It's up to us to make sure that we leave the world a better place for our children and grandchildren and all the future generations to come.
It's World Environment Day today. Each one of us can make a huge difference to the environment with the smallest steps we take. And it need not be just one day a year. Let's make everyday an Environment Day.
Here are some tips you can adopt to make Australia, and in turn this planet, a better place:
Say no to plastic. Save the turtles!
Wondering how turtles are affected by those supermarket plastic bags? All those disposable plastic bags you carry your groceries in get collected in landfills and oceans and choke the marine creatures to death. Did you know Australians use about seven billion plastic bags a year? Shocking, isn't it? So do your bit. Make sure you carry your own cloth or jute bag with you to bring back your bread and milk in.
Grow your own greens.
Make use of that space in your backyard or your balcony. Plant your own kitchen garden and do your bit for the environment. This way you can be sure of the quality of your fruits and vegetables, and it's easy on your pockets too.
There are plenty of fruits and veggies that are simple to grow and are high in nutrition. Apples, peaches, plums and strawberries, as also tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, beets and beans are some of them. Take our word for it, there's no better satisfaction that plucking that ripe red tomato off your own plant and sinking your teeth into its juicy flesh!
Go organic.
Make your own compost. Don't waste those vegetable and fruit peels. Collect all "wet waste" in your kitchen and feed your garden with it. Properly broken down organic compost provides far better nutrition to your plants than any supermarket-bought fertilizer and the good thing is they don't smell either! Did you know used tea leaves make a great fertilizer for your rose bushes?
Keep your environment clean.
Be a responsible citizen and avoid littering. The Australian coastline is our pride, The beaches and sand dunes are home to a number of animals, birds and plants, so make sure you keep them safe and not choke them with your empty plastic bottles and used tissues.
Save fuel.
Did you know that emissions from the cars are one of the major reasons for global warming? So hitch a ride. Car-pooling is one of the best alternatives to driving your own car alone everyday. Or switch over from your fuel-guzzling car to a hybrid one, or a more fuel-efficient car.
If your workplace is close enough, why not ride a bike? You'll be saving on fuel and your pocket's safe, you'd get to work faster, and in addition, you'll soon be boasting about and showing off the great bod you've acquired!
Go easy on that paper.
Stop printing out all those emails. Now you have email providers with unlimited and structured storage, so why not make use of that? If you do need to print, print on both sides of the paper. Save the unwanted printouts that are blank on one side and give them your toddler to doodle on and save your walls as a bonus! Make those trees AND your toddler happy.
Use recycled paper wherever possible. Toilet rolls, for example. Did you know that toilet rolls made from virgin forest timber use huge amounts of water and energy to bleach and create soft tissue paper? There are plenty of toilet paper brands that recycle clean paper from office bins kept exclusively for that purpose in most offices in Australia. Make use of them.
Get rid of the paper cups at your workplace. Get your own coffee mug. You can make a huge difference to the trees by asking all your colleagues to do the same.
Be water smart.
Turn off that tap when you're brushing your teeth. Water's precious in Australia, so be extra careful with the amount of water you use. Install power shower-heads and dual flush toilets in your home. Exchange your old top-loading washing machine to a front-loading one. Use a bucket and a mug to clean your car, instead of a hose. All these measure will make sure you're saving the precious water for the future generations.
Save power.
It's winter and you need a warm home. But is it such a good idea to keep the heater on at all times? A simple redecoration can keep you in, snug as a bug. Insulate your walls, keep the doors and windows closed as much as possible so no heat is lost. Store away those airy, lacy curtains in the closet until summer and drape your windows with thicker curtains in warm colours. Use bright throw rugs and carpets to keep your floor warm.
And the best way to get cozy? Bring out the sweaters and shawls, make mugs of hot chocolate, turn out those lights and snuggle with your sweetheart on that sofa!
There are many more ways you can make sure our Earth remains clean and green. Do tell us, what's your way?
© 2008 AOL Australia Pty Limited. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Also See:
