hot enough for ya?
It blows me away that more people don’t worry about global warming, each and every day. I mean seriously. Maybe it’s from growing up in the West and watching the landscape literally change before my very eyes, but I have known seemingly as long as I’ve been around that we are changing the world we live in and not for the better. Each severe storm, each cataclysmic summer temperature or winter cold spell makes me worry even more. I’ve worried about the environment far longer than I ever worried about nuclear war or drugs or the end of the world (as in the End Times). There isn’t enough habitat left for the many species that predate us, the glaciers are shrinking, my beloved mountains are changing shape and texture. This was never our playground but our shelter — our alpha and omega, this beautiful planet. We need to treat it with the respect it deserves while it isn’t too late.
Change your lightbulbs. Carpool and have only one car per household. Get a hybrid. Use and re-use cloth and plastic bags and never take a bag when you don’t absolutely need it. Recycle in the best of ways — used book stores, hospital thrift shops, garage sales and Craig’s List. Only have lights on if you’re in the room and you need them to see. Unplug phone chargers and appliances when not in use — and unplug tvs and computers when out of town (better for your electronics, anyhow). Use the library and netflix instead of purchasing new movies. Re-use water bottles and get a hard plastic nalgene, and use plastic cups instead of styrofoam (damn you, Dunkin Donuts, btw). Use recycled office supplies — paper (included printer paper), notebooks, pencils. Buy organic when you can, especially dairy and fruits. Remember that each of the things we do, we do not just for ourselves but for the world around us.
I don’t do all of these things, all of the time. I try. You can too. Start today.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Have you heard about http://www.freecycle.org/? You post items online and then people contact you, regarding picking up the items, etc. When John and I moved in, we had two VCRs. I posted a VCR on freecycle and someone answered me immediately. You can post ANYTHING and someone else will respond to you. I love thrift shops and used book stores too….!
July 25th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
i love used book stores and book sales! i actually get excited when there is a big used book sale in my area. booksalefinder.com is great, it sends you an email when used book sales are in your area. sometimes you can get like a bag of books for $2 and then donate them back later if you want.
i was lucky enough to grow up with parents who loved the outdoors and for as long as I can recall they have done what they can to preserve it. some other simple things are to do laundry with cold water, use cloth napkins and rags (for cleaning) if you must use paper towels you can buy recycled ones, support local farmers, and a million things i can’t think of right now.
I also love how people do not understand that a frigid winter is a result of global warming. Everytime we have a cold winter with lots of storms I always hear people say “this winter proves that there is no such thing as global warming” and then I try and explain what global warming is…
July 26th, 2007 at 12:11 am
thanks so much for the new websites. will bookmark and use them!
i am no saint when it comes to shopping, trust me, but i also think there’s no shame in recycling and finding things that have stories and have already been loved. i think my aunt got me started, with her love of estate sales…. i’m not that upscale, but i am always amazed at the things i can find!
you know, we should get a group of women together and do a clothes share night — those are supposed to be excellent. interested?