Happy Earth Day everyone! Actually, with all the enthusiasm over this little known day of awareness (specifically in my town of Concord, NH)- it seems this year Earth Week is a more appropriate moniker. I am certainly not complaining. It's nice to see my neighbors and friends becoming more interested in this cause that directly effects all of us. Race, gender, financial wellbeing ... nothing separates us when it comes to the health of the planet. It effects all of us and we must band together to stop the effects of global warming before it's too late.
So, in honor of Earth "Day" I've decided to make a brief list of the ways you can make a difference this Tuesday (or which ever day you choose) instead of dedicating yourself to an organization or any other large group activity. Sometimes the things that need to be done are right in our back yards.
1) Beautify your city.
Local Parks and Recreation departments often have programs that coordinate volunteers in their communities to help in cleaning up local parks and other green spaces. If you live in an urban area and frequent a park, pond or just an open field, put on some grubbies, good shoes and gloves and head over to that spot on your own. Mark and I cleaned up a local beach we frequented last year. It blew people's minds that we just did it on our own, but it was a place we went to often and got sick of seeing so much trash everywhere. You can check in with your parks and rec department to let them know you'll be doing some work on their (and your) behalf. Normally, volunteers in city green spaces are the first line of defense for public maintenance workers when it comes to big projects. Are there any trees down? Any land/water/animal problems that need to be addressed? Take note while you're there and let your city know what needs to be done.
2) Walk these streets.
My neighborhood is grubby this time of year. I know my neighbors do what they can to keep their lawns clean, but we all share the same street. This year I'm taking matters into my own hands and picking up the litter we all see every day, but are often too busy to clean up. This is an especially nice effort to make if you live in a culdisac area or a suburban neighborhood. There's a lot of green space there and sometimes neighbors in those areas don't get out on the street to see the damage. If you live in a city like I do, clean up your immediate block- or, if you feel adventurous, clean the surrounding blocks in your neighborhood, too. Your neighbors will thank you.
3) Change one habit- change the world.
There are lots of indulgent practices we all participate in that lead to carbon emissions and other consequences hazardous to the planet. Do you leave a light on at night? Switch to a night-light with a sensor on it. Do you let your car idle in the morning? Try letting go of that habit and start the car only when you're ready to leave for work or school. Haven't changed the bulbs in your house yet? Switch to CFLs and watch your electric bill drop. There are plenty of little things we can do that can make a big difference once we implement them. What are some little things you can change that will eventually make a big difference? Now is the time to start.
4) Spend wisely.
I suggest everyone visit www.climatecounts.org, an organization that rates companies in the US on their sustainability. I've mentioned them in previous blog-posts, but check out their website and you'll see what I mean. Most of the companies listed on their score card are ones you might never associate with green practices. Who knew that Nike, Starbucks and Unilever are green leaders in their industries? There's lots to check out- learn where your dollars are best spent and help change our economy for the better.
That's all for now, everyone. Thanks for reading. If you have any tips on how to spend Earth Day or you want to share what your plans are for Tuesday (and hopefully the rest of the year), please leave comments. I would love to hear what everyone is planning!
Best,
Say
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