We've heard about global warming, melting icebergs, drowning polar bears and increased drought, hurricanes and heat waves around the world. No matter your political inclinations, I think we can all agree that our climate has changed over the decades and although I'm no scientist, I believe that there's a cause and effect thing going on. It's a really big problem that needs needs really big solutions. Right?
Not so. While climate change is a hugely important crisis that impacts all of us, as well as future generations, we each have the power to make a difference. "How?", you ask? Let me give you a few ideas that you can do today (and everyday).
- Recycle - Check with your local facility or recycle center to make sure you're putting out the right things, and taking the other materials like cleaners, leftover paint and bottle caps to a safe place.
- Involve your kids - there's so many fun activities that teach them the value of our precious resources and how to make sure we're not wasting them. Here's a few - but it's easy to find more at great sites such as the EPA's Environmental Kid's Club,
- Eat Green - Don't just eat your greens, but make sure you're not polluting your body and the earth with pesticides and other chemicals by choosing organic.
- Save some trees - cancel your snail-mail catalog subscriptions and shop online.
- Precycle - reduce the amount of packaging you bring home. Bring your own bag, shop the bulk aisles, and invest in a reusable bottle for toting your water. A great site for new ideas on reducing your use of plastic is Fake Plastic Fish.
- Borrow, Don't Buy - Visit your local library to rely on their selection, start a toy exchange with friends to swap toys and keep your collection fresh, or start a tool co-op in your neighborhood so you can share the tools without the awkwardness or looking cheap.
- Get some daily inspiration and new ideas from sites like Rookie Moms, EnviroMom,or Kids for Saving The Earth.
- Embrace Meatless Mondays - find new ways to enjoy vegetarian meals one day each week to reduce meat consumption and it's toll on our environment. Your body might just be happier with you too.
- Reduce Lunch Trash - There are many replacements for the juice box, sandwich wrap and snack bag that are healthy for the earth and our little ones.
I love how you easy you make it seem to fight climate change. You don't have to be a big wig politician or have a graduate degree to make a difference. Thanks for encouraging people to include their kids, too. That was the focus of my post, also :-)
Posted by: Michelle (What's Cooking) | October 15, 2009 at 08:45 AM