With environmental hazards like water pollution and climate change, it’s time we collectively take a stand to reverse human-made damage before it’s too late. You can begin helping Mother Nature by curbing bad habits and focusing on all the good she has to offer.
Let your voice be heard
Your state and local representatives need to hear from you. Never doubt – they’re hearing from special interest groups and big businesses with big money. There are several steps we can take in our individual lives, but let’s face it… your home can’t possibly pollute or waste resources on the same scale as a large factory or corporation. Here are a few ways you can voice your concerns and ask that corporations are held to standards that protect our planet:
- Write a letter to your local newspaper.
- Attend your city council meeting.
- Find out who your Representatives and Senators are at CallMyCongress.com. Go to their websites, sign up for their newsletters, find out where they stand on issues you care about.
- Take a look at Get Involved: Index of Organizations, a list of nonprofit organizations, by topic, that are working to create fundamental change by educating the public and engaging citizens in grassroots initiatives.
Plant trees and native plants
Creating green living areas, whether in the city or suburbs, is crucial. Trees are our only source of unadulterated oxygen. Greed and unhealthy industrialization competition has led to deforestation in many countries. Fields of trees have been uprooted to build factories and power plants. By planting a tree today, you can make green space and unadulterated oxygen a reality for our kids. The same goes for landscaping with native plants. Not only are they low maintenance, they conserve water, reduce carbon pollution, and support the health of local wildlife. If you don’t have your own lawn, you can donate a tree via charitable organizations like the Plant A Tree Foundation.
Change your travel habits
Some statistics show as much as 90% of road transportation in the U.S. is dependent upon oil. When you choose to walk, bike, or take public transportation, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint significantly. If you must drive, make your errands at less busy times of day so you’re less likely to sit in traffic wasting gas. And try to consolidate your outings to one session – being conscious of how many separate trips you can prevent (this also saves time).
When it comes to vacations, opt for local destinations. Why not see all the beautiful natural resources your own town or state has to offer? If you must travel by air, consider buying carbon credits to offset the environmental impact.
Buy locally & compost
When shopping, focus on purchasing locally grown products rather than imported goods. Buying locally means less transportation, processing, and packaging. And when it comes to food – local means seasonal and fresh! Find your local CSA through Local Harvest and join. Or try your hand at gardening. Trips to the market won’t be necessary if you plant vegetables and fruit trees in your very own backyard.
Remains of plants and kitchen waste make rich nutrient filled food and manure for plants, helping them grow faster. This process is known as composting. Instead of dumping away your wet waste, you can now use it for the plants in your own home garden. This safe disposal of waste reduces the volume in our landfills. Municipal solid waste buried in a landfill does not receive oxygen and will produce methane. A compost pile, on the other hand, undergoes aerobic decomposition. Because it is exposed to oxygen, either by turning it or through the use of worms and other living organisms, it produces CO2 (carbon dioxide) instead of methane.
Conserve water
With industries dumping waste into our water supplies, access to fresh, clean water becomes more limited every year. Freely available water is often taken for granted. Running taps, unchecked water leakages, over flowing water trucks are all examples of unnecessary water wastage that needs to be stopped. Water is an essential requirement of human survival, so let’s conserve it. Try rainwater harvesting in buckets or a rain barrel which can be used to water the plants in the lawn, clean your cars etc.
Reduce use of chemicals & properly dispose of waste
Instead of purchasing disposal items like plastic plates, spoons and cups, opt for reusable, washable flatware instead. Get an extra set at Goodwill. It doesn’t matter if they match. For on-the-go coffee lovers, carry your thermal to the coffee shop. With this small, simple act, you reduce the amount of trash you’re disposing and your coffee remains hot while doing so.
Many industries dispose their oil, paint, ammonia and various other chemical solutions openly, which is hazardous to water and air as these chemicals are soaked into the groundwater. It’s no surprise that the human immune system is weakening with time. Support regulations and incentives for companies to keep the environment clean. Agriculture is also a known polluter when it comes to chemical runoff. And when it comes to your own backyard, avoid over-fertilizing to make sure you’re not contributing to algae blooms from runoff.
Choose natural cleaning methods, environmentally-safer paints, and recycled or nontoxic home improvement materials to keep your indoor air cleaner (and naturally fresh) and your waste less harmful.
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