Founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson, the first Earth Day gathering was held on 22nd April 1970, and this date continues to celebrated as the birth of the modern environmentalist movement. Along the way, the movement has continued to grow and establish its own milestones. The 1990 Earth Day celebrations, helped pave the way for the 1992 UN Earth Summit. In 2000, the Internet helped over 5,000 environmental groups reach out to millions of people around the world. 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date, with an estimated billion people participating in countries around the world. This is one of the only world-wide movements that does not look to religion or nationality to garner support. Earth Day 2008 is expected to have over a billion people participating in it.
So, what can you do to help? Use Earth day to begin making small daily changes in your lifestyle (or you can start tomorrow and that’s even better!). The following 10 tips should get you off to a green start.
1. Take small steps at a time. Going green can be quite overwhelming. There are hundreds of books out there and lots of information on the Internet. Green touches all aspects of our lives and it sometimes feels easier to give up even before we’ve started. Realize that even the smallest of contribution really helps.
2. Visit your local Earth Day website to see what events are happening in and around your area. A great site to visit is www.earthday.net. The site to visit for Canada is www.earthday.ca. Your local libraries and community centers should also be able to provide you with information as to local events.
3. Read as much as you can. I’m still learning new things each day, and it’s a whole load of fun to keep adding to your discoveries.
4. Give up the car for the day and take the bus, train or bike to work. Every 4 mile trip by bike as opposed to a car, prevents around 15 pounds of air pollution. And think of the excellent shape you’ll be getting into!
5. Share your newspaper with family and colleagues and then toss it into the recycle bin, so it doesn’t get picked up as garbage.
6. Turning down the thermostat by even one degree will make a huge difference, which is also reflected in your heating bills. Make sure your heating valves and ducts are regularly cleaned, which increases their efficiency.
7. Take in a packed lunch to work and make sure it’s in a re-usable container.
8. Switch off your computer screen when taking your lunch break. A computer in screen-saver mode, uses almost as much energy as it does when it’s being used. And don’t forget to switch off your computer before you head back home. Unplugging all appliances will in fact save you almost 10% on your electricity bill.
9. Skip your long bath and go in for a quick shower. The average bath uses around 20 gallons of water; the average shower, around half that amount. You decide. You can buy an inexpensive timer from the dollar store to time your showers. Try keeping them under 5 minutes. It’s also a great idea to install a hand held shower so you can direct the flow where you want it.
10. And finally, cook your dinner from scratch, using as much local and organic produce as you can. By buying locally, you not only support your farming community, but you also help cut back in the transportation of the goods from other countries to your own.
Try these for a start, and see how easy going green can be.
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