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A Thousand Species
Earth's biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate -- this video shows just a fraction of what we may lose if we don't act. But there is hope, and each of us can play a part. |
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| What You Can Do: Each of us has a role to play in saving Earth's biodiversity -- and in turn saving ourselves. Here are a few general ways you can do your part, followed by specific action steps below: Find Out For Yourself: Be aware of what's going on -- read about the issues, talk to people with first hand experience, and join groups that care about saving the Earth. Most importantly, make up your own mind. Don't let anybody tell you what to think. Know Your Impact: What is your carbon footprint? How can you lessen your impact on the planet? It's easier than you think. Vote With Your Dollars: Every time you make a purchase, you are in effect saying "I approve of this product and how it was made, and I want to buy it again." That's real power, and the kind you can exercise every day. Action Steps Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -- In That Order Reduce what you buy, and buy second-hand when it suits your needs. When you purchase an item, it means that resources are used to manufacture it and deliver it to you. Reuse and repurpose what you buy. It turns out that your parents' and grandparents' crusade against wastefulness was right on target when it comes to saving the planet. If something can't be repurposed or passed along to someone else who can use it, recycle it. Save Energy Protecting earth's biodiversity will require heroic efforts on the part of humanity to be sure, but you as an individual can be an everyday hero by taking a few simple steps to make sure you're not burning any extra fossil fuel. Easy steps at home: turn off the lights, unplug unused electrical appliances, and keep the thermostat set at 68 F or below in Winter, and at 75 F or above in summer. Easy steps in the car: make sure your tires are properly inflated, combine trips and carpool when you can, and maintain your vehicle to get the most out of the gas you put into it. Easy steps at school or in the workplace: carry a reusable mug or water bottle, use both sides of printer paper, don't print more than is necessary. Know Your Food Eat fresh, locally, and in season whenever you can. Farmer's markets and community-supported agriculture co-ops are a great and cost-effective way to do this. Locally-produced food doesn't require as much fuel to transport, and as an added bonus it tastes better! Since it was picked a day or two ago and didn't have to go on a week-long journey to make it to your table. When you do go to the supermarket, buy foods with minimal packaging. Don't forget to bring your own reusable bags -- many stores are starting to offer shoppers a discount when they do this. If you have the space for it, consider starting a garden. Methods like square-foot gardening yield surprisingly large harvests with relatively little time and effort. Get Involved Join the groups in your area -- like your local chapter of Audubon or the Sierra Club -- that are doing good work, and volunteer your time toward their efforts. Do you own or manage a business? Start thinking about the planet when you make business decisions. You'll often be surprised at how much they'll save you in the long run. If you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, or mentor to kids, lead by example and make sure the young ones around you get a healthy dose of the outdoors. Whether it's helping in the garden, investigating bugs in the back yard, or watching squirrels at a local park, outdoor activities help kids appreciate the natural world around them. Spending time outside also helps kids realize that we're all connected to nature. We hope that leads them to see the bigger picture -- that ultimately the fate of the places we live is in their hands -- and make the right decisions. |
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