i love nature, animals, and marine science; i want to stress the importance of it all and remind people to put the Earth & Oceans first!
the things that tend to bother me most are plastic, pollution, wasteful habitat-destroying tourism and consumerism. my rules of thumb for preventing these problems:
-if you're BUYING something, ask yourself if there's a more ecofriendly option, or if you even need it at all.
-if you're GETTING RID of something, ask yourself if it can be reused or recycled. as long as it avoids the landfills/oceans.
-with any ACTION you take (driving, shopping, traveling, etc), ask yourself if you're being wasteful. if you are, fix it!
thanks for the follows and please pass it on!
just “like” this photo i entered for the Saving the Ocean contest:
Thank you!
:)
Join RecycleBank.
On this website, you can take green actions, pledges, and learn lots of tips, and then redeem points for prizes! It’s simple and easy, click here to join!
http://www.recyclebank.com/referafriend/?___store=us&bl=al9zY2h3ZXJ6QGhvdG1haWwuY29t&utm_campaign=Refer-a-friend&utm_medium=direct%20link&utm_source=G2470618&cm_mmc=Refer-a-friend-_-direct%20link-_-G2470618-_-referral
Other ways to keep cool: Roll down the windows, park in the shade, tint your windows, and use windshield shades!
In turn you’ll save fuel and carbon emissions :)
#35. Watch the documentary, No Impact Man
A man from Manhattan takes on a year-long project with his family to make no impact on the Earth for a whole year. No trash, no elevators, no plastic bags, only local food, cloth diapers, and eventually candlelit nights. See how he did it and the criticism he got for it. Definitely an amazing film!
(P.S. its on Instant Play on Netflix)
About how ecofriendly an e-reader actually is, and I learned some new things. I didn’t know where Kindles were made before, for instance. If I had known I probably wouldn’t have one, but it was a gift. I’m going to leave #34 up, but I just wanted to acknowledge that it is controversial.
Thanks for your input, everyone
#34. Get an e-reader!
These nifty devices can save more than just paper; you save gas that you would spend to get to a book store, or gas that a shipping truck would use. You save energy that manufactures the book. (It does use energy to charge but still less in the long-run if you make a total switch). Also, you save space on your bookshelf, and money! Going paperless goes beyond just saving trees, remember that.This is not what I would consider eco-friendly. Because devices such as these are made to break, so that you have to buy a new one every year. This means more waste in landfills. Books, on the other hand, can last you a lifetime.
Additionally, the materials used to make these have to be produced somehow, and a lot of the materials in computer chips have to be mined. Trees are a renewable resource. Plastic and metals are not.
Yeah, I believe the actual eco-friendly answer is buying used books.
I love my Kindle, but I’m not trying to fool myself that it’s “green.”
I’m just going to take the opportunity to comment back and perhaps clear a few things up. I’m not saying this is the answer to everything. I’ve already blogged about used books and I do agree with that. But here I’m giving an alternative for buying brand new ones, which some people prefer to do. Either way, we can carry them around for years, store them, and only read them once, or even never. Will we replant the trees that have been used to make them? Can’t they end up in landfills too? Yes the Kindle uses electricity and is made of metal, but it can be recycled. There are several factors to consider.
On an individual level, perhaps it doesn’t matter much whether you have an e-reader or not. BUT on a bigger scale, it can make a difference. If major book companies can reduce their paper productions to allocate for digital purchases, less trees are cut. Check out this article, which includes a link to a research paper, here: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-technology/news-environmental-pros-cons-e-readers
#34. Get an e-reader!
These nifty devices can save more than just paper; you save gas that you would spend to get to a book store, or gas that a shipping truck would use. You save energy that manufactures the book. (It does use energy to charge but still less in the long-run if you make a total switch). Also, you save space on your bookshelf, and money! Going paperless goes beyond just saving trees, remember that.
#33. Post a friendly reminder.
One of my pet peeves - when people leave the lights in the bathroom on all day. So I made this little note and taped it up in my suite. This is a small and simple way to take action! It can’t hurt, and sometimes people get lazy and forgetful, even if they do care about the Earth.
#32. Return your bottles and get cash!
Nothing like a little incentive to get you to recycle. You paid a $0.05 deposit on each bottle, might as well get it back!! If you collect enough (like a few garbage bags full) you could earn between $20 and $50! So start collecting! :)
Volunteer abroad!
Do you want to travel and make a difference this summer?
Check out International Student Volunteers!
(Also as a student rep I can get you a discount, so stay tuned!)
Last year I traveled with them to Costa Rica, and I got to work with endangered Leatherback sea turtles for two weeks. We worked in the hatchery by day, checking sea turtle nests, collecting hatchlings once they emerged, and releasing them to the sea! By night, we did beach patrols, looking for nesting mothers, collecting data and her eggs to put in the hatchery.
It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also went on a two-week adventure tour afterwards, which included white-water rafting, snorkeling, ziplining, horseback riding, and more!
ISV has conservation and community outreach programs in Ecuador, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia! The trips are customizable, fundraisable, AND you can possibly earn Academic credit!
Message me if you want more info, or check out www.isvolunteers.org
