Scientists estimate that we've already raised global temperatures by one degree Fahrenheit with our hapless spewing of greenhouse gases, and another one or two degrees are pretty much inevitable no matter what we do. Unstable weather, droughts, floods, and rising oceans are the likely result. We're in the midst of the sixth great extinction, with perhaps half of extant species thought to be on their way out. Fresh water is disappearing around the globe and deserts are expanding. The world's two most populous countries, China and India, are industrializing at warp speed. Toxic pollutants have contaminated even the most remote and undeveloped regions of the planet.
You can change the world -- one organic Cheeze Puff at a time.
This Earth Day, here's what you can do to turn it all around!
Next time you're shopping for Cheeze Puffs to eat while you watch Desperate Housewives, choose organic.
Inflate your car tires to their proper pressure. If you and the other 136,000,000 or so automobile owners in the U.S. do so, we won't need Arctic Refuge oil for almost two more years!
Sign an internet petition. Any of them will do. After all, change is built one form letter at a time.
When you visit a public bathroom and wash your hands, dry them with the blow dryer instead of paper towels. Of course, who knows who's touched that thing, so maybe just grab one paper towel to keep between your hand and the button. And another to open the bathroom door (ew!).
On Earth Day, ride your bike to work. See you out there next year!
When you buy your next six-pack of Diet Coke, don't forget to snip the little plastic rings. Think of the baby rats at the landfill.
Pick your favorite endangered species and write a short poem about it. Put it up on the bulletin board of your local co-op. Each one teach one!
Distinguish real environmentalists from fakers. In the office, at church, out with friends, or on Grist's blog, if you hear opinions that don't adhere to eco-gospel, stop, drop, and cajole. Remember, being green means you already know the truth!
Skip a shower. And encourage a friend to recycle. But not in that order.
Spread the word. Put an "Every Day Is Earth Day" bumper sticker on your car and drive around town!
This Friday, don’t just Buy Nothing—use nothing!
You never get a second chance to make No Impact—oh wait, yes you do
Comments
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pw Posted 8:23 am
20 Apr 2005
Shake the loose water off your hands.
Rub them lightly together as you would with the blow dryer. Spread the wetness to dryer parts of your hands. As you spread it out it will dry quicker.
Every once in a while wave your hands in the air.
This should completely dry your hands. If you don't have the patience and your hands are still a little wet, who cares, they will dry quickly after you leave the washroom. Or if that doesn't make you happy you could always wipe your hands on your pants.
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corychase Posted 9:12 am
20 Apr 2005
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thomchrom Posted 12:48 pm
20 Apr 2005
Internet form letters has my vote, though popcan carriers harming baby rats was very charming, too!
Tom In Tiskilwa
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MikeCapone Posted 4:09 pm
20 Apr 2005
Or maybe driving around town just to show off a sticker is not such a sound environmental idea, except if you have a solar car :D
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cdehaes Posted 9:02 pm
20 Apr 2005
10:
Don't use your car for journeys of less than 1.5 mile. Walk for 20-30 minutes instead. Or cycle it in less then 10 minutes (it is amazing how much shopping you can carry on a bike (ask the Dutch!)
9:
accelerate slow rather than fast (accelerating consumes a lot more fule than driving at a steady pace)
8:
take your foot off the accelerator early (red traffic lights etc) rather than brake at the last minute.
7:
reduce your average speed over long distances by 10%, it reduces the fuel consumption by 10-20%
6:
avoid driving at peak-hour, the air you breathe will be cleaner, your journey will be shorter and you will use less fuel.
5:
share a car with a neighbour/friend/colleague
4:
switch off the air-conditioning (it can add up to 10% to your fuel consumption
3:
drive the smallest car in your drive rather than your biggest one
2:
encourage your government to tax cars on the basis of: wieght, ability to accelerate fast, maximum speed.
1:
teach your children these rules too (especially when they want to be driven to a party in the next street). Walk/cycle with them to wherever they need taking.
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Pandu Posted 1:54 am
21 Apr 2005
Personally, I couldn't consider myself an environmentalist at all without being a vegetarian. That's how I "3.Distinguish real environmentalists from fakers." Meat production uses incredible amounts of land and water, and is heartless.
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rmwebb Posted 4:05 am
26 Apr 2005
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conamor123 Posted 2:17 am
28 Apr 2005
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