Good morning! Isn't it the most beautiful day to go for a walk?
We've all been told that going for a walk is good for our physical and mental health... but did you ever consider that it's good for the environment??? Here's why:
1) Time spent outside is time spent away from electricity-sucking machines. Think about it: if you aren't going to go on that walk, what are you going to do? I can bet that it somehow uses electricity, like checking your e-mail or doing some work under blaring lights. So give all that a break once in a while and take a few deep breaths in open air. Which leads to my next point...
2) The more time you spend outdoors, the more respect you have for the outdoors. When it becomes part of your life, you'll realize how much you want to help keep it as fresh and natural as possible. You'll also start spotting environmental challenges, like people over-watering their lawns or noisy cars speeding past you. Seeing these things isn't fun, but at least you'll see more ways that you can help reduce your negative impact... and have a positive one!
3) Why don't you take this a step further by picking up garbage on your walk? You'll be cleaning up the neighborhood at the same time...
And that's the blog post for this week.
Have a nice walk!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Go Vegetarian and Save the Planet
Today I'm going to give you an introduction to vegetarianism. It is so good for the planet; every environmentalist has got to do it!
First, there are a few types of vegetarians. Here are the main ones:
Vegan: no animal products (meat, eggs, dairy, honey) but who can eat grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, soy products, vegetable oils, and sugar!
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: no meat, but who eats dairy, eggs and honey, and plant products
Lacto Vegetarian: they make the exception of milk
Ovo Vegetarian: they make the exception of eggs
Going vegan is really important for you to do. Animals are being obscenely abused this very minute and we must do something to help them! I for one do not want to eat my friends. Plus, eating animal flesh and their by-products is just plain unhealthy.
Of course, this is an enviroment blog. But did you know that going vegan is good for the environment, too? So if animal abuse and heart disease isn't enough for you, please read on.
Did you know...?
First, there are a few types of vegetarians. Here are the main ones:
Vegan: no animal products (meat, eggs, dairy, honey) but who can eat grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, soy products, vegetable oils, and sugar!
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: no meat, but who eats dairy, eggs and honey, and plant products
Lacto Vegetarian: they make the exception of milk
Ovo Vegetarian: they make the exception of eggs
Going vegan is really important for you to do. Animals are being obscenely abused this very minute and we must do something to help them! I for one do not want to eat my friends. Plus, eating animal flesh and their by-products is just plain unhealthy.
Of course, this is an enviroment blog. But did you know that going vegan is good for the environment, too? So if animal abuse and heart disease isn't enough for you, please read on.
Did you know...?
- It takes 14 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of wheat, BUT it takes 441 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef. That means the grain takes more than 31 times less water!
- Animal agriculture is very inefficient because the crops that are grown for the animals lose their energy as they go through the animals. After all, the animals burn almost all of that energy in everyday living. If humans ate the crops instead and stopped breeding animals to eat it for us, world hunger would be greatly reduced.
- Who wants to save the rainforest? I do! :) But unfortunately, much of the rainforest that is being cleared is to make way for cattle grazing. In fact, in order to produce 1 rainforest-cleared hamburger, creatures from 20-30 plant species, 100 insect species, and dozens of other animals are destroyed. There are 121 different species that have become endangered due to cattle grazing.[http://www.chooseveg.com/extinction.asp]
- Runoff from factory farms creates dangerous waters for fish and swimmers and when the wind blows all the toxins over to villages, the humans living there have been reported to have suffered from headaches, illness, and inability to breathe.
- Excellent website for more information, recipes, and help getting started: chooseveg.com
- Vegan starter kit: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/vegan-starter-kit.aspx
- Teen health wesite about veganism: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/vegan.html?tracking=T_RelatedArticle
- Teen health website about vegetarianism: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/vegetarian.html?tracking=T_RelatedArticle
- An article that I wrote on veganism: http://www.teenink.com/hot_topics/environment/article/291427/Have-a-Heart-and-Go-Vegan/
Friday, February 11, 2011
How to Eliminate Toxins at Home
What to do:
1) Keep toxin-eliminating plants in your house, such as Spider Plants, Gerbera Daisies, Peace Lilies, Chrysanthemums, and Philodendrons. They also add oxygen to the air and look nice. (If you know me, I might be able to give you a clipping of my Spider Plants when they grow bigger.)
2) Concoct your own potions... cleaning potions, that is. It's what us witches and wizards do all the time, but muggles can do it too! ;) Just mix together one part vinegar and one part water, and that's all you need to wash the bathroom sink!
What NOT to do:
DON'T: 1) Buy lots of stuff at the mall. Many objects produced by industry, like jewelery and crayons, for example, actally contain toxins! Instead, try to make your own things as much as possible. This can be fun-- candle making, jewelery making, etc. Just remember to make the beads as well!
OR 2) Eat butane. Did that make you laugh? But no, it's true. I was checking the ingredients of my All-Vegetable Shortening and there was an ingredient called TBHQ in it. I looked it up and it turns out that TBHQ is a toxic carcinogen. And it is a form of butane. EEK! And in a non-stick cooking spray, I found Propellants Isobutane and Propane-- in the ingredients list!
Keep your home toxin-free and you'll be looking up to a safer, greener future.
1) Keep toxin-eliminating plants in your house, such as Spider Plants, Gerbera Daisies, Peace Lilies, Chrysanthemums, and Philodendrons. They also add oxygen to the air and look nice. (If you know me, I might be able to give you a clipping of my Spider Plants when they grow bigger.)
2) Concoct your own potions... cleaning potions, that is. It's what us witches and wizards do all the time, but muggles can do it too! ;) Just mix together one part vinegar and one part water, and that's all you need to wash the bathroom sink!
What NOT to do:
DON'T: 1) Buy lots of stuff at the mall. Many objects produced by industry, like jewelery and crayons, for example, actally contain toxins! Instead, try to make your own things as much as possible. This can be fun-- candle making, jewelery making, etc. Just remember to make the beads as well!
OR 2) Eat butane. Did that make you laugh? But no, it's true. I was checking the ingredients of my All-Vegetable Shortening and there was an ingredient called TBHQ in it. I looked it up and it turns out that TBHQ is a toxic carcinogen. And it is a form of butane. EEK! And in a non-stick cooking spray, I found Propellants Isobutane and Propane-- in the ingredients list!
Keep your home toxin-free and you'll be looking up to a safer, greener future.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
10 Fun Ways to Re-Use an Old T-Shirt
1) Donate it to your local Salvation Army.
2) Save it until you have about ten of them and then sew them all into a quilt.
3) Cut into squares to turn into little bags, and fill with nice-smelling things like cinnamon, pinecones, etc. Put these bags in your drawers to keep the musty smell away!
4) Cut off the graphic and use it for something else, like a bag, pillowcase, or other shirt.
5) Stitch the bottom of the shirt closed and turn it into a pillowcase or shoebag.
6) Use it as padding for packages.
7) Turn it into a dog blanket.
8) Cut a few t-shirts up and sew them back together into a new one!
9) Use as gift wrapping.
10) If it is still in good condition, swap with a friend or pass down to someone else.
2) Save it until you have about ten of them and then sew them all into a quilt.
3) Cut into squares to turn into little bags, and fill with nice-smelling things like cinnamon, pinecones, etc. Put these bags in your drawers to keep the musty smell away!
4) Cut off the graphic and use it for something else, like a bag, pillowcase, or other shirt.
5) Stitch the bottom of the shirt closed and turn it into a pillowcase or shoebag.
6) Use it as padding for packages.
7) Turn it into a dog blanket.
8) Cut a few t-shirts up and sew them back together into a new one!
9) Use as gift wrapping.
10) If it is still in good condition, swap with a friend or pass down to someone else.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome, welcome, to my blog! This website was created to give you tips on how to be more eco-friendly. Every weekend I will post a new tip... I have lots! Please come back regularly to see my latest eco-tip. I look forward to seeing you!
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