Earth Day happens this week on Thursday, April 22nd.
Now, I've had a lot of "green guilt" throughout my undergraduate career. Thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of my International Studies major (and my interest in the environment) I've gotten to take classes ranging from Environmental Justice to Contemporary Social and Environmental Issues. This has allowed me to see how our big actions (like the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China or the Narmada Dam in India), or our little actions (like poor waste disposal leading to the Pacific "trash islands") as humans have started to really impact the environment. Unless you're planning to go into Environmental Law, a career in the public policy, or the not-for-profit sector, you probably won't ever have a measurable impact on these major problems. But you, individually, can make small changes in your day-to-day life that will impact the Earth for the better (note: it is MUCH better for the environment to make small, long-term changes, than big changes that last for only the duration of Earth Day). So what can you do this Earth Day and beyond?
1). Educate yourself: Don't know what the definition or impact of things like desertification or deforestation really are? Never heard of the Three Gorges or Narmada Dam until this post? Don't know the difference between using incandescent bulbs and CFLS? Educate yourself. Use wikipedia, GoogleScholar and the movie Avatar as a starting point to learn more about the effect we are having on our environment. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to talk about these issues and to take action about them.
2). Take the little steps: You know all those changes you've been meaning to make, but have yet to get around to? Make a conscious effort to bring your green-friendly grocery bag to the store, instead of using 4-5 plastic bags every time you shop. Switch out your plastic water bottles for a reusable metal one. If you insist on using plastic bottles, recycle them! Turn off the lights when you are not in a room (or much more importantly, when you are not home), and don't let the faucet run when you are not using it (i.e. while brushing your teeth or shaving). Walk, carpool, drive the speed limit, fly less, and use paper products more responsibly (print on both sides, for example). Turn off your car if you are going to let it idle for more than a minute. And the big energy waster you might not have known about? Keeping things plugged in when you're not using them. So if your cell phone, or iPod, or computer is not charging, unplug the charger!
3). Share: Here's one you might not have suspected. You need a little black dress for an event. The amount of resources and energy that goes into producing and transporting a new dress is actually measurable. So if your girlfriend already has one that you've had your eye on, borrow it. Not only do you save $ that you can be better spent on a manicure, or taking your friend out to lunch, but you also positively impact the environment.
4). Hit the theaters: Go see DisneyNature: Oceans. This movie looks adorable, cool, and interesting, and Disney will also make a donation to The Nature Conservancy to save coral reefs if you attend this movie Opening Week. (And carpool when you and your friends go there!)
There are probably a million more big and little changes that you could make beyond these. Let me know if you have suggestions, or any good websites/articles to check out. Happy (almost) Earth Day!
Now, I've had a lot of "green guilt" throughout my undergraduate career. Thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of my International Studies major (and my interest in the environment) I've gotten to take classes ranging from Environmental Justice to Contemporary Social and Environmental Issues. This has allowed me to see how our big actions (like the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China or the Narmada Dam in India), or our little actions (like poor waste disposal leading to the Pacific "trash islands") as humans have started to really impact the environment. Unless you're planning to go into Environmental Law, a career in the public policy, or the not-for-profit sector, you probably won't ever have a measurable impact on these major problems. But you, individually, can make small changes in your day-to-day life that will impact the Earth for the better (note: it is MUCH better for the environment to make small, long-term changes, than big changes that last for only the duration of Earth Day). So what can you do this Earth Day and beyond?
1). Educate yourself: Don't know what the definition or impact of things like desertification or deforestation really are? Never heard of the Three Gorges or Narmada Dam until this post? Don't know the difference between using incandescent bulbs and CFLS? Educate yourself. Use wikipedia, GoogleScholar and the movie Avatar as a starting point to learn more about the effect we are having on our environment. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to talk about these issues and to take action about them.
2). Take the little steps: You know all those changes you've been meaning to make, but have yet to get around to? Make a conscious effort to bring your green-friendly grocery bag to the store, instead of using 4-5 plastic bags every time you shop. Switch out your plastic water bottles for a reusable metal one. If you insist on using plastic bottles, recycle them! Turn off the lights when you are not in a room (or much more importantly, when you are not home), and don't let the faucet run when you are not using it (i.e. while brushing your teeth or shaving). Walk, carpool, drive the speed limit, fly less, and use paper products more responsibly (print on both sides, for example). Turn off your car if you are going to let it idle for more than a minute. And the big energy waster you might not have known about? Keeping things plugged in when you're not using them. So if your cell phone, or iPod, or computer is not charging, unplug the charger!
3). Share: Here's one you might not have suspected. You need a little black dress for an event. The amount of resources and energy that goes into producing and transporting a new dress is actually measurable. So if your girlfriend already has one that you've had your eye on, borrow it. Not only do you save $ that you can be better spent on a manicure, or taking your friend out to lunch, but you also positively impact the environment.
4). Hit the theaters: Go see DisneyNature: Oceans. This movie looks adorable, cool, and interesting, and Disney will also make a donation to The Nature Conservancy to save coral reefs if you attend this movie Opening Week. (And carpool when you and your friends go there!)
There are probably a million more big and little changes that you could make beyond these. Let me know if you have suggestions, or any good websites/articles to check out. Happy (almost) Earth Day!
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