Happy World Environment Day!
Saturday June 5, 2010
Today is World Environment Day, a day to celebrate all the amazing people who are so dedicated to protecting the earth and making the world a better place, and to take action - be it signing a petition, boycotting a multi-national (like Nestle or BP) or supporting the people who commit their lives to protecting the environment. I donated to Wildlife Warriors today because I find Bindi and her mum and their cause so inspiring. Wildlife Warriors was established in 2002, initially by Steve and Terri Irwin, as a way to include and involve other caring people to support the protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife – from the individual animal to an entire species. Terri remains involved as our patron and significant supporter and advisor, but the charity now operates independently. Their vision is for people, wildlife and habitat to survive and prosper without being detrimental to the existence of each other. At the moment they are focusing on helping threatened koalas and whales, along with many other projects such as purchasing land to ensure the habitats of endangered animals remain safe.
Wildlife Warriors Worldwide’s Objectives are:
* To protect and enhance the natural environment.
* To provide information and education to the public and raise awareness of wildlife issues.
* To undertake biological research.
* To research, recommend and act in the protection of threatened or endangered species.
* To enter into cooperative arrangements with like-minded organisations.
But there are many many wonderful ways to help – choose a cause that resonates strongly with you and support it, or simply become more aware of your own environmental footprint, and choose greener ways to live your life.
Take a faery shopping bag. Buy a fabric bag with a faery on it or make your own – or use your limited edition Faery Magic bag, free with current orders of our book – so you’re more likely to remember to take it shopping with you. Plastic bags are terrible for the environment, requiring a lot of resources to be made, taking years to break down, and harming wildlife that gets trapped in or suffocated by them. Any kind of reusable shopping bag, from the green supermarket ones to a pretty fabric one, is a good thing.
For those who buy a lot of takeaway coffees, consider going green. Takeaway paper or styrofoam coffee cups add to your environmental footprint, especially if you have several a day. There are now many reusable ceramic or plastic cups available from a range of companies, such as the Hunger Site’s Lux Life Ceramic Travel Mug, which also provides 50 cups of rice to the starving with each one purchased, the I Am Not a Paper Cup, a thermal ceramic mug with a re-sealable silicone lid (www.nigelsecostore.com), and the closer to home, and thus less air miles involved, Keep Cup, which comes in three sizes to suit what’s on offer in cafes. Some coffee chains, such as Gloria Jean’s, have reusable mugs available, with free refill offers to make it worth your while. Ordering takeaway food can also be an environmental nightmare, so be conscious of your usage – only take as many napkins, containers, bags and plastic cutlery as you actually need, and reuse as much as you can.
Save endangered rainforest (and faery habitat) from your desk by clicking on www.therainforestsite.com or www.ecologyfund.com every day. Advertisers pay each time someone clicks on the sites, and the funds raised are used by conservation groups to buy and preserve land in Peru, Ecuador and other locations worldwide. It costs you nothing – just a moment of your time every day – and is an easy way to combat deforestation and promote awareness. You can also buy beautiful clothes, jewellery and artwork through the sites, with a percentage of sales going to purchase more land. The loss of old growth trees and their ecosystems has serious ramifications for the whole planet in terms of protecting against ozone depletion and the effect of greenhouse gases, as well as the extinction of native tribes and animal species, and the loss of unique plants that could form the basis of cures for a number of illnesses. Sign up with a group such as Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace or Care2 to lobby the governments who control these wilderness tracts.
Dispose of your computer thoughtfully. In Australia each year around 2.5 million new computers are bought, while 1.6 million broken or outdated ones are dumped in landfill, and the same again are left in storage. (So imagine how many there are in the UK or the US!) Only 500,000 are recycled, yet computers and their components are extremely toxic in landfill, leaching lead, cadmium, mercury and other nasty metals into the soil. There are a number of companies that either recycle, refurbish or reuse computers – visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to find the closest one to you. Some will pick up from your home, either free or for a small fee, while others allow you to drop your old computer equipment off to them. In the US, the Computer Recycling Center promotes the re-use of computer and electronic equipment, and recycles unusable items to keep them out of landfill. There are many computer recycling options in the UK too, and Apple also provides a recycling service for its customers.
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