What's Eating Earth? Ways to Help

How true is it that our dietary choices can affect our planet's health?
It's clear that our dietary choices particularly the ones that tend to have meat in them, do contribute significantly to climate change. If we choose to act on this, how do we go about it. Here are some doable acts or tips

1. Meat free Monday. Green entrepreneur Craig Sams said: If everyone stopped eating meat every Monday it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 200 million tons of carbon dioxide a year and save tens of millions of hectares of rainforest from being destroyed to grow animal feed. The health benefits are a nice bonus, too."

2. Considering going vegetarian or vegan. The well being of the environment has become another reason to embrace vegetarianism.

3. Support organic stores and shops. Organic refers to the growing, raising or processing of food without drugs, synthetic chemicals or hormones using methods that conserve natural resources and limit the effects on the environment.

4. Avoid genetically modified foods.

5. Know what's in your plate. Read food labels, particularly those of processed food, which most likely contain additives.

What's Your Carbon Footprint?

(Cut out this checklist and see if you are doing your part to save Mother Earth.

I do not throw waste into bodies of water like rivers and lakes.
I plant indigenous plants such as narra, antipolo, etc.
My baby (if I had one) uses cloth diapers, instead of disposable diapers.
I recycle and reuse non biodegradable wastes.
I join Earth Hour. I switch off my lights.
I switched from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
I do not litter.
I use reusable grocery and shopping bags.
I go up or down one floor using the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
I ride mass transit systems like the MRT, LRT, buses and jeepneys.
I buy organic products like organic food, soap and detergents.
I turn off the air conditioner one hour before the end of office hours.
I use a glass while brushing. I don’t let the water run when brushing my teeth.
I compost my biodegradable wastes.
I turn off my lights and unplug my appliances when not in use.
I turn my car engine off instead of idling.
I do not burn my wastes.
I take my used car batteries and empty ink cartridges to accredited recyclers.
I do not buy dynamited fish and endangered animals like turtles, manta rays, wild birds, etc.
I conserve water by using pail and dipper when bathing.
I don’t overcharge my cellphones.
I fix leaky faucets and check them regularly.
I minimize the use of disposable cutleries and plates during parties.
I recycle used water from washing clothes. I use this to flush the toilet and to clean the floors.
I do not ride smoke belching vehicles and report them to LTO at tel no. 09217411111.
I make rags out of old towels and t-shirts.
I collect rainwater and use it to wash clothes, flush the toilets and water houseplants and the garden.
I drive carefully. I avoid rapid acceleration since this can burn as much as 50% more fuel.
I reuse scrap papers. I use clean paper for external communications only.
I ride a bike or walk when going short distances.

If your scored
0-10 Needs for effort, but the skies are clear on the horizon.
11-20 Almost there, just needs a few more daily Green habits.
21-30 Congratulations. You have done your part to help save Mother Earth.

Things To Do to Help Save Mother Earth

Conserve electricity. Unplug all electrical appliances from outlets after use.
Use compact fluorescent bulbs for they have longer life and consume less
electricity.

Observe proper trash disposal.

Walk or ride a bicycle. Bike will lessen he air pollution.

Patronize mass transport vehicles. If you have a car share a ride to others.

Follow the 3Rs Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Buy items that are made of reused or recycled materials which in turn, will allow us to have less garbage to dispose.

Practice garbage segregation. Sort your trash into biodegradable and non biodegradable.

Save water. When taking a bath use a dipper instead of using a shower to save water.

Substitute plastic bags with cloth bags.

Support organic farming. Organic farming limits the use of pesticides and other harmful materials in plant produce.

Improve the green thumb. Try planting small plants and flowers for your garden. All plants contribute to the cleaning of the air from toxins.

Numbers That Can Help Save the Environment

18% of all greenhouse gases come from livestock. Producing and consuming meat takes 16 times more energy and resources than its vegetable equivalent. For every .45kg of beef we do not eat, we save 11,000-19,000 liters of water we avoid polluting our streams and rivers better that any other single recycling effort, we avoid the destruction of topsoil and tropical forest if the average car produces 3kg/day of CO2 to clear rainforest to produce beef for one hamburger produces 75kg of CO2 the same damage as driving your car for more than three weeks. 37,000 cows consume 25 tons of corn every hour. 4.5 liters of oil are used to make the fertilizer for each bushel of corn. The cow will have consumed 1,000 liters of oil. Livestock now produces 130 times the amount of waste that people do--bubbling with chemicals and disease-bearing organism that are poisoning rivers, killing fish and getting into human drinking water.

Conservation and Recycling Information

Did You Know?
7,500 trees are used for the Sunday edition of the New York Times each week
Recycling aluminum uses 96% less energy than it takes to produce the same amount of the aluminum from raw materials
Recycling paper uses 60% less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin timber
Recycling one glass saves enough energy to light a 100w light bulb for 4 hours

What You Can Do At Home

Recycle everything you can; newspaper, cans, glass, aluminum, motor oil, scrap, metal, etc.
Look for recycled and environmentally safe products and packaging whenever you shop
Use reusable containers to store food
Install a water saving shower head
Have your water heater insulated free of charge by your utility company
Burn only seasoned wood in your woodstove or fireplace
Try to use phosphate free laundry detergent & soap
Avoid the use of household pesticides
Write to companies that send unwanted junk mail… have them take you off their mailing list
Increase your awareness of conservation issues, share them with your family

What You Can at the Office

Use scrap paper for informal notes or messages
Print things on recycled paper
Re-use copier or printer paper when possible
Post memos and communications or route a single copy instead of making multiple copies
Start an office recycling program for paper, cardboard, aluminum, etc.
Car pool, take public transportation, or ride a bike to work.

What Comes Around Goes Around

Halayhayin Pililla Rizal 1
Originally uploaded by yenako

God is a loving God never a punishing God. What happened to us is the consequence of our actions. We have failed to preserve the environment. It is not an "Act of God" as the insurance policy clause states but it is an Act of Man.Get rid of the "trash in our lives" material, emotional and spiritual trash which we need to dispose of as we go through life. Indeed how light and peaceful life is if we carry no burdens and carry no trash. Detachment is the word. Detachment from materials things which come and go and are not permanent. Learn to value what is essential and important. Life is more important than things. We should help in caring for Mother Earth. God is a forgiving God but nature does not forgive.