Earth Day, Every Day

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money. ~Cree Indian Proverb

Every year, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the 1970's birth of the environmental movement as we know it today. Earth Day was celebrated for the first time on April 22, 1970, when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson encouraged students to develop environmental awareness projects in their communities. Mr. Nelson, Senator of Wisconsin, proposed the first major environmental event in U.S. history in an effort to shake the political world and force the insertion of environmental issues within the national political frame. The very first Earth Day led to the creation of the The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the adoption of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. It is only in 1990, that Earth Day became a global event, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and acting as a lever for global environmental issues. Today, more than 500 million people in 184 countries are taking part, every year, in Earth Day. Over the years, it has become the largest, and with the most participation, eco-friendly event on the planet.

It's a day to think about our planet and what we can do to keep it special... to think about saving water and energy, reducing pollution, recycling, protecting our animals, trees and plants, and generally getting kids interested in protecting their environment. Because let's face it, they're the next generation! And your children will have a super good time participating in activities, arts and crafts and games to pay tribute to this event. Encourage them into adopting practices to become green. If you set the example as a parent, good chances are your guys will follow along with it and become eco-friendly in no time. Disney Family Fun has come up with a really neat and crafty guide for the kids called Earth Day Guide To Being Green. It's a great tool to use to introduce your little ones to the environmental challenge. 

Obviously, best scenario would be that Earth Day be every day, in each and everyone's household. That being said, there are so many effortless habits we can commit to in our everyday lives that can make a huge impact on the planet. And ultimately, these changes may also affect your budget... for the better! First and foremost, I would like to mention a post I have put up a few weeks back in regards to being eco-nomical. It contained a link to a very short video showing consumers some quite simple and effortless household tips to make you save big bucks yearly. For those of you who didn't get a chance to read it, click here. It's undoubtedly worth taking a peek!

Continuing on the same train of thought here, there are endless possibilities when it comes to being eco-friendly and making a difference. And keep in mind, even the littlest of effort can make the biggest of change. And the best way to succed is to settle upon habits that suits you and your family's lifestyle. Sometimes baby steps is also the best way to go about it... being too pro-active too quickly may lead you to discouragement and you may call it quits all together. 

In conclusion, I have put together a few straightforward tips that anybody can follow to take the environment into their own hands and create an eco-friendly lifestyle... therefore making our planet Earth, a little greener again! 

• Green plants are a great solution for clean air at home... and they make beautiful home decor. Try a plant every ten square meters.
• When boiling water on the stovetop, place your pots on same diameter stovetop rounds and put the lid on your pots to accelerate the process.
• To avoid diseases, weeds and retain maximum moisture, don't mow your lawn too short. Leave grass clippings on the lawn, it makes an excellent natural fertilizer while avoiding the proliferation of weeds... or turn it into compost!
• Prefer a soap bar to shower gel. A saving on packaging and therefore less pollution.
• Use low-energy light bulbs... did you know that a 350Watts halogen light bulb used for three hours a day will use annually the same amount of energy as 23 low-energy or LED light bulbs? 
• Insulate the roof, floors, walls and basement to keep you cool in the summer and warmer in the cold seasons.
• Buy products in bulk and store them in second-hand containers. 
• Shop at farmer's markets to support the use of local farmland and avoid foods that have been shipped long distances.
• Don't idle your car. If you're pulling over for more than 20 seconds, it's worth stopping the engine.
• Did you know that a device in standby mode (the little red light) for 24 hours uses as much power as if it was in usage for three hours? Plug your TV, DVD player, game console, etc. into a power bar and then switch off the power bar when you switch off the TV or when you head to bed. 
• Use rotting leaves in your garden instead of peat moss. It's better to leave the peat in bogs, where it's helping the environment.
• Recycle every last can, glass bottle, newspaper and whatever else your municipality allows.