Protect the Environment

There are many ways to protect the environment, and they can and will prove effective if governments and individuals show commitment, focus and drive. Everyone has to work together and make changing habits and practices a priority. Convenience is great, but it has to take a backseat towards healing and maintaining the planet.

Some Ways to Protect the Environment

You probably already know some simple ways to protect the environment, such as using canvas bags for grocery shopping and recycling all your glass, paper, metal and plastic (where possible). Such small but important steps can be made to have even more of an impact if you use reusable bags for all your shopping and work with your neighbors to pressure your local municipality to step up its recycling program so that it accepts more items.
Grass roots activism is, in fact, a crucial part of protecting the environment. From individuals to corporations, habits are ingrained and the idea of spending money and effort to change them is unappealing. But local governments and even businesses will respond to organized pressure, so long as it's handled reasonably. From convincing places to stop using harmful chemicals or Styrofoam to installing energy efficient lights and solar power panels, there is a lot that a concerted group effort can accomplish.

Concentrate on Cutting Down

No, not trees - trash. By some estimates, the average Western household produces one ton of trash a year, all of which ends up in landfills. And that's just households - many office buildings, large and small, produce plenty more. The first step to reducing your trash is simply to become aware of it. Once you take a look at just how much waste you're generating, you might be astonished enough to start finding ways to cut down. Can you buy food with less packaging? Can your kids drink juice poured from a jar into a vacuum flask, instead of using unrecyclable juice packets? Can you use a reusable bottle or mug yourself for everything you drink through the day? And for items that require packaging, can you contact the manufacturers and ask them to use more environmentally responsible biodegradable packaging?
Many people don't see bags as being a big deal and thought San Francisco's total ban on plastic bags was extreme - but the city is reaping environmental benefits. When you consider that fewer than 2 percent of plastic bags are recycled, and consider how damaging they are to animals and the ecosystem, you may want to try cutting down on them. Reusable bags can be used for all your shopping, so that you end up with no plastic bags whatsoever. Some people protest, pointing out that they reuse the bags for household trash cans and kitty litter. Instead, you can buy Bag-to-Nature compostable bags. These degrade completely and safely. If you're concerned about the extra cost, bear in mind that by cutting down on household waste, a bag might sit in a bin for a long, long time.

Protection Through Health

One of the ways to protect the environment that impacts you immediately is to cut down on your consumption of meat. Beef is especially bad for the environment, because the Amazon is being cut down for cattle grazing and cattle are inefficient. Try going vegetarian at least one day a week. When you want an animal protein, opt for locally grown or organic fare - preferably lamb or pork, or even something quite different like bison, ostrich or rabbit.

Get Involved

It's easy to think of environmental organizations as rabid left-wing ideologues. But the bulk of them consist of reasonable citizens who are passionate about creating healthful change that will make a substantial difference and improve lives. Whether you donate money or time, allying yourself with a committed environmental group will go a long ways towards helping the planet and everything on it.

Green Living