Go Green
From Baruchnewmedia
Go Green is a way to save the planet and save money. It's also a social movement that primarily concerns conservation as well as improvement of the current state of the environment. The color green represents issues regarding environmentalism.
Contents |
Ecological Perspective
If you are interested in educating yourself about Planet Earth and how it was industrialized, and how human beings living on it have significantly effected it, I recommend you watch "Home" The Story Of Our Planet. Developed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, it was filmed in 57 countries and in all 6 continents. It became available for Youtube users in 2007, and is currently available in many languages. This is an extraordinary film and remarkable to say the least. It is definitely worth it and so take 90 minutes of your time to watch it.
Save Planet Earth
Eat smart
Despite the fact that many vegetarians feel avidly about animals, its right about time for others to understand and learn that a vegetarian diet goes well beyond the animal rights. A balanced vegetarian diet ensures a horde of health benefits, not to mention prevents related environmental and health costs. Major report published by the World Cancer Research Fund recommends that we lower the risk of cancer by choosing predominantly plant-based diets. Choosing a non-vegetarian diet has a considerable health and medical cost. The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $30-60 billion a year, based upon the higher prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gallstones, obesity and food-borne illness among omnivores compared to vegetarians. To ensure the health benefits and save money, add one meatless meal a week. Meat can get expensive and it's even more so taking into account the related environmental costs. Buy locally raised and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can.
Say NO to bottled water
Let's face it, bottled water is expensive. Not only is it expensive but it also generates a large amounts of container waste. An alternative option is filtered water. Purify the tap water instead of buying bottled water. A reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum, is just as good and you can bring it when traveling or at work.
Buy smart
Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging. Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use. Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently and reduce the wastes too!
This website is a new shopping engine that provide greener products.
Here is a Energy Star website. It will provide you latest and most efficient technology available on market.
Keep electronics out of the trash
Donate or recycle your cell phone and computers responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
Alternative ways to save
http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2009/06/coolest_environmental_advertis.php?page=5
This is for me the best video from the enviromental ad-campaing I've posted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3mlsTmoINA&feature=player_embedded
Save Money
Save energy to save money
- Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer.
- Install compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
- Wash clothes in cold water if possible.
- Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
Save water to save money
- Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This lowers the water and the heating bills too.
- Install a low-flow shower head.
- Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. It conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
Less gas = more money
- Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs not to mention improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity, which is currently a major health problem in America.
- Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
Make your own cleaning supplies
- All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.
Borrow instead of buying
- Library is a good place to look for books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
- Rent textbooks, a great place to rent the textbooks[1]. Not only it is cheaper to pay for the textbooks you need for a short period of time but also easier to get rid of them that normally clutters around your bedroom and the bookstore refuses to buy it back.
- Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things in the closet or the garage.
Political Perspective
From political standpoint I believe that many people comprehend that it is better for nations such as the United States to continue everything as it is today. If you have no clue, then let me fill you in with some basic ideas. I will not mention any political parties, but there is a lot on stake when it comes to oil. Millions or even billions of dollars are invested, and many of these investors are not remotely interested in the betterment of our nation or the renewable energy. They provide financial support to the political parties or individuals that helps them to make profit for themselves. This, I believe, is the easiest way to make money. You're barely doing anything but to invest a large sum to get that oil out of the ground, and provide arrangements and protection for those resources. But if you believe that this, in no way means, that political parties are involved, I wonder why these political parties not doing the opposite? By opposite, I mean encouraging and investing as much as we can to renewable energy which will make us independent from those countries that supply us with oil. Instead we look for new oil reservoirs around the world.
In the times of President Obama, we have currently started to invest more into renewable energy, but I believe it is nearly not enough. With progress as such we still have to be dependent on oil for at least twenty years. The same applies to other developed nations like the European countries that are seemingly dependent on Russia. The less oil there is the higher the price is, which is beneficial for the investors solely. Therefore, take some time to think about who you support, think about whether the political party cares or destroys the environment, and the Planet Earth.
Economic Perspective
Sociological Perspective
GLOBAL WARNING
WHEN YOU FEEL IT, IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE [[2]]
Technological Perspective
Do we have technology to be energy independent? Do we have technology to stop burning oil for powering our cars or heating our houses?
The Answer is, Yes We Do!!!!
However, United States is not using technology developed by our scientists. Bullet Train would be a great example of that. It was developed in U.S., but because it required change of the whole rail road system and large investments it was turned down. Now we are falling behind other developed countries and it is not only the rail road I am talking about. We do have technology, but we are not using it to fullest potential. We do have money, but we are not spending it wisely. If the idea of no immediate profit doesn't interest corporations than our government should step it. But, for some reason they don't. May be our politicians are not as smart as they say they are?
Moral and Ethical Perspective
It is not shocking to observe many unethical behavior when it comes to ecology and nature in the society today. We are concerned more with materialistic goods, and having said that are we really to blame for this? To rationalize my statement, let's look closely into this. The credit economic system does everything possible to make sure that we are able to purchase anything we want. If we can't pay for it now, we can always pay for it later and this system, which makes us a slave to instant gratification, changes our mindset. We constantly think of how to gratify ourselves with physical goods, and we are ignorant to everything else that doesn't.I once heard a man speaking to his friend on the street, and he quoted "Why should I spend my money to do something that will help nature, it won't satisfy me. I would rather drive a nice powerful car. Let others bother with the nature". We live in a society where everything is done to satisfy us RIGHT NOW and that is unethical. Unethical because we stopped thinking about the generation yet to come. Have we ever stopped to think about what would it be like in future when they face the consequences of our actions?
Conclusion
"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.", Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
I would suggest you watch this movie, it is in English even though website is not. This movie is an idea of what may happen to us and our planet in the future. And, you know what I believe that most of its content will come true. Watch it till the end and see what should you do.
2100, Our Future is in Our Hands
