So much you can do to save the Earth!

OK, OK, I know.  We're not technically saving the Earth, here.  It's not like the planet is going to implode if you throw that can into the trash, instead of the recycling bin.  I think I finally realized the silliness of this statement when I read "Jurassic Park" for the first time.  Ian Malcom actually points it out.  Of course.  Although we won't be able to keep the planet from eventually destabilizing, and crashing into the sun, there are things that we can do to help keep the it clean.

I received my copy of 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth when I was around 10 or 11.  I still have it with my mini library that is currently packed away, awaiting the day that my daughter can read.  There are so many great ideas in this book that I can't list them all, but there are ideas on saving water, recycling, and reusing items.  This book was actually the impetus for my family starting to recycle in the early 90s.  As annoyed as they were, my encouragement has paid off, and now my mother recycles EVERYTHING.  She "blames" me for this.

I noticed recently that there is now (and may have been then) an "adult" version of this book: 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth.  I haven't read it, or even looked through it, but based on the children's version, I imagine there will be plenty of ideas.  Some you may already know about, and even employ, but I'm sure there will be some surprises.  I promise, though, there will be no suggestions of using only one square of toilet paper.

Green on the level

I feel like there are many environmental blogs, and publications that alienate a good number of people by trying to guilt them into doing more, or not even giving alternatives to help make better decisions.  It seems to be either you are an environmentalist, or you're not.  I think that approach does more harm than good.

Because people have varying levels of interest in the environment, I will be using a system to help people determine which articles they may find more interesting, practical, or accessible.  Of course, this is purely subjective, based on my own interpretation.  I hope everyone will read most of what I post, but I understand that not everyone will be interested in certain topics, or depth of coverage of a topic.

Without further ado, the levels of green that will be used as tags on articles from now on:

Mint Green - These will be easily accessible articles.  They will have easy steps to take at home, or will be a quick read.  More often than not, they will be lists.

Pistachio Green - These articles will have a little more substance.  More than just a simple list, they will have some back ground information, but not a lot to make it easier to take in the information.

Emerald Green - Again, these will get a little deeper, and may be more technical in regard to the subject matter.

Jade Green - Getting to be deeper reads now.  These will be more scientific in nature, and will have references for your own review.

Forest Green - These will be pure science reads.


Posts will probably fall more into the Mint, Emerald, and Forest categories, but for ones that are in between, Pistachio and Jade will be the go-tos.

Which category are you most interested in?

Why?

I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday, and we were discussing how confusing, and overwhelming "green" decisions can be.  The need to take into consideration everything from biodegradability, to what kind of chemicals are leaching from plastics, to which companies use sustainable practices, and which ones test on animals is a lot to reconcile.

The way that I approach this is to consider what is best for my situation, and my family.  I know, that sounds really self-centered.  I typically have a problem with Johnny-come-latelys, and that statement reeks of that type of attitude.  The truth is, I have been interested in "saving the planet" for as long as I can remember.  I was even getting my family to recycle when I was about 12 years old.  (Not easy.)  I had found a book called "50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth" (the latest version: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Things-Kids-Save-Earth/dp/B003F76HOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306689435&sr=8-1), and I became an eco-warrior.  You wouldn't know that by looking at me, or the way I live now.  I don't garden (I have a notoriously black thumb), and I need air conditioning in the summer to survive.  However, I do recycle everything that I can, I drive an economy car, and we just got our first compost bin in the backyard.  (I really, really want to love gardening!)  I buy organic, and am trying to become more of a locavore, but, admittedly, it's hard to break the grocery store habit.

Ultimately, I would like this to be a place of discussion, and ideas.  I think that education really is the key to the future, and I've always known that we can do better than to say "you're either with us, or you're against us" in the environmental world.  Once you start, it's easy to keep that momentum going, and even fun to find new ways to be green.  I must disagree with Kermit, and say, "it is easy being green."  Sometimes, it just takes baby steps.