HOW DANGEROUS IS RADIATION?

The most important breakdown in the public's understanding of nuclear power is in its concept of the dangers of radiation. What is radiation, and how dangerous is it?

Radiation consists of several types of subatomic particles, principally those called gamma rays, neutrons, electrons, and alpha particles, that shoot through space at very high speeds, something like 100,000 miles per second. They can easily penetrate deep inside the human body, damaging some of the biological cells of which the body is composed. This damage can cause a fatal cancer to develop, or if it occurs in reproductive cells, it can cause genetic defects in later generations of offspring. When explained in this way, the dangers of radiation seem to be very grave, and for a person to be struck by a particle of radiation appears to be an extremely serious event. So it would also seem from the following description in what has perhaps been the most influential book from the opponents of nuclear energy1:

Some Other Way To Keep Your Environment Clean

With the ever increasing use of technology and industries flourishing the amount of pollution in our environment is increasing at a rapid pace. Keeping our environment clean is a very important part of our lives in these days. It is important to focus on this as we have to make sure that the environment is preserved for future generations. Water pollution and litter are considered to be two of the main cause of the environment being dirty.

In order to clean the environment there are 5 steps that we can follow:


The 3Rs are considered to be the most important and easiest way to keep our environment clean and refrain it from pollution. Reduce, recycle and reuse are the famous 3 Rs that can keep our environment clean. By reducing the usage of harmful materials, and recycling items such as paper and glass and at the same time reusing goods that can be reused will reduce the pollution levels in the air and keep the environment clean.
Planting more trees increase the oxygen level in the atmosphere. This way there is an increase in the total oxygen level thus resulting in cleaner air to breathe and keeping environment clean.


Many people tend to litter. This is a bad habit as littering causes a rapid increase in pollution levels. Instead of throwing garbage on the roads, there should be recycling bins on every corner of the road so that people do not litter. This will help in keeping the environment clean.
Cigarettes are another harmful item that increases the air pollution as well as the well known health benefits.
By using eco friendly and biodegradable cleaning items the environment will be a better and cleaner place for humans to live in and by the continuous use of these products the environment will improve for future generation.
These tips are helpful in keeping our environment clean.

Top 10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Clean the House

Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products — and removing toxic ones — goes a long way towards ensuring a home with fresh, clean air. Clean air renews and rejuvenates; it doesn’t pollute our lives or the environment. Living in a less toxic home, removed from neurotoxic chemicals, improves sleep and concentration, makes babies less fussy, and gives a sense of well-being. Your household’s toxic burden on the environment will be significantly reduced by following these steps, and this too can bring peace of mind.


1. LOOK UNDER YOUR KITCHEN SINK: Remove toxic products
WHY: Almost everyone in the world has a cupboard full of poisons under their kitchen sink. Wasp spray, oven cleaner, waxes and polishes—the place is full of chemicals that display the words poison, danger, warning, or caution. Small amounts of the poisons drift from, and leak out of bottles and spray bottles, which then waft around the kitchen. Household poisonings are one of the highest threats to the health of children.


HOW: Place products with signal words in a locked cupboard in storage for your community’s next Household Hazardous Pickup Day (see next tip); replace all hazardous products with safer versions in the future.


HIGHLIGHTS: No chemicals wafting into your household; safer environment for kids.


2. ABOUT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUPS: Take toxic products
WHY: Hazardous materials shouldn’t be poured down the drain or thrown away in the trash as they can cause serious pollution problems in the waste stream.


HOW: Call your local recycling center, town or city hall. Most communities have at least one Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Day a year.


HIGHLIGHTS: There will be fewer toxic materials leaching out of landfills, burning in incinerators, and being washed into the waste water stream.


3. REPLACE TOXIC PRODUCTS: Choose non-toxic, biodegradable substitutes


WHY: Help reduce the toxic burden of manufacturing, your home, and the waste stream.
HOW: Read “Signal Words” on labels. The signal words poison, danger,warning, or caution, found on the label of products such as pesticides and cleaning products, are placed there by order of the federal government and are primarily for your production. In some cases these signal words are on the label because of the potential impact the product can have on the environment. Poison/danger denotes a product of most concern, one that is highly toxic, and ingesting small amounts—in some cases a few drops—can be fatal. Warning means moderately toxic, as little as a teaspoonful can be fatal; and caution denotes a product that is less toxic, one in which it would be necessary to ingest between two tablespoons and two cups to be fatal. Corrosive products can damage skin and mucous membranes, and a strong sensitizer is a chemical that can increase allergies.


HIGHLIGHTS: Labels provide information by which you can protect yourself, your family, and the environment.


4. LEARN NON-TOXIC CLEANING BASICS: How to use kitchen cupboard
ingredients


WHY: Save money, protect your health, reduce your use of valuable resources of the earth, avoid petroleum products and other non-renewable resources.


HOW: Learning to clean from scratch—making homemade recipes—can truly work if you take time to understand a bit about the chemistry behind how the materials work. Here are the five ingredients that Annie (the author of Clean & Green among other books, and Care2′s Healthy Living channel producer) finds to be the safest, most effective, and useful for cleaning.
The Five Basics for Non-Toxic Cleaning
Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.
Note how to safely reduce four airborne allergens in the home with these simple steps.
HIGHLIGHTS: Establish a safe, cheap and simple lifestyle.


MORE: Visit Care2.com’s Healthy Home category for many non-toxic cleaning tips. Just scroll down to Non-Toxic Cleaning.


5. OF MOPS, SPONGES, RAGS, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES: Natural, reusable


WHY: Reduce your use of non-renewable resources; avoid products with potentially harmful ingredients such as sponges with antibacterial ingredients; reuse old shirts as rags and more. Use cloth rags instead of paper towels to save trees. Save money!


HOW: Look at your purchase of mops, paper towels, sponges, buckets, vacuums, and more with an eye towards their durability, health and environmental impact. If you must use paper towels buy recycled, unbleached paper.


HIGHLIGHTS: Reusable mops, rags instead of paper, safe sponges, HEPA vacuums all work towards providing your home and environment with fresh, clean air, and reduce your consumption of nonrenewable resources.


6. LEARN ABOUT YOUR WATER: Is it hard or soft?
WHY: With hard water you will most likely need to clean with a detergent instead of a soap to avoid soap scum.


HOW: Read here about when and why to choose a detergent or a soap


HIGHLIGHTS: Choosing the right product for the right job reduces time and resources.


7. DISINFECTANTS? CHLORINE BLEACH? Look for alternatives
WHY: Just as antibiotics are causing drug resistance, so too are disinfectants. Chlorine bleach can cause cancer causing chemicals to form in the waste water stream. Here is more information about chlorine and the home.


HOW: Make a safer antibacterial spray by using these suggestions. Read here about toxic sponges.Visit your natural food store and ask for their recommended chlorine beach alternative. Seventh Generation and other brands offer alternatives that work.


HIGHLIGHTS: A healthier home and healthier environment.


8. CONSERVE WATER


WHY: Clean water is one of our most precious and diminishing resources and we don’t want to waste it.
HOW: Don’t run the water unless you are using it or catching it in a bucket for use; sweep instead of wet mop when possible; put a tracking matt at the door to collect mud and dust so you will need to wash the floor less; etc. Use common sense.


HIGHLIGHTS: Do your part to preserve the earth’s precious resources.


9. CLEAN INDOOR AIR WITH PLANTS


WHY: Plants have been found to reduce indoor air pollution!


HOW: Here are the top 10 plants that clear indoor air.


HIGHLIGHTS: Plants clean the air and provide more oxygen too!


10. USE YOUR SENSES: Smell, feel, hear


WHY: If you use your nose you will know when food is rotten, when dog beds need to be cleaned, when toxic chemicals may be leaking from old product bottles, and more. If you use your sense of touch you will know when doorknobs are sticky, the floor needs washing, etc. If you allow your senses to be your guide you will stay on top of cleaning jobs that need to be attended to.


HOW: Listen to what your senses are telling you.


HIGHLIGHTS: Cleaner indoor air, alert to potential toxic exposures.

Tips to Make Your Environment Clean and Healthy

Heavy Industries are always considered one of the major causes for the hazardous and ever increasing chemical pollution. Homeowners also contribute a lot in polluting the environment and rivers. To make our environment clean and healthy, we should opt for natural cleaning solutions. These are certainly the best measures for germ free existence.


Vinegar is one of the widely used multipurpose cleaning service providers. It is easily available in local store and is a complete non-toxic. Vinegar is used for varied purpose, such as application of vinegar with a little amount of water will easily cleanse floors, cabinets, sinks, countertops, appliances. This finest natural cleaner is also a good flavor enhancer.


Another widely used natural cleaning-solution is Baking Soda, which is cheap and cleanse effectively. Application of Baking soda paste will easily scrub away all the tough stains of oil leaks, fuels and various other chemicals.


Application of lemon juice with baking soda easily removes tough stains as well as soap scum in your bathroom. Mixture of lemon juice and olive oil is a great cleaning solution for furniture cleaning. If you believe in self cleaning, it would be advisable to avoid harsh chemical cleaning solutions, which will surely leave a bad impact over the environment. Thus, you can go for natural product cleaning solutions and make your environment as well as home safe and healthy.


In case, you do not have much time for cleaning your home then you can go for professional cleaning services. They are pocket friendly and smart investment too, as they mainly use eco-friendly and advance cleaning equipments!

20 Practical Way To Help The Nature

Concerned about the environment but feeling overwhelmed by all the issues out there? Feeling discouraged about how you as an individual can really make a difference? Not to worry. Here, we’ve compiled a short list of easy and practical ways that you can help the environment.


The great thing about these tips is that in most cases you really won’t have to change your lifestyle radically to have an impact on the environment. One thing we do encourage is more reliance on human power in your daily life. We hope that some of these tips will help us move one person at a time towards a society that is more responsible and less reliant on convenience.


For example, things like walking to the grocery store and using a reel mower will reduce air pollution and energy use, while also reducing the time you spend at the gym! Additionally, if you get your kids to follow your example by using human power more, you can do your part to help reduce child obesity and diabetes!


Please note that this is by no means a comprehensive list. In fact, we’re looking for help in expanding these tips with things that have worked for you that don’t appear on the list!

Effective measures for making environment clean and less polluted

We can make environment clean and less polluted by employing effective measures. We should therefore, attend to the following point in this respect:


1. Renewable resources should be used at that rate in which they are being replenished.


2. Silviculture should be started to replenish forests for producing raw materials and increasing the area under forests.


3. Large scale killing of animals should be banned, e.g. if we          kill more snakes for their skin, the population of rats and mice will increase and that will cause heavy damage to crops.


4. Natural habitat of animals should be preserved.


5. Monitoring the number of wild animals in sanctuaries be done.


6. Poaching should be banned.


7. Concerned officials should make surveys.


8. Uncontrolled felling of trees should be curbed.

Pollution and Environment

I have always wondered why so many Americans seem disinterested in global inequalities and environmental issues. I do not believe that we are a selfish people without concern for the world's poor or the well being of future generations. So the question is, why aren't more of us environmentalists? In light of this question, I suggest we think about our privileged position in the world. And rather than feeling guilty or self-satisfied about it, we should decide to be energized by our relative fortune. This energy might propel us to care for the environment and our fellow creatures at a level not currently realized. 


While I have little specialized knowledge of the demographics of college's student body, it's probably safe to assume several things. We are wealthier, more educated, better fed, drink cleaner water, and have better access to information than most people in this world. We all also live in a country where we can do many things more safely and readily than most can elsewhere. We can write, speak, or visit our state and federal representatives and expect to be heard. We can protest peacefully without fear of violent repercussions. We can expect our legal system to defend us against unsubstantiated charges. And, we can affiliate ourselves with organizations of our own choosing. In sum, we are privileged. 


If you have any doubts how fortunate you are, consider the following global snapshots: One-fourth of the world's people live on $1 or less a day; nearly half (47%) live on $2 or less. Over 40 percent of the world's population lives without basic sanitation. Only one out of every twelve people uses a personal computer and only half of them have access to the Internet. Only one out of fifty people in the world has a college degree and, shockingly, only one out of every fourteen has been educated at a high school level (PCFS). Can our privilege be denied? 


As thankful as we might be, being thankful isn't enough. We need to ask at least two follow up questions: What makes us so fortunate; and, do we have an obligation to others less fortunate? 


How did we become so fortunate, and others so unfortunate? Say what you will, but for almost all of us, our current fortune is due to sheer luck. (If you hold that your privileged position owes itself to hard work and sacrifice, how do you reconcile this with the reality that most people in the world are desperately poor despite the fact that they work in the fields (or factories) for up to 18-hours a day and have nearly no hope of mobility or improvement?) Any one of us could have just as easily been born in a malaria-infested, dengue-riddled part of the world. Or, alternatively, we could have been born in a country where violence, displacement and political repression are ever-present factors of life. If we accept that our privilege is happenstance, might we not have an obligation to reduce the misfortune that comes to so many of our brethren? To do otherwise is to resign oneself to the view that humans live in a "dog-eat-dog" world with inevitable winners and losers-a position not compatible with a healthy, fair and sustainable society and therefore not an acceptable one. 


There is much to be gained admitting our good fortune. We should feel empowered to promote policies that will improve the fortune of all, leaving no one, especially children, to suffer through no fault of their own. Policies that might encourage such an end include, but are not limited to, the following. Increasing funding to international family planning programs will reduce unwanted pregnancies and improve the health of the children that are born. Restructuring of the subsidization of certain foods and energy forms will encourage more responsible eating habits (those low in excess protein, calories and fat) and more efficient uses of technology. Putting into action the principle of "reuse, recycle, and reduce" will slow down our rapacious extraction of finite resources from the Earth which will not only increase the habitat for megafauna like the African black rhino and the Asian elephant but also the likelihood that our grandchildren (and their progeny) will inherit an Earth that is habitable for humans, animals, and plants alike. All of the above are starts not finishes, but most of us need to start somewhere. 


 And once we admit our privilege, what then? The response that we make to this admission will vary from person to person, but each one of us will undoubtedly begin to see ourselves as part of a larger whole. We will begin to recognize that our good fortune comes at the hands, hearts, minds, sweat and blood of people and other living things the world over. (If you are wondering what I am getting to here, read the tag of your clothes to find out where the majority of them come from or consider the origin of the wood or plastics that you have in your house.) With this recognition, we may begin to make an effort to take less or give back, in other words sacrifice a little. Perhaps, some of us will be moved to develop a more sustainable form of living-by improving our diets by reducing excess and unhealthy consumption or by choosing to purchase vehicles that are more efficient and less polluting. Others will realize how little they know about their connection with the natural world, something our schools are greatly negligent in providing, and they may begin to seek out opportunities to learn about such things. Fortunately, literature on these topics abounds in our libraries, bookstores, and on websites. Others might decide that they are just too busy to do much for anyone but their immediate families. Even these people might begin to see how interconnected their family is with other families here and abroad. A global fellowship might spread that will foster friendship and understanding rather than the hate and violence being perpetuated by terrorists and governments alike. Call me an idealist, you wouldn't be the first, but at least contemplate the creation of a world that is much more in harmony that the one we have today. Challenging as this might be, it represents perhaps our greatest hope. 


If not us, then who will promote and espouse environmental principles? We certainly have our own bills to pay and our retirement to think about. However, if we, the residents of the richest nation in the world, are not able to sacrifice for the betterment of others and our environment, then who is? Many people, such as Ken Saro-Wiwa (of Nigeria), Chico Mendez (of Brazil), and Wangari Maathai (of Kenya), all were beaten or killed when they peacefully defended their local peoples and environments. We do not have to fear the same sort of repression for participating in similar activities. I am not advocating that we all become Peace Corps volunteers (although that wouldn't be a bad idea), but rather that we spend some of our "free" time and "excess" money making the world a better place rather than gallivanting around the state, nation, or world polluting and despoiling the environments that support us. That is not to say that we should all live as hermits in our homes but rather than we recognize that if we take from the environment, then we must give back. If we take more than we give, then we are responsible for the exacerbation of our world's many environmental problems. Alternatively, if we all take strides to give more (than we currently do), then we are on a road towards healing and reconciliation. 


In the 20th Century we began to realize something very important. We came to understand that we have something to gain from living more in harmony with the natural world. This recognition led to the creation of national parks as well as air and water quality standards. As we transitioned into the 21st, we began to observe the ramifications of the finiteness of our Earth and time scale of its many ecological services (i.e., aquifer recharge, forest regrowth, & ocean-atmosphere gas exchange). The 21st Century, thus, represents the period when we will begin to live sustainably, by choice or by default. Many are showing us the way (such as Julia Butterfly Hill, Wes Jackson, Winona LaDuke or Sandra Steingraber), yet most of us are either not looking hard enough to find them or are so preoccupied with our day-to-day existence that we don't think we can sacrifice a moment or a dime. It is time for all of us to look harder and/or escape cynicism. Cherish your fortune and use it to make the world a better place for all to live. 

How to Make the World a Better Place

1.Be nice and helpful to people. For example, if someone is carrying groceries to their car and they drop a bag, help them by picking up the groceries and loading them back into the bag. The simple things like that are very much appreciated by anyone!


2.Donate money to different causes and charities. Even if you can't give more than a dollar, you're still helping.


3.Give a smile to everyone you see, no matter who they are or what they do. Walk the walk that will make you happy and it will make others happy as well.


4.Don't say cruel things about others - ever. There's no need, and you can always do things like say GOOD things about other people to make yourself feel better.


5.Invest in your own community by eating, shopping, and spending locally. Most new jobs are provided by local businesses and it reduces environmental impact. Non-profits receive greater support from local businesses too.


6.Reuse. Following that, Recycle anything with the recycle label. Other things such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and so much more is also recyclable! You can also reuse things, such as refilling a plastic water bottle instead of getting a new one.


7.Do not litter... anything!


8.Save Energy. The more you cut back, the less fossil fuels are burned which not only give off CO2 its limited. Try turning lights off or lowering the house temperature by one, it also saves you money!


9.Don't drive unless necessary. Don't drive unless its necessary to save fuel.


10.Have a compostor in your back yard. Its great for throwing out egg shells, banana peels, and other fruits. It'll keep the dumps lower and cleaner and make your garden very healthy.


11.Don't smoke. Not only is smoking bad for you, it's bad for everyone around you. This is called second-hand smoking. Many people avoid this fact, but the smoke from cigarettes put pollution into the air. Smoking isn't good for anything!


12.Do not contribute to animal abuse! There are factories that do "animal testings" that are very harmful to animals! Many products (shampoos, lotions, body products, medicines, etc.) do animal testings by testing their products on animals. If a product does not have a "No animal testing" label, chances are they could be testing that product on animals. If possible, buy less meat and animal products.


13.Do not abuse an animal in any way, and if you know someone who does, report it immediately.


14.Give to the needy. So many kids and adults as well, are living poor all over the world! You can help them by donating new, old (but in fair condition) or unwanted goods such as clothes, food, toys, and anything else needed! It all pays off in the long run!


15.Conserve as much as possible. Again, the simplest stuff like taking one shower a day (unless it's necessary for another), and never letting the water run while brushing your teeth helps a lot! Buy the new high energy-saving light bulbs! They last years longer and cost more than half less a month than ordinary light bulbs!


16.Conserve water. Use it well because it is a limited resource.


17.Become vegan: Doing so is better for you, better for the animals involved, and better for the world: Producing meat is extremely taxing to the environment.


18.Work hard. One of the best things we can do for others is to do the best we can at our jobs. If you do not feel like your job contributes to society, consider getting a new one, but in many cases, going the extra mile at work does much more for the world than you know.


19.Plant trees.


20.Try to avoid stepping on ants or bugs. Imagine how much it would hurt to be stepped on by a giant foot. Instead of squishing spiders, use a shoe box and a piece of paper to capture them and release them out doors.

Why Are Forests Important?

Arguments are still going on about how to define a forest. But if generally, a forest can be defined as a community, not just of plants and trees but also of the animals which inhabit the place. In fact, it is equilibrium of abiotic (non-living) components like the soil, climate and water etc and biotic (living) things, e.g. trees, animals etc. Around 30% of the land is covered in forests and they are the storehouses of the biological diversity on our planet.

Forests come in all varieties and distribution and that is why they are so important not only for the nature as a whole and their degradation can threaten the survival of our species. Below are listed a few points which tell us why they are so important:


(1) Among the most talked about words in the current times are “global warming”. And the good news is that forests cool the air by releasing water vapors into the air. This phenomenon is called vaporization.


(2) During day time the trees absorb carbon dioxide, which is a green house gas, and release oxygen.


(3) Forests are excellent sound barriers and thus help contain noise pollution.


(4) Their artistic value is beyond what can be put in words.


(5) If forests are well managed, they improve the quality of water in the surrounding areas.


(6) In addition to improving the water quality, forests have also been found to raise the ground water table.


(7) The wood that forests supply in plenty is useful in different ways.


(8) It is not difficult to find as many as 1500 invertebrates on a single tree in a typical rain forest. Some of these species hold the keys to scientific mysteries and they are useful in drug research.


(9) Those who are blinded by the glitter of gold, here is a fact. Forests add to the economy. The tourists, herbs etc are a good source of income.


(10) Forest help limit the damage that a typical flood would cause if the forests were not there.


(11) Twenty-five percent of our modern medicines are a result of studying the forest and so far only 1% of the forests have been studied, so it can only be imagined what the rest of the 99% hold.

How Does Recycling Affect The Environment?

Most people would agree that recycling not only affects the environment but it also makes the world a better place for plants and animals. For example, recycling paper products can, in the long run, preserve a large number of trees that might otherwise be used to make new paper. This is one way that recycling directly affects the environment.


Trees provide homes for birds and other animals, they provide shade for what would otherwise be a hot and dry land, and they are crucial to the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance in our atmosphere. Recycling can definitely have a positive effect on our world.

Paper is not the only item that should be recycled. Glass bottles and plastic containers have become a problem for cities and private companies who operate landfills. The sheer numbers of containers thrown away take up a lot of landfill space, which puts companies and municipalities in the position of having to take up more land for another landfill area.


Several decades ago, activists who demonstrated against large companies and their waste products used the phrase, “There is no away!” What this meant was that we can’t really get rid of anything.


We can only change its shape and form. Recycling is a way to make this change so that it clutters and pollutes less. Recycling also takes used materials from “trash” to usable products if they are handled properly.


Scientists and social activists have also pointed out that making new products from recycled materials means less manufacturing. With the correct methods, we can have a comfortable, convenient life without the pollution and massive use of natural resources that manufacturing brings.


Reducing the number of landfills might mean a healthier food chain for both humans and animals. When we place materials in landfills and they don’t break down over time, we are creating a potentially dangerous situation. The chemicals used in manufacturing many modern-day products can leach into the soil, pollution the water and any plants that grow on or near that area. This is especially true with computer parts, batteries and other items that contain certain chemicals.


While some people don’t view the world in the same way as others where animals are concerned, the truth is recycling can help keep the environment in its natural state so that animals can survive. If we continue to put mercury in our water, as is the case in some states already, not only will we have to avoid eating fish, the fish will die from pollution and lack of oxygen.


The number of large fish and dolphins affected by trash in the ocean may not be large in the big picture, but scientists and divers have found animals trapped and killed by plastic and other garbage they have ingested.


In the long stretch of time, recycling affects the planet positively because we will use less of our natural resources – trees, water, minerals etc. When it comes to the environment, using less means we have more.

10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

Save energy to save money.


Purchase State of the World 2010:
Transforming Cultures to learn more
about the shift from consumerism to sustainability Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.


Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
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 will lower your water and heating bills too.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

Less gas = more money (and better health!).


Purchase State of the World 2009:
Into a Warming World to learn more
about overcomig global climate change
Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
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.
Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

Eat smart.


If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

Skip the bottled water.


Purchase State of the World 2011:
Innovations that Nourish the Planet
to learn more about eating sustainably.
Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

Think before you buy.


Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

Borrow instead of buying.


Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

Buy smart.


Great for classrooms:
Climate Change
Reference Guide
Buy in bulk. 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 this means less waste!).

Keep electronics out of the trash.


Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
Recycle your cell phone.
Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

Make your own cleaning supplies.


Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.


The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. 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.