Here you go, folks — here are 10 things that every human being should be doing for each other and the environment. This is not to make anyone feel poorly, but to bring awareness to a dire situation. Enjoy!
1. Contrary to popular belief, water is not free. Use less.
This one is for all the people who use up an oceanic amount of water whilst performing simple activities like brushing teeth or showering. Turn the water off when there is a lull in the activity you are doing. Is it really necessary to leave the water running when you have the toothbrush in your mouth?
Showers can be a very minimally impacting activity on the environment if you are conscious of what you are doing. Turn the water on, get yourself wet and lather soap on your body while you wait for the water to get warm is one alternative means for saving even a little bit of precious water. The shower should not be a place to hang out. I mean seriously, what are you doing in there? Sleeping? It is OK to sacrifice convenience and superb personal hygiene if it means on an individual level that we are saving water. What happens when clean water stops coming from our sinks and showers?
2. Wash things on cold.
This is such an easy thing to do to save energy. By washing things on cold or warm even and not on hot, you are making a difference. Remember kids, not hot. Just say that any time you are not sure. You are not only preserving energy, but it also means a much cheaper utility bill as well.
3. Walk places or bike when possible.
If you can walk somewhere, you probably should. It is good for you and the air we breathe. It can sometimes be an inconvenience time wise, but seldom does anything of convenience ever change when the alternative is less convenient.
4. Watch what you buy and where you're buying it from.
Without getting political, please be responsible with what products you buy and from where. Do research on companies before choosing to shop there. More often than not, there are alternatives out there to choose from. Do you really want to support a company that is knowingly corrupting and degrading the ground we walk on and the air we breathe? I know I do not. It may be a little more expensive, but it is a price we all unfortunately have to pay in good conscience.
5. Recycling is essential, but...
Recycling is important, but so is not buying a ton of harmful plastics, paper and other materials. Very often, there is a message in our society that says the way to solve our current predicament is to recycle. Well, I am here to tell you that is not entirely the case. When we are told to recycle, I think we as a society do it because we genuinely believe we are a doing a good thing. I could go on and on, but recycling alone is not going to change the fact that more and more products are being produced with excessive amounts of environmentally harmful products. Realistically, not everyone recycles and when things aren't recycled, they end up in landfills. Don't be that person. Buy less, recycle more.
6. Watch what you throw away.
Who told you it was OK to throw away things like computer monitors? Seriously? Did you take your stupid pill this morning? Many recycling centers and services pick up commonly thrown away items like batteries, ink cartridges, a/c units, fridges, laptops, phones, etc. Use common sense when throwing things away. They have to go rot somewhere (well in this case not rot) for thousands of years and it will affect you eventually. Make environmentally kind decisions.
7. Bring reusable bags to shop.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag blowing in the wind? Katy Perry did, but you don't have to! Plastic and paper bags are extremely easy to avoid. I recommend buying three or four very durable tote bags that you can take with you whenever you shop, especially to grocery stores where they try and get rid of those plastic bags like they're the plague.
8. Turn off your stinkin' lights.
This is an easy one. If lights are on and no one is using them, turn them off. You don't need to light up your house like the 4th of July.
9. Rent or borrow items.
Talk to your friends, family or neighbors and ask if you can rent or borrow an item you do not have. If you only "need" this item twice a year, it seems very silly to go out and purchase it, especially if it is expensive. By sharing products among us, less products are being produced (when things are being bought, companies think it's cool to produce more), and thus it is hard to recycle finished products are being put into the world. Additionally, if you have no use for a product anymore, donate it somewhere if possible. There is more than likely someone somewhere that needs it just as frequently as you do. It feels good to help one another, doesn't it?
10. Store food wisely.
Invest in reusable storage containers instead of frivolously using aluminum foil or Glad Press 'N Seal. They are typically ineffective after one usage and end up in a landfill. Reusable storage containers can last years if taken care of properly and will help you limit how much trash you have.
Final Note:
I hope each of these things are easy for you to adopt into your own lifestyle. The items on this list are not going to solve our problems entirely, but it is a great start. On a final note, vote and put people in office who also believe in making our world a cleaner and better place. This is so important. I am depending on you and our posterity are too! This world can be a beautiful place if we all just take better care of it.
