Blog Action Day 2007: The Environment
Today October 15th, bloggers around the world are uniting to put a single important issue–the environment–on everyone’s mind.
Here are 3 ways to participate in Blog Action Day:
- Post on your blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day
- Donate your day’s earnings to an environmental charity
- Promote Blog Action Day around the web
I’m not going to recount statistics and figures to try to convince you that global warming and environmental damage are real and that we all need to do something NOW to save our wonderful planet–if a Nobel Peace Prize winner can’t do that, well I really don’t have a chance.
So I’m just going to ask that you think about what you can do to make the world a little cleaner–and make it last a lot longer.
If you want an idea of how much of the Earth’s resources you’re using up, take the Earth Day Footprint Quiz. If you’re curious as to my results, you can find them here.
Now I would love for you to throw out suggestions in the comments–small things that we can all do that will make a difference. And I’ll start.
I realize that SUV owners probably aren’t going to be tossing aside their keys just because of Blog Action Day (although good for you if you do!) but can I convince you to switch from using plastic bags to reusable shopping bags?
If you remember my blog contest from a while back, you’ll also remember Marcia and her gorgeous handmade Bella Bags. She kindly sent me one of her organic shoppers as a gift for hosting an online party.
Can I tell you how awesome it is? It is much stronger and larger than I thought it would be, and it’s getting *a lot* of use at my house. Even if you don’t order from Marcia, please do consider making this one small change in your daily routine if you aren’t doing this already.
Plastic bags are killing our planet.
Now it’s your turn…
What else can we do to be just a tad (or a lot) more Earth-friendly?
25 Beans of Wisdom to “Blog Action Day 2007: The Environment”
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[...] year we talked about the environment, and this year the topic is [...]... bleedingespresso.com/2008/10/blog-action-day-2008-poverty.html
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
Surprising how many grocery bags are used each year. I blogged about this too. And don’t forget TerraPass, it’s fabulous! http://www.terrapass.com
So glad you participated today.
I used to think that it was annoying how I get charged for my plastic bags when I went shopping here. Now, after reading those plastic bag links, I’m glad they put a price on the shopping bags. I really think they should start doing this back in the States! Even better, I think I will start using one of those cloth bags too. My only problem is remembering it every time I go shopping. But, unless I start trying, I will never get into the rythme of doing it.
I strive everyday to preserve in any way I can. My list would be endless. Walmart recycles those awful plastic bags. So collect them and drop them off.
I love the re-usable shopping bags and use two of them…the only problem is, I also use regular plastic bags as my home trash bags…I need to find a good substitute for them.
Great idea ! I am actually working for the gov. assisting people on become greener. Here are some simple every day tips.
http://www.cc.greenhouse.gov.au/at-home/now.html
Keep up the good work!
Oh my word; I thought I was doing a fair amount of small things to be more “green,” but I did terrible on that test!! I’m so ashamed.
I’m with Geggie on TerraPass, though (I actually need to renew mine soon), and I have been TRYING to remember to bring my own shopping bags all the time.
Geggie, thanks for the link to Terrapass! I don’t have a car, but I see it’s still useful for home/energy emissions as well. Great!
Giulia, same here! It is difficult to get into the rhythm of taking the cloth bags, but like you said, without starting you can’t build up. I keep mine right by the front door near my keys, and that helps (although it’s not foolproof!).
Janeywan, I didn’t know that about WalMart; granted there are none here, but I hope my US readers have seen your tip!
Sara, same dilemma here; at this point I just try to reuse them as much as possible. Anyone have great trash bag tips?
Vee, thanks so much for the link! Stay green 🙂
Stefanie, I wouldn’t feel *so* awful about the quiz–I thought it left out a lot of stuff that one could be doing to be greener…and it sounds like you’re doing your part 🙂
I sent an email today to everyone in my office asking them to please turn off their computers AND monitors before they go home. People often leave monitors, printers and other power crunchers on in the office. Can we please turn everything off???
Great that you’re getting behind blog action day!
Ozlady, that is a *great* tip! I always turn everything off/unplug it because I’m paranoid about freak thunderstorms (and high electric bills), but the environment is an even better reason! Such a great suggestion, and thanks for stopping by 🙂
So good to see how many people are getting involved in this! Here’s hoping lots of voices will make a difference.
Yes, yes, yes! I participated too…and even though I haven’t been commenting lately I just love your out look! You rock!
great..great!
I participated too!!!
I am going to try real hard to not use plastic bags! We always had good old cloth bags in India when I was growing up…my mom still uses that. I should just listen to her!! Mom is always right.
And I have also changed all the bulbs in my house to be CFL’s.
I’m so glad you did this!
Great post, I am off to get bags now…
I joined in the movement too at my place, I did the ABC’s of making a difference.
PS – I can hardly WAIT to see what you do with Grace! I’m on the edge of my seat… waiting anxiously… hands clasped under my chin… watching the screen… all the caffeine from the coffee is not helping! aahaa ha ha…
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Once I was shopping and even though I said that I had my own bag, they STILL gave me my stuff in a plastic bag. Double-bagged. It was odd…
kind of a culture shock from Italy where you bring your own bag or buy a bag!
I try to reuse all bags as many times as possible, and when I can I don’t take bags at all.
I’m going to link to this post on my own blog, and shout it out to the group.
Hugs,
Frances
Here’s what I’ve done (which admittedly is small but effective): turn the thermostat down two degrees during winter and up two degrees during summer (for those with central heat/central a.c.); change all my light bulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs; and compost my kitchen scraps, and we also use only cloth bags and plastic bins now. Also, if buying a house, seriously consider a row house – it saves energy for the planet and money on your energy bill!
Great messages. This day was such a good idea … I hope many took part! 🙂 I highlighted green books.
I love my Bella cloth bag. I am trying to get in the habit of using it for all my shopping, instead of plastic bags.
Planting lots of trees……and bamboo…..
I wish I had more time to comment on all of your wonderful posts. I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!
Just recently I started using a travel mug at the coffee shop. Fewer paper cups!
Hi there! Glad to see you posted 🙂
Well, in San Francisco grocery stores are banned from using plastic bags, which is great…
The city hall got involved and forced them, though 🙂
Though, the rest of the bay needs to catch up… So, there’s a lot of room for improvement in that area.
Sooo many kinds of stores use them, though!
I must start refusing those plastic bags… hmmm, that will be interesting, but I’ll give it a try 🙂
So glad to see so many of you also participated–and I love the tips here as well! So we have:
Reusable shopping bags;
Terrapass.com;
Recycling plastic bags at Wal-Mart;
Tips at the Australian Government’s Climate Clever;
Turning off computers, monitors, and printers at the end of the day;
CFL lightbulbs;
Scarlett’s ABCs of Making a Difference for our Planet;
Turn thermostat two degrees down in winter and two degrees up in the summer;
Compost;
Green books;
Planting trees;
Bamboo;
Travel mug instead of cups at the coffee shop;
Thanks so much for all the great tips!
Remember, every little bit counts!
We bring our own bags everywhere. But what we’re really trying to do now is to buy local. Easy in the summer, but now we’ll see how we do in Michigan in winter…
Great Blog Action Day post!
Jen, it’s just so important that we all do whatever we can; happy that you joined in 🙂