Village Connect
Save The Environment, Save The Mother Earth
By MJ BLANCAFLOR
Reduce your meat and dairy consumption, you can reduce greenhouse emission—yes, that stuff that makes the earth warmer! That’s because a lot of feed is needed to keep animals alive.
We need to talk about these things because climate change is real and it demands action. Aside from lessening meat and dairy products, it also helps if you will reduce the use of your car. Vehicles produce chemicals that are harmful to the air.
The use of reusable shopping bags and refillable bottle containers are also helpful in avoiding waste. Engaging in paperless transactions is also a way to reduce carbon emissions.
A concrete way to save and protect Mother Earth is to give back and volunteer. Whether you are a tree hugger, a hiking enthusiast, or just a concerned human being, there is a myriad of environmental groups that needs your help. These groups actively take part in preserving and protecting the planet.
Things You Can Do to Save the Environment
REDUCE OR STOP EATING MEAT
The Environmental Working Group found that red meat is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse emissions as common vegetables and grains. If the grain fed to livestock were fed to people, we could feed 800 million people! Reduce your footprint and go meatless.
REDUCE OR STOP EATING DAIRY
This has some of the same bleak statistics as mentioned in point one, as well as the fact that it takes a lot of feed to keep a dairy cow alive. 66 percent of all crop calories goes to cows, and cow farts account for 28 percent of all methane emissions related to human activity. Yes, I just wrote cow farts.
CHANGE YOUR CAR DRIVING HABITS.
We don’t all have the luxury of walking everywhere, but vehicles are the biggest compromise to our air. Those tailpipes are at street level, where we can inhale the polluted air directly. Consider a world where you carpool, Grab car, walk, or take public transit more often.
NOTICE HOW YOU USE WATER.
We have a lot of water in Canada, but we also use a lot of water, and 65 percent of what we use is in the bathroom. Have shorter showers. Don’t leave the tap running when you’re brushing your teeth. Buy an energy-efficient showerhead. It all helps.
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PAPER IN YOUR LIFE.
Do you know that 40% of the world’s commercially cut timber is used for paper? This endangers natural habitats and uses a ton of water. Since it has become inexpensive to print, we do it without thinking. And lest you think you are paperless, think about your bank statements, the paper towels you use to clean the countertops, the junk mail you haven’t opted out of and the way you wrap your Christmas presents. There are many areas where each of us can help to lessen paper production.
USE A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE AND REUSABLE LUNCH CONTAINERS.
Bottled water and throw away packaging is wasteful. Landfills are overfilling with water bottles alone. It is also estimated that 3 liters of water is used to package 1 liter of bottled water. It is time to splurge on bottles and BPA lunch packages that will last. Failing that, a mason jar never hurt anyone, except perhaps your desire to not be seen as a hipster.
BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU THROW IN THE TRASH.
From kitchen scraps that can be used to make stocks to items that can be recycled, our trash should be less full the more aware we get. Channel your inner grandmother and see how many times things can be reused or repurposed rather than simply thrown away.
(Posted under Organic News & Environment by Courtney Sunday
For those who are willing to share their time, talent, and passion, here are some of the environmental groups that you might want to join:
GREENPEACE PHILIPPINES
GREENPEACE PHILIPPINESThe group campaigns for the prevention of hazardous waste imports and radioactive shipments, illegal logging, pollution and other key environmental issues. They also expose threats to our surroundings such as coal projects, hold public debates and peaceful protests on climate justice, and promote ecological farming.
HARIBON FOUNDATION
The organization was named after Haring Ibon or the Philippine Eagle due to the idea that the bird reveals the deteriorating state of our forest. Their activities include tree planting and adopting seedlings as a means of advocating the conservation of biodiversity.
PHILIPPINE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
PHILIPPINE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETYThis organization advocates for animal welfare, particularly of dogs and cats. The group also rescues abused and abandoned animals.
www.paws.org.ph
SAVE THE PHILIPPINE SEAS
The organization aims to raise public awareness on our threatened marine life. It hosts seminars on marine conservation and management to achieve its goal.
WORLDWIDE FUND FOR NATURE – PHILIPPINES
WORLDWIDE FUND FOR NATURE – PHILIPPINESThe group provides different conservation projects focusing on marine and land habitats. Its goal is to help and protect the environment by formulating solutions for climate change as well as efficient livelihood programs. Their specific mission in the country is to promote the use of sustainable energy, initiate projects for sustainable fisheries near the Coral Triangle, and protect the country’s most endangered species.
You can sign up as a volunteer through their websites, donate to their campaigns and projects, and help promote their advocacies by sharing or retweeting their posts on social media.
