Going Green

Everybody is talking about global warming, the greenhouse effect, carbon emissions, holes in the ozone, air and water pollution, the melting of the polar icecaps, and the prospects of rising sea levels. The very real possibility that we are doing irreversible harm to the planet on which we live is very scary.

So what can you do to help reverse the trend of polluting our environment? You can start by going green. We can all do a little, or a lot, to make a difference. All we have to do is to take a look at the products we use every day and make a point of using only those products that are environmentally friendly.

Going green means getting in the habit of recycling, using alternative energy sources, such as driving fuel efficient cars, and controlling our urges to purchase and use items that will harm the environment. This means that we, meaning everyone, have to do our parts in making, not just our country, but the whole world, an environmentally safe place to live.

It often means changing our lifestyles and always keeping our minds on the end results. When we recycle, many items that are harmful to the environment won't end up littering our streets and highways, vacant lots, our forests, rivers, lakes, and our oceans, or end up in already saturated landfills.

Plastic cans, bottles and jugs, aluminum cans and foil, along with other products such as newspaper, glass, cardboard, magazines, iron, copper, used oil, and old car batteries can be recycled. The smallest amount of recycling can make a big impact on the gigantic problems that our future generations may face in the future.

Recycling is just a small part of the problem. We have to turn to more fuel efficient cars, buses, trains, airplanes, and other modes of transportation. Hybrid cars are the wave of the future. Although the technology for hybrid cars has been around for a while, it is under developed and under utilized. Many people are beginning to see the need for more fuel efficient modes of transportation, not just because gas prices are high, but because it makes good sense for the environment.

Major investments in alternative energy sources, such as wind turbines, hydro-electric, nuclear, bio-diesel, geo-thermal, and solar power are in full development as many industrialized countries are trying to get away from total dependence of the use of fossil fuels.

Instead of driving, many people are turning to public transportation to conserve energy and to save money. Buses, subways, and metro-rail links are gaining in popularity.

To stop, or slow down, the effects of the overuse of our natural resources, we must all get involved. We must learn to appreciate our environment, understand that the earth is our only home, and we must all do our part to take care of it.

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