In 2008 and 2009, as part of my 'gratitude' and 'giving back' resolution theme, I worked to educate myself about how to protect the environment and take small daily steps toward that end. I have made three of four of the 'gratitude' resolutions that I chose to focus on permanent parts of my life that will continue in 2010 and beyond:
- Walk 60 miles for the Breast Cancer 3-Day - Susan G. Komen For The Cure - in Washington, DC, October 3-5, 2008, October 9-11, 2009, and serve as a walk 'volunteer' in October 2010 for four days (I plan to walk again in 2011) I raised nearly $6000 for Breast Cancer Research!
- Volunteer at a Virginia Horse Rescue Farm (A firm 'To Do' for 2010).
- Learn about how to combat Global Warming and take action - more action to come!
- Engage in PreMeditated acts of kindness - more action to come!
Since the end of 2009 is near, it is time to review what I have achieved and plan new 'To Do's' for 2010. I'm starting my plotting and brainstorming for 2010 resolutions for the environment this week. With that in mind, I intend to 'Give The Environment A Holiday Gift, Recycle, Reuse, Reduce', as part of my I Resolve To . . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness. Why not join me? The objective is very simple: Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'. Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'. Instead, make every day New Year's Day. Make every day count with 'daily resolves'. The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals. If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com as one of your resources. Resolve365 in 2009.
If you are interested in developing daily habits that could promote the health of the planet and, in turn, a healthier life for you, me and generations to come, roll up your sleeves.
Here are 10 easy habits to cultivate. A quick start!
- Wash and rinse clothes in cold water.
- Turn lights off when you leave rooms.
- Plant a tree in observance of Arbor Day.
- Turn your computer off when you are not using it.
- Consolidate errands in an effort to driver fewer miles.
- Reduce dependence on plastic bags and plastic water bottles.
- Turn your thermostat down to 68 in the winter and up in the summer.
- Replace fluorescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Educate yourself about your Carbon Footprint and the benefits of reducing your footprint.
- Bring lunch to work at least two days each week - you'll save money and reduce fast food trash.
Here is a list of informative websites that I compiled in 2008. They've helped me my efforts to protect and preserve the environment and I hope you will find them useful as well!
Climate Change -Take Action Today!
- EarthLab
- Carbon Footprint
- Clean Air-Cool Planet
- StopGlobalWarming.Org
- ConservaStore - Light Bulbs
- Conservation International
- EnvironmentalLights.com - Light Bulbs
- Climatecrisis.net - An Inconvenient Truth
- Direct.Gov.UK - Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
- Environmental Defense - Fight Global Warming
- Environmental Defense - 'How To Pick A Better Bulb'.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Department of Energy, Energy Star.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Personal Emissions Calculator
- FastCompany.com - How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take To Change The World(FastCompanyComLightBulbs.pdf).
Carbon Offsets
- TerraPass.Com
- CarbonFund.Org
- TreeHugger.Com
- The Climate Trust
- CarbonCounter.Org
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Wikipedia - Carbon Offsets
- The Environmental Defense Fund
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change
- NewYorkTimesFTCCarbonOffsetsJanuary2008.pdf
- BusinessWeekAnotherInconvenientTruthMarch2007.pdf
- ChristianScienceMonitorCarbonOffsetsJanuary2007.pdf
- Joint Statement By WWF, Friends of The Earth and Green Peace on Carbon Offets: WWF-GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf
Earth Day - April 22, 2009
- Earth Day Network
- Earth Day - Earth 911
- Earth Day - Wikipedia
- Earth Day - World Wildlife Fund
- Earth Day - EnviroLink Network
- Earth Day - The Wilderness Society
- Earth Day - The Nature Conservancy
- Earth Day - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- About.Com Earth Day - Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
Arbor Day - April 24, 2009
- Arbor Day Foundation
- Wikipedia - Arbor Day
- Plant-A-Tree-Today
- Clean Air Gardening
- Trees Are Good
- American Forests
- United Nations Environment Programme - Tree Planting
How To Help The Environment - Tips For Kids
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change Kids Site
- NRDC's Global Warming Challenge
- GlobalWarmingKids.Net
- Cool Kids For A Cool Climate
- Pew Center Global Climate Change
- Science News For Kids - Climate Change
Tips On Recycling
- Ecologue
- Earth 911
- Wikipedia - Recycling
- Grassroots Recycling Network
- PlanetPals - Recycling For Kids
- The Encyclopedia Of Earth - Recycling
- TreeHugger - How To Green Your Recycling
- RecycleWorks - San Mateo County, California
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Magazine Publishers Family Literacy Project - Read, Rescue & Reuse
Tips On Reducing Plastic Bag Use
- Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use
- Planet Ark - Why Are Plastic Bags A Problem?
- Environmental Literacy Council - Paper or Plastic?
- Salon - Plastic Bags Are Killings Us - SalonPlasticBags.pdf
- AlterNet, The Great Plastic Bag Plague - AlterNetPlasticBags.pdf
- Portland Business Journal - Whole Foods Market Bans Plastic: PortlandBusinessJournalPlasticBags.pdf
Tips On Winterizing Homes
Tips On Winterizing Gardens Tips On Mulching Gardens
Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!
Need More Inspiration? Wear Your Resolution By Visiting The I Resolve To . . . Shop At CafePress: I Resolve To . . . Resolutionista Gear And By Joining The Official I Resolve To . . . Group At Gather.Com. Get going on your 2010 New Year Resolutions with the new I Resolve To . . . Worksheet & Promise: I Resolve To . . . Worksheet & Promise.
Kim M. Simpson - December 12, 2009
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