Care For the Earth - HealthyLife

“Don’t ever think you’re not important to our earth. You are!”

Every year on April 22nd people celebrate Earth day and decide to take care of the earth. Is this really happening. If you are not acting on it do read this information. If you are already taking steps still read how to take care of earth for better.

What is earth day?

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, a result of the efforts of Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.), a passionate advocate of protecting the environment and increasing awareness of environmental issues. While social activism was at peak levels in the late 1960s and early ’70s, legislation on environmental issues was nearly nonexistent. Nelson struggled since he was elected to the Senate in 1962 to persuade Congress to establish an environmental agenda. Frustrated by the obstacles and resistance he faced, he appealed to the mood of the public and designated April 22 as a “national day for the environment.” He hoped to impress upon fellow politicians that humans have an enormous impact on the environment. Nelson certainly achieved his goal. More than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration, prompting voter-hungry politicians to take notice. The overwhelming response helped generate a new political focus on the environment. As that focus has become increasingly global, more people than ever are celebrating Earth Day around the world.

Below are five reasons why we should take care of the Earth

1. It’s the only home we have.
2. It grounds us.
3. It provides us with food and water.
4. It gives us a place to run and play.
5. It is a living entity.

Global warming:

Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate. Climate change is changing our economy, health and communities in diverse ways. Scientists warn that if we do not aggressively curb climate change now, the results will likely be disastrous.

• The Basics: Carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants are collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm up.
• India is not an exception: High pollution, deforestation and increasing population adding more fuel for global warming. Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. Scientists say that unless we curb the emissions that cause climate change, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.
• What are the risk? Of course it is a risk for all beings. Climate change is a complex phenomenon, and its full-scale impacts are hard to predict far in advance. But each year scientists learn more about how climate change is affecting the planet and our communities, and most agree that certain consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. In addition to impacting our water resources, energy supply, transportation, agriculture, and ecosystems, the United States Global Change Research Program concludes that climate change also poses unique challenges to human health, such as:
• Significant increases in the risk of illness and death related to extreme heat and heat waves are very likely.
• Some diseases transmitted by food, water, and insects are likely to increase.
• Certain groups, including children, the elderly, and the poor, are most vulnerable to a range of climate-related health effects.

These impacts will result in significant costs to our families and the economy.

Taking Action:

What we can do?

1. Going green is easier than you think. There are little things you can do every day to help reduce greenhouse gases and make a less harmful impact on the environment. Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility — it’s a privilege. ­In that spirit, 10 things you can do to help save the Earth.
2. Pay attention to how you use water. The little things can make a big difference. Every time you turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth, you’re doing something good. Got a leaky toilet? You might be wasting 200 gallons of water a day [Source: EPA]. Try drinking tap water instead of bottled water, so you aren’t wasting all that packaging as well. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.
3. Leave your car at home. If you can stay off the road just two days a week, you’ll reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year [Source: EPA]. Combine your errands — hit the post office, grocery store and shoe repair place in one trip. It will save you gas and time.
4. Walk or ride your bike to work, school and anywhere you can. You can reduce greenhouse gases while burning some calories and improving your health. If you can’t walk or bike, use mass transit or carpool. Every car not on the road makes a difference.
5. If you must drink bottled water, recycle the bottle.
6. Recycle: You can help reduce pollution just by putting that soda can in a different bin. If you’re trying to choose between two products, pick the one with the least packaging. If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking almost 400 cars off the road
7. Think about how much trash you make in a year. Reducing the amount of solid waste you produce in a year means taking up less space in landfills, so your tax dollars can work somewhere else. Plus, compost makes a great natural fertilizer. Composting is easier than you think.

Energy and Driving Tips

8. Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last 10 times longer than a standard bulb and use at least two-thirds less energy. If you’re shopping for new appliances or even home electronics, look for ENERGY STAR products. In 2006, the ENERGY STAR program saved energy equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road and saved Americans $14 billion in utility costs [Source: ENERGY STAR].
9. Make your home more energy efficient (and save money). Clean your air filters so your system doesn’t have to work overtime. Get a programmable thermostat so you aren’t wasting energy when you aren’t home. When you go to bed, reduce the thermostat setting — you won’t miss those extra degrees of heat or air conditioning while you’re asleep.
10. Maintain your car. Underinflated tires decrease fuel economy by up to three percent and lead to increased pollution and higher greenhouse gas emissions . Under inflation also increases tire wear, so it will save you money in the long run if you’re good about checking your tire pressure.
11. Drive smarter: Slow down — driving 60 miles per hour instead of 70 mph on the highway will save you up 4 miles per gallon. [Source: Consumer Guide Automotive]. Accelerating and braking too hard can actually reduce your fuel economy, so take it easy on the brakes and gas pedal.
12. Turn off lights when you’re not in the room and unplug appliances when you’re not using them. It only takes a second to be environmentally conscious.

What else you can do?

You can do lots of good things for the earth. Here are ideas to keep in mind.

• Keep Your Neighborhood Clean: If you see trash on the ground, toss it in a trash can.
• Recycle Cans, Bottles, and Paper : Save them at home and at school, and help your family recycle them.
• Help Keep the Air Clean: Ride your bike or walk to school. Too many cars cause a lot of pollution.
• Save Paper: Use both sides of your paper at school and at home.
• To clean up messes, use sponges or washable cloths instead of paper towels
• Help Save Water: Don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth.
• Help Save Energy : Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Turn off the TV when you’re finished watching it. Don’t leave the refrigerator door open. Get what you want quickly.
• Plant sapling and save trees: Grow a garden around house and plant saplings that are suited for the soil where you live
• Do not destroy habitats of animals: Help to protect wild animals, do not forcibly occupy their niches and places where they live. Remember Animals are important and have equal rights as humans to live on earth.

Recycling helps:

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a TV for 3 hours
• Recycling one glass bottle or jar saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours
• Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000–2,000 gallons of gasoline
• More than 30 million trees are cut down to produce a year’s supply of newspapers
• A ton of paper made from recycled paper saves:
• 7,000 gallons of water
• Between 17 and 31 trees
• 60 pounds of air pollutants
• Recycling a pound of steel saves enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for 26 hours.
• One drip per second from a faucet wastes 540 gallons of water a year.
• It takes between 400 and 500 years for a Styrofoam cup to decompose. It takes an orange peel six months to decompose.
• Using recycled glass uses 40% less energy than making products from all new materials.
• Today, almost 22% of the glass produced in the United States is recycled.

Why do we need to recycle ? : Recycling sharply reduces the amount of waste that gets deposited in our landfills or burned in incinerator plants. Engineered landfills in most cities are designed to contain toxic chemicals leaking from decaying solid waste from reaching our water systems. But, for how long? Already, we re getting reports of dangerous chemicals contaminating water supplies in some cities. Burning solid waste for electricity may be efficient, but we pay the price in terms of increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Benefits of Recycling

• Recycling Helps Protect The Environment
• Recycling Helps Conserve Limited Resources
• Recycling Promotes Energy Efficiency
• Recycling Helps Build A Stnong Economy
• Recycling Creates Jobs
• Recycling Builds Community
• Recycling Can Be Financially Rewarding

(Source: http://www.ewasteindia.com/benefits%20of%20recycling) 

What is happening in India?

The Indian paper industry is rapidly developing. As such, the market offers above average growth potential. The global paper and paper recycling industry has noticed this opportunity. With the paper industry static in many North American and European countries, more firms are looking to establish and grow business in this dynamic economy.

To capitalize on this increased interest, the Recycling Today Media Group is introducing a conference that targets all facets of the Indian paper and paper recycling industry. 

Interesting facts:

• The estimated consumption of paper in India is projected to reach 13.95 million tons by 2015 – 2016.
• Annual recovered paper requirements are projected to increase from 8 million tons currently to 16 million tons by 2025.
• Indian newsprint demand is projected to grow by 9% per annum.
• India’s population of nearly 1.3 billion is around 15% of the global population. As income and education rise in the world’s most populous democracy, the consumption of paper will increase significantly.

Reference: Recycling Facts http://www.infoplease.com/science/environment/recycling-facts.html#ixzz3QdCMoNPc

Another factor is even though India got involved in recycling process late progress is happening steadily and people are environmentally becoming friendly for example recent studies shows that Plastic recycling is growing in India and the market is huge (http://www.plasticsnews.com/) 

Go Green campaign: In the past several years as countries all over the world have been mired in recession and affected by turmoil in the Middle East, Earth Day has taken on increased significance. Indeed, skyrocketing food, gas, and oil prices have impacted people rich and poor, businesses large and small. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the spike in energy and food prices has increased awareness about the dangers of global warming and inspired people and corporations to conserve resources and “go green.”   Many companies are doing their part by encouraging employees to use less paper and take public transportation to and from work, allowing some employees to telecommute, and using green materials and alternative heating systems when they rebuild or renovate. On the consumer side, sales of hybrid cars are up, while gas-guzzling SUVs are crowding used-car lots. A law passed in 2007 mandates use of the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), and clotheslines are becoming as popular in backyards as swing sets. These measures not only save energy and the Earth, they also save money. 

( Read more: Earth Day: History, Stats & Facts, Recycling Tips & More http://www.infoplease.com/science/environment)

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