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Why is it so important to look after the planet?
Isn’t global warming nothing but a big scam?
What can I do that will make a difference anyway?
These are questions that I hear day to day from all
different people from all walks of life.
I’m not going to bombard you with a load of statistics and
mind numbing data – instead I’m gonna give you my perspective and my opinion.
Why is it so important to look after the planet?
Because at the end of the day – it is the only one we have.
Don’t we owe it to ourselves and our children, not to mention all the
generations to come, to help preserve the beauty of the natural world? How sad
it would be if we destroyed this beautiful planet through our own selfish acts.
Trees are the lungs of our world, if we continue to destroy
them we will eventually suffocate
Isn’t global warming nothing but a big scam?
Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t.
They are rather big maybe’s
though doncha think?
Are you willing to take the risk and treat it all as a big
myth and/or scam?
The lessons given on how to reduce our impact on the planet
and the environment are fundamentally good lessons and ones that we can
implement in our day to day lives.
Where’s the harm in trying to be more eco friendly?
What
damage is caused by trying to reduce out carbon footprints?
Then ask yourself “what’s the harm in not caring about our
environment?” and “what damage is caused by not bothering to reduce our carbon
footprints?”
It’s a pretty big gamble if you ask me.
What can I do that will make any difference?
There are so many things that each and every one of us can
do daily to help lessen our impact on the environment. If we were all to do our
little bit then that harmful impact would be reduced immensely.
Remember – if you’re not part of the solution then you are
part of the problem.
Here’s a list of things we can all realistically do every
day to lessen the harm we might cause to the planet:
Recycle –almost all councils have recycling facilities set
up, some even have road side collection In this day and age there really is no
excuse for not recycling your household waste.
Reuse – buy second hand as and when possible. I urge you all
to seek out your local freecycle group and to become an active member. One man’s
junk is another man’s treasure.
And don’t forget about your local charity shops
– give to a worthy cause at the same time.
- Remember to turn off lights and other electrical gadgets
when they’re not in use – including your mobile charger….it’s gonna save you
money too.
- Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth – let it run ONLY
when you want to rinse your brush.
- Check for leaking taps and repair them – again this will be
saving you money.
- Replace all your light bulbs with energy efficient ones –
another money saver (good this isn’t it!)
- Take public transport as and when possible – or share lifts.Walking or cycling is even better as it’s a great way to
stay fit.
- Try and buy locally grown fruit and vegetables and support
the local farmers and shops.
- Switch over to eco friendly feminine products like the
Mooncup and Divacup
- Use recycled toilet rolls
- Use reusable handkerchiefs and serviettes
- Encourage your work place to recycle – this includes
anything from paper and plastic to office furniture and equipment
- By eco friendly products – there are so many good eco
friendly products on the market that again there is no excuse for not switching
from your old brands. Be sure to double check that they are not tested on animals.
You can even have a go at making your own as well if you’re
interested.
Bathroom Scrub
You'll Need:
Squirt Bottle
1 2/3 cups water
1/4 cup liquid soap
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons vinegar
3 or 4 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix the soap and water until the soap dissovles. Stir in the baking soda and
then the vinegar, adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Store in
the squirt bottle and be sure to shake the mixture before each use.
Rinse this cleaner away completely to avoid leaving a film on your bathroom
surfaces.
Air Freshener
You'll Need:
Spray bottle
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 cups hot water
15 drops favorite essential oil
Combine the ingredients in the spray bottle making sure to add the vinegar last.
Shake gently to mix. Spray into the air in the room you want to freshen. Be
sure that you shake the mixture before each use.
Want to neutralize an odor in a room instead of adding a new scent? Put out
small bowls of vinegar or baking soda. These substances absorb unpleasant
odours.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
You'll Need:
1 cup borax
1/2 cup vinegar (optional)
Sprinkle borax into toilet bowl at night. In the morning, just scrub and flush
the toilet. This should help dissolve grime and even old rust stains.
For extra strong toilet bowl cleaner, add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the borax.
Oven Cleaner
You'll Need:
Water
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
non-abrasive scouring pad
Sprinkle water generously over the entire bottom surface of the oven. Sprinkle
the baking soda over the water and let sit overnight. The baking soda will lift
and loosen the grease. Just wipe the oven clean with the scouring pad and rinse
away any residue.
Wood Cleaner and Polish
You'll Need:
Glass Jar with Lid
1/8 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/8 cup food grade linseed oil
a few drops of vitamin E
Mix the linseed oil, vinegar and lemon juice in the glass jar. Rub the mixture
into your wooden furniture with a soft cloth. Mix in a few drops of vitamin E
before putting the lid on the jar - this will let you save the leftovers for
another cleaning.
Glass Cleaner
You'll Need:
a spray bottle
1/4 cup vinegar
2 cups water
2 teaspoons lemon juice OR 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle. Shake gently to mix. Spray the
cleaner onto glass surfaces and wipe clean with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Old newspapers can also be used.
Mold and Mildew CleanUp
You'll Need:
A spray bottle
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine ingredients in the spray bottle. Shake gently. Spray on household
surfaces that are affected by mold and mildew. Do Not Rinse.
The smell of the tea tree oil will dissipate in a few days. (It's medicinal
smelling; tea tree oil is known for its antifungal properties.) Try adding a
few drops of lavender essential oil to sweeten the smell.
One of my favourite general purpose cleaners is:
In a spray bottle fill up with warm water and add:
20 drops Tea Tree Oil
10 drops Patchouli Oil
shake well before each use
Just spray and wipe down wherever you want.
This keeps until it's all used up and is very antibacterial as well as smells
good.
All these simple little things we can do every day with
little to no distraction to our busy lives. If every person did at least one
thing off the list then ….well…I said I wouldn’t mention statistics.
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