Preserving Fresh Water

We may think there is an abundance of water, but in reality if we imagined a 4 litre/1 gallon container only 1 tablespoon would actually be fresh drinking water on Earth. Most of the water is either in the sea or held in ice. As every day, due to climate change, more ice melts we are losing fresh water. Be aware of this precious commodity and give thanks. 

What You Can Do

* Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth.
* Take showers rather than baths

* Fix leaks and repair them quickly.

* Use the "short cycle" on your washing machine. Consider purchasing a high-efficiency washer.

* Install a water-efficient showerhead. Did you know that a 10-minute shower with an inefficient showerhead can use up to 200 litres / 50 gallons of water? Installing a water-efficient showerhead can save up to 24,000 litres / 6,000 gallons of water a year?

* Install a low-flush toilet. Doing so for a family of four will save 200 litres / 50 gallons of water per day. Put a plastic drinks bottle filled with water in the sistern!!

and....Remember the great Australian slogan "If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down". Flush as little as possible

* Reduce household pollutants. Avoid buying toxic household products. Look for a label on soaps, washing up liquids, laundry detergent, disinfectants, bleach, drain cleaners etc  that says "biodegradable" and "no phosphates". Or use vegetable-based cleaning products and biodegradable detergents available in most natural food shops.

* Do not dump hazardous chemicals, like painting supplies, lawn-care, or cleaning products down the drain. Follow disposal instructions.

* Make low-impact food choices. Routine agricultural practices contaminates groundwater with more than 47 pesticides. Buy organic foods, whose production reduces the chemical run-off into our waterways.

* Avoid wasting precious resources by buying only what you can eat.

* Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycling reduces the need to use raw materials for making new products, a process that is not only water-intensive, but increases water pollution

* Water plants at appropriate times. Hot weather does not necessarily mean your lawn or garden needs watering. It is best to water your garden in the cool of the morning or evening. Watch your garden for signs that it is thirsty: flowering plants will lean or wilt, lawns will leave tracks when stepped on.

* Use mulch. Wood chips, shredded hard and softwood bark, grass clippings, or tree leaves laid 3 to 4 inches thick over your garden can reduce the evaporation of water and hold back weed growth. Group plants. Group plants according to water need so you avoid over or under watering each plant.

Preserving Oceans

Two-thirds of the Earths surface is covered by the sea. If there were no mountains, the entire planet would be covered by a layer of seawater 2,500m (8,200ft) deep. Under the ocean is the most extensive mountain range, deepest trench, the largest structure built by living organisms and the largest animal in the world, the blue whale.

Life on Earth depends on healthy oceans - from coral reef communities teeming with life to mangrove swamps that provide a home for thousands of species. Our planet's oceans are in trouble and the plant and animal life they sustain are being threatened.

Scientists believe that accidental drowning in fishing gear is the single greatest threat to the survival of many of the world's 86 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The most recent study on entanglement estimates that it kills more than 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises annually. 

What You Can Do 

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the impact on marine ecosystems and species:

* Be an informed consumer of fish and other seafood. Ask where the fish comes from and the status of the fishery. Avoid products from fisheries with excessive levels of bycatch.

* Avoid purchasing over-exploited stocks such as Atlantic swordfish, wild-caught Atlantic salmon, and sharks. 

*If you visit somewhere where there is tropical reef, ensure you do not stand on it or break it off. Coral is very fragile and some takes 50 years to grow 1 inch.

*Remember what goes down the drains ends up in the oceans. Chemicals destroy the delicate balance of life in the ocean.

*There are now over 200 "dead zones" in the Earths oceans. High nitrogen levels, from artificial fertilisers, sewage and factory run off has killed ALL life in some parts of the sea.

For more information see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_zone_(ecology)

Protecting Forests

Forests are essential to the web of life: they are home to millions of species, protect soil from erosion, produce oxygen, store carbon dioxide, and help regulate climate. Forests are also essential to human beings: they provide us with food, fuel, shelter, medicines, and a variety of wood products. They also purify our air and water and provide us with places of recreation and renewal. With irresponsible forest practices, many of these functions are severely debilitated.

Almost half of the planet's original forests have disappeared. Of what remains, only about 10 percent are protected. In the minute it has taken you to read this page, some 64 acres (that's roughly the size of 60 football fields) of forest have been lost. Threats such as illegal or irresponsible logging, land clearance for agriculture and development, and fires destroy these ecosystems at astounding rates.

About 2.3 million square miles of forest are harvested annually to supply global consumption. And this is where you come in. As a consumer of forest products - things like paper and furniture, - your purchasing decisions have an important impact on forests. The companies that produce and sell forest products depend on your dollars, so they will listen to your opinions and react to your behavior.

What You Can Do 

* Buy recycled paper and always use both sides.

* Purchase conscientiously. Look for wood and paper products displaying the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label. The FSC label guarantees that your chair, plywood, snowboard, guitar, or hairbrush is made from wood harvested to rigorous environmental standards, and your purchase supports responsible forest management. You can find these products on the Web at www.certifiedwood.org. Ask for FSC certified products at hardware stores and from your housing contractor or architect.

* Encourage suppliers. If you cannot find the FSC logo on the products, ask the shop to stock them. The more customers request for products from well-managed forests, the greater the incentive for forest owners and retailers to provide them.

Specify FSC. If you work in a company, organization or statutory body encourage them to request FSC-endorsed sources every time they make a purchase.

* Join an environmental organisation and help reach out to lawmakers, corporations, and other institutions that influence forest management.

 * Protect an area of rainforest forever. A brilliant birthday gift and a real way of having an immediate effect.

www.cloudforest.org

Saving Endangered Species

Although no one knows exactly how many species there are on Earth, one thing is for sure the biodiversity of this planet is in rapid decline. Some estimates say more than 5% of the planets species are disappearing each decade and humans are largely to blame.

Though they may seem too large and fierce to be threatened, many species are today forced to the edge of extinction

What You Can Do 

* Buy less! Consumption of natural resources is one of the top threats to endangered species around the world, leading to habitat destruction and climate change.

* Buy organically-grown fruits, vegetables, and cotton products. Look for foods grown locally whenever you can. Non organic food is grown with pesticides and fertilisers which is extremely harmful to all forms of wildlife. Many native birds and insects are becoming extinct in the UK.

* Avoid products that contain toxic chemicals and high levels of phosphates.

* Choose products with minimal packaging and take reusable bags to the shops. Millions of animals die every year from eating plastic, especially dolphins and turtles.

* Join an environmental organisation who are protecting the worlds endangered species.

* Say "No" to Bad Souvenirs
Some souvenirs could end up costing a lot more than you paid for them. Think twice before you buy any products made from any endangered species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral - they could be illegal.

 Climate Change

Climate change is among the most pervasive threats to the web of life, yet we have the power to address its root causes and limit its impact on the planet. Smart energy choices made by individuals and businesses can dramatically reduce CO2 emissions and slow global warming. Without action, climate change will cause the extinction of countless species and destroy some of the world's most precious ecosystems. 

What you can do 

* Choose clean energy. Where possible select a power plan that uses at least 50% clean energy. Ask your energy supplier for green energy.

* Drive a hybrid or fuel efficient car. Save the environment and money by driving a car that gets higher MPG

* Recycle. Recycling saves a lot of energy needed to make new products. Recycle 50% of your glass, aluminum, plastic, cardboard and newspapers. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 2,400)

* Adjust your thermostat. Turn it down 3 degrees in the winter and up 3 degrees in the summer. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 1050)

* Buy a programmable thermostat. Automatically lower your monthly energy bill by giving your heat and air conditioning a break while you are asleep or out. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 1,050)

* Replace a worn-out refrigerator with an Energy Star model.

*Turn your computer off overnight and put it into a power save mode. A standard monitor left on overnight uses enough energy to print 5,300 copies. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 950)

*Do not leave tv, dvd etc on standby, turn it all off.

*Drive 15 miles less each week. Shrink your petrol costs and your waistline by walking, biking and taking public transportation. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 900)

*Avoid idling. Give your engine and the climate a break by turning off your car when you aren't moving... except in traffic or at a traffic light of course. Try to cut out 10 minutes of daily idling. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 550)

* Wash clothes in cold or warm water. Skip the hot water on 2 loads per week. You'll save energy and should have less wrinkled cloths. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 500)

* Use compact fluorescent bulbs. It's a bright idea to replace 3 incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs that last up to 10 times as long and use 1/4 of the energy. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 300)

* Keep your tyres filled. Your ride will be smoother and you'll save up to 5% on your fuel bill. (Pounds of CO2 Savings Per Year = 275)