You can protect the Earth

Earth Day, April 22, is an ideal time to become more earth friendly and take action to make our planet a cleaner and safer place for us all to live.

As an individual, you can start with something as simple as picking up any trash you see on the ground and turning off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.

You can turn off appliances and lights when you leave a room and select energy efficient products for your home. You can make the right energy efficient choice by going to www.energystar.gov and using the Energy Star program. Energy Star is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.

You can save energy by insulating your water heater and pipes, and having leaky refrigeration systems fixed. In good weather, hang your laundry on a line.
Planting a tree is a favorite way to celebrate Earth Day and while you are busy planting a new tree, you can offer any leftover tree seedlings to your neighbors and friends.

Beginning a recycling program is an excellent way to commemorate Earth Day. Recycle your paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. At the same time, you can investigate how to properly dispose of items such as paint, solvents, car batteries, motor oil, and pesticides.

As a companion to recycling, you could start a compost pile with leftover food and clippings.

When you go shopping always try to buy products with less packaging and look for packages made from recycled materials. When you do your shopping, try walking or riding your bike instead of driving the car. Good for your health and good for the environment!

_________________________________________

What can you do to save the Earth

Saving the Earth is a big project, but if each one of us does a few helpful things, it becomes a step toward the goal. Here is what you could do.

• Recycle. Save your bottles, cans, tires, and paper so they can be used again. You could be surprised where they end up. When the Super Bowl was held on Ford Field in Detroit, it was played on FieldTurf, a multilayered system made from recycled tires and tennis shoes, along with sand, to create a cushioned playing field. It recycled 250,000 old tires.

• Stop burning your trash. When the trash is burned, it releases toxins into the air. Items that produce poisons include bleached paper, some inks, and painted or treated wood. Plastics such as those found in wrapping tubing, piping, flooring, toys, and jugs contain poisonous polyvinyl chloride. The poisons form because the temperatures in burning barrels are too low to destroy them. Smoke carries the toxins, which can cause breathing problems. When they settle on the soil, they can be carried off by rainwater and ultimately contaminate ground water.

• Reduce paper trash. Use both sides of a sheet of paper. Save documents with your computer keyboard rather than printing them out. When you need a handout, count how many people will get it and print only that many.

• Reuse computer disks, and recycle toner cartridges. Check your supplies before you order more. Organize pens, pencils, markers, paper, clips, notes, and tape refills so you know what you actually need.

• Take toxics off your home shopping list. Choose biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products. Use only latex paints.

• Before you buy something that could end up in the trash, ask yourself if you really need it.

Celebrate Earth Day by recycling

What good does recycling do?

Recycling conserves natural resources, lowers demand for energy, reduces air and water pollution, creates jobs, supports local economies, and saves landfill space.

What's the difference between "reuse" and "recycling?"

Reuse means utilizing the product as is for the same or a different purpose. Using washable cloth napkins is a form of reuse. Using plastic grocery bags as trash can liners and food jars as small-item holders is another.

Do I need to rinse containers?

Yes. Residues from food and other products can be contaminants in the recycling process. And because recyclables are raw materials, they are handled, baled, stored, and shipped to a remanufacturer. Clean containers are less likely to attract insects.

Do I have to remove caps and lids from containers?

Yes. They are made from a different type of material. Metal or plastic caps must be removed from glass bottles and jars.

What can I recycle?

Newspaper, magazines, glass, aluminum and steel cans, used oil, soft poly bags, metal hangers, tires, paint appliances, furniture, and clothes are popular choices.

Does recycling help me right now?

Yes. Recycling newspaper and magazines saves you the cost of trash removal. Aluminum cans can be sold to a scrap dealer. You save the landfill and get $5 or $10.

New York's big Earth Day bash
spreads across the U.S.

With companies and individuals working hard to live a greener life, Earth Day takes on an even greater significance. Launched on April 22,1970 as a form of environmental protest, Earth Day continues to be celebrated on April 22 although organized events are often scheduled for a weekend.

Earth Week in New York's Grand Central Terminal is a weeklong celebration that includes EarthFair and The Giant Earth Images. The Image is an earth-friendly projection show featuring artwork, photographs, quotes and messages that are projected on two giant pillars in the Main Concourse. The continual projections are accompanied by nature sounds that attract commuters and visitors.

Part of the event is EarthFair 2008, slated for April 18 and 19 in the Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall. It includes display booths by environmental nonprofits and music, music, music.

New York's Green Apple Music and Arts Festival is said to be the biggest Earth Day celebration in the U.S. Its performers will give concerts in New York, including their appearance at EarthFair. The celebration spreads to nine other cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami and to the Mall in Washington D.C.

While New York has a gigantic celebration, individuals and communities usually celebrate Earth Day in their own ways.

You could plant a tree, but make sure it is indigenous to your own area. Or you could join others to help clean up a river, lake, beach or walking trail.

Simple, inexpensive ways to 'go green'

For just one person, the thought of saving the Earth can be intimidating. What can you do?

First, you don't have to change your entire life or spend a lot of money to make a difference. Every little bit helps, say advisors at the Sierra Club. Start with the obvious things you can do.

• Heat or cool your home a little less. It saves energy and won't make that big a difference to you.

• Drive fewer miles. Shop at a supermarket near you instead of going to the one across town to save a dollar.

• Run electrical equipment only when you need it. Be sure to turn off your oven immediately after you use it.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you use several, you'll even see a difference in your electric bill.

• Use less water. Don't turn the shower on until you are ready to get into it. It takes a lot of electricity to pump water and to heat it.

• Buy locally grown foods that won't require energy for transportation. Buy manufactured items made nearby.

to everyone celebrating
a birthday in April!

>> More April Gems: Cancer Control Month articles