Have You Tried Meat-Free Mondays?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Meat-free Mondays or Meatless Mondays is a campaign that’s growing in popularity throughout many different countries. The idea is that if we each stop eating meat one day a week, it will have major benefits for the planet – as well as for our health.

 

And the concept of meat-free Mondays isn’t simply a new craze. In the first and second World Wars people were encouraged to eat less meat because of rationing and this is when the term ‘meatless Mondays’ was first coined. The idea has now been resurrected as a green initiative. It has gained even more popularity since Sir Paul McCartney and his two daughters Stella and Mary launched a new meat-free Monday campaign. On the official website they say: “By giving up meat for one day each week you can save money, reduce your environmental impact and live a healthier life.”

 

The idea is that rather than switchingto a completely vegetarian diet, by giving up meat one day a week, people can make a small easy change that will still have major effects for the planet. Many environmentalists and scientists have shown that the production of meat causes serious negative impacts on the planet. The campaign also raises awareness of animal-rights issues and the political issues surrounding meat production.

 

By choosing not to eat meat on Mondays you could also discover some new and delicious vegetarian dishes that you wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

 

For more information and recipes, visit: www.meatfreemondays.com

Categories: free, free mondays, meat, meat free, meatless mondays, mondays, nbsp, planet

Saving Beauty, Vitality and Diversity: How to Stop Pollution

All over the world, about 7.4 billion people use consumer products to help them with the tasks of daily life. The unfortunate fact is that the manufacture and waste of many of these products causes some considerable, systematic damage to the natural environment. Not only do the smoke and fumes emitted by factories build up in our atmosphere, and trap more heat from the sun’s rays; improper disposal of waste poisons the environment, disrupting natural ecosystems. This cycle of pollution is making its way to a terrible end result: a planet Earth that is sapped of its beauty, vitality, and diversity. Because of this, stopping pollution grows more important with each passing day, and so your environmental wellness is now more important than ever before. But how can you, as just one person, do your part to put a stop to pollution?

 

1. Learn as Much as You Can: While you may have your moral reasons for stopping pollution, many people never do anything about it because they don’t know where to begin. Knowledge is power, my friend, so go to your library, surf the web for solutions, and, if you can, talk to people that know more about it than you do. These will all help you have a better understanding about pollution.

 

2. Think Small: There are countless things you can do to stop pollution. Even if each thing seems insignificant on its own, they all add up if you, and others, do them. Here are just a few things to get you started:

 

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle.


• Lower the thermometer in the winter and raise it in the summer, even you only do it by a few degrees.


• Plant a tree.


• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.


• Do not leave Appliances on standby mode. Disconnect them at the port/socket.


• Take your own travel mug when you get coffee at a coffee shop.


• Pick up rubbish even if it’s not yours.

 

3. Speak Out: Nobody is going to do it for you, so tell people about what you know. As we’ve already discussed, people may care about the planet, but are just at a loss as to what to do about it. You can show people the way by talking to your friends and family, writing an article for your school or local newspaper and putting up signs around your neighbourhood – on recycled paper, of course. Do whatever you can to get the word out there. If you meet a few like-minded people along the way, you could start a group that meets once a week. You could discuss issues and what you can do to help.

 

4. Stop Disposing of Everything: Stop using paper towels and other disposable items! Dish towels are a much more environmentally-friendly way of drying up dishes, and using reusable grocery bags is better than getting new ones every time you go grocery shopping.

 

5. Walk More: You should try to only use your car when you need to, and then walk or ride a bicycle when you can. If it is available where you live, take public transportation such as a train or a bus. Not only is this better for the planet, the exercise is also beneficial to your health and wellbeing. If you really need to drive, and live near someone else going the same way, why not car pool? If your neighbour is heading the same way as you are pick him up. The next trip, reverse the process. That way, you are saving fuel and money as well as decreasing pollution.

Categories: beauty vitality, car pool, nbsp, people, planet, pollution, pollution nbsp, recycling, Saving

Crazy Ideas That Might Help Save The World

Environmental wellness and wellbeing should be at the forefront of all of our minds. The planet simply cannot keep on in the way that it is currently going, otherwise we are going to run out of resources fairly soon.

 

When it comes to saving the environment, we should be willing to try anything, even some of the wackier ideas. We’ve collected together some of the strangest environment-saving thoughts that have been had in recent months.

 

Firstly, astronomer Roger Angel wants to give the Earth a big pair of sunglasses. The scientist says that we should build a 10,000-square mile solar sunshade, made from sixteen trillion glass disks, and place this between the planet and the sun. He says that this would reduce the harmful warming effect that the sun has on our planet by around two percent. Various other researchers have suggested a similar solution, such as creating a ring of sunlight-scattering particles all around the equator, by firing little pieces of reflective materials (such as glass) into space. The cost for this project would be a little more than a pair of sunglasses: somewhere around $350 trillion.

 

Another scientist, Peter Eisenberger, wants to use algae to start getting rid of carbon dioxide, the air pollution that comes from burning fossil fuels. The team tested this by floating certain types of algae in water, and then injecting CO2 into the water. The algae absorbed the gas, and even grew twice as fast as a result.

 

A third scientist would like to float the whole of New York on the water. Architect Vincent Callebaut has designed the Lilypad project, a conceptual island which (in theory) can accommodate 50,000 people and float on the ocean, suing solar, thermal, wind and tidal energies to create electricity.

Categories: Algae, environment, Ideas, nbsp, planet, scientist, Water

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices That Benefit the Planet

We all know that we should be doing more to help the planet, but it isn’t always easy knowing where to begin. There aren’t many of us who can afford to replace our washing machine or dryer to more energy-efficient models. However, it’s not all bad news – even small changes can mount up and make a big difference. If everyone on the planet made these small changes, we could make an enormous impact on global warming. For example, take shorter showers by installing a waterproof timer in your shower. Set it to five minutes, or better yet replace your shower-head with a low-flow or water-saving model.  It’s better for the planet, as switching the shower-head could help you save almost 15000 gallons of water per year. It’s almost better for you, as hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils – you may notice that your skin is better hydrated after you’ve been going with this routine for a while.  You can also  clean clothes at home instead of buying clothes which are dry clean only. This is because cleaners use hazardous chemicals to clean garments – these eventually break down into other chemicals which damage the ozone layer. You may be able to hand wash many dry clean items in cold water, too. This works out better for you too, as these chemicals have been linked to dizziness, nausea, skin irritation and headaches.

 

Air fresheners may make your home smell more pleasant, but they could be causing damage to your health and your surroundings. Indoor air may be up to three times more polluted than outdoor air, so open the windows and let fresh air circulate rather than relying on air fresheners. If you’d rather add a scent to your home, place orange peel and sage leaves in little bowls around the home for a nice smell to each room. Air fresheners contain chemicals which have been linked to birth defects, reproductive problems and hormone abnormalities. Even those which are labelled as unscented or natural aren’t chemical free. They also contain allergens and cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Organic coffee is better for the environment as it uses no pesticides or chemicals which would ordinarily filter into the soil and damage water supplies. They also contain fewer synthetic agents which means that they’re healthier beans for you too. When it comes to your morning shower, skip the liquid soap and opt for the bar form instead. Although they may be more convenient, liquid forms contain triclosan which is toxic to wildlife. It’s also easy to overdo it with liquid varieties, which means your skin can be dried out more easily.

Technology is an easy way to overdo it and waste energy. For example, try switching your computer to sleep instead of leaving it active for ages – you can adjust it to switch itself off to sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity. Animated screen savers use energy and are unnecessary, which means that they’re bad for the planet. Even such a small gesture to environmental wellness can make a difference. Other ways you can improve your carbon footprint is to switch off lights when you’re not in the room, turn off electrical items such as TVs when you’re not using them, and by switching to energy efficient light bulbs and products where you can. While you may think it won’t make a difference, small gestures all add up to make a positive impact on both the planet and on your health too.

Categories: air fresheners, Carbon Footprint, chemicals, energy, energy efficient, Environmental Wellness, Home, planet, shower, shower head, Water