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Ways to make every day Earth Day

Thursday is Earth Day, what contribution can we make to a healthier planet?

Thursday is Earth Day, what contribution can we make to a healthier planet?

The term “Going Green” can be taking small daily steps to reduce pollution; toxins in the home, amount of garbage we throw out daily, recycling and driving less.

Making everyday Earth Day involves much more.

It involves changing your attitude about preserving mother earth and all she has to offer us.

It’s the small daily choices that really make a contribution:

• Choose to not buy products that have a lot of packaging, unless it is 100 per cent recyclable;

• Recycle everything! Cardboard, all plastic containers and paper products, glass and tin. Start composting: you will reduce your wet garbage and create a wonderful bed of future nutrients (natural fertilizer) for your garden. These two alone can reduce your garbage by half. Imagine the reduction of garbage in our landfills if we all did this;

• Switch to non-toxic, biodegradable and highly concentrated household products for less packaging and a healthier, less toxic home. By using a concentrated liquid laundry cleaner you can reduce the number of bottle you throw away by 80 per cent;

• Change your light bulbs to fluorescent coil style to reduce energy consumption;

• Walk or ride your bike to work or for errands and save wear and tear on your car, get exercise and reduce pollution;

• Pick up garbage whenever you see it and teach your children to do the same, volunteer to do a neighbourhood cleanup as a cleaner planet is a healthier planet;

• Pay attention to announcements of new developments that may affect green spaces. Support local environmental concerns. If we silently sit back and do nothing, many of our grasslands and trees may be lost to future developments.

Keep others accountable for their actions that may damage the environment — many town councils and developers are working together to create a more ‘earth-friendly’ solution for future projects.

Let’s make sure we have a voice to support saving our planet.

We can all make a difference by making simple daily choices to “go green”.

On Thursday, April 22, there will be an Earth Day garbage clean up event starting downtown at 9 a.m. meeting at the corner of Gaetz Avenue and Ross Street. Or choose to take your family out and clean up your neighbourhood as your Earth Day contribution.

Attend Red Deer’s second Annual outdoor Eco Wellness Fair at Rotary Recreation Park on Sunday, May 30, from noon to 5 p.m. for various earth-friendly displays of products and services, natural healing methods, fitness demos, and a five-km run/walk.

For further information contact: jhlifestyles@yahoo.com

Judy Holt is a freelance writer living in Lacombe.