April 22, 2008

Living, Eating and Being "Green"
Happy Earth Day!

On April 22, 1970, Earth Day was established to protect America's national lands and their wildlife by conserving energy and the environment. Senator Gaylord Nelson was the force behind the idea of protecting our natural resources, and with the help of nationwide grassroots efforts, the green movement continues to this day.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded Senator Nelson with "The Presidential Medal of Freedom", the highest honor given to civilians in the United States. President Clinton called him the father of Earth Day. Senator Nelson passed away in 2005, but his vision of conserving our natural resources lives on and is now more important than ever.

In reading about Senator Nelson, I am inspired by his passion for life and Mother Earth. What I take away most from his message is that we as stewards of the planet need to do "a better job of saving energy". Simply put, we – all of us, need to step up and do our part of conserving our environment by living, eating and being "green". Here are 55 ways to lessen our impact on the planet.
  1. recycle, recycle, recycle
  2. reuse and reduce whatever we can
  3. reduce our consumption of energy
  4. drive our cars less
  5. plant a tree, then plant another
  6. conserve water
  7. buy or grow organic foods
  8. reuse and recycle plastic and paper bags
  9. better yet, use canvas or reusable grocery bags
  10. use chemical-free cosmetics and personal care products
  11. properly dispose of toxic or chemical garden and home products
  12. shut off the water when brushing your teeth
  13. clean your home with earth-friendly products
  14. compost, compost, compost
  15. use cloth napkins instead of paper
  16. take your own mug to the coffee shop
  17. repair leaky plumbing fixtures
  18. install compact florescent light bulbs
  19. dispose of litter and cigarette butts properly
  20. buy recycle products
  21. reinvent or recreate new products from old ones
  22. buy local food products
  23. buy items with less packaging
  24. buy in bulk
  25. stop buying individual water bottles (filter your own)
  26. find out how to recycle unwanted electronics or computers
  27. install an energy-efficient shower head
  28. use renewable energy sources
  29. ride the bus, light rail, subway or train
  30. grow your own vegetables
  31. be part of a local vegetable or fruit co-op
  32. save energy by turning off the lights and computers
  33. ride our bikes more
  34. walk more, and more and more
  35. live near your work
  36. combine errands in one trip
  37. give away unwanted items instead of throwing them away
  38. donate items to charity
  39. install energy efficient appliances
  40. use non-toxic cleaning products
  41. eliminate pesticide use on our gardens and yards
  42. protect wildlife areas
  43. help protect endangered species and all species
  44. decrease urban sprawl
  45. use alternative fuels
  46. car pool
  47. gift your car to charity
  48. reduce air pollution
  49. promote land conservation
  50. support local businesses
  51. better yet, support "green" businesses
  52. buy carbon credits to offset your carbon footprint
  53. invest in "green" companies
  54. encourage your community to design more bike and people paths
  55. contact your state and federal representatives and tell them that protecting the environment is important
Any one of these 55 conscious acts of kindness will lessen our impact on the planet, and if we engaged in every single item – our planet will live. You've all heard of the saying, "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse", right? Well, I'd like to add, "Restore, Repair, Rejuvenate and Renew" our planet. The time is now.

Earth Day is about celebrating and appreciating our planet! But, it doesn't end on April 23, it must continue every day of the year by reducing our carbon footprints. Be part of the Green Revolution by living, eating and being "green". You can do it – I challenge you to celebrate and appreciate the Earth every day, not just today! Mother Earth thanks you and I thank you.

Happy Earth Day,
Belen Carmichael, NLC
Life Coach
belen.coach@gmail.com
303.437.3806

Resources:
A message from Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson
Earth Day Network and take the Ecological Footprint Quiz
History of Earth Day
The US Government and Earth Day
World Changing, A User's Guide for the 21st Century, Edited by Alex Steffen,
Forward by Al Gore, Design by Sagmeister Inc., Abrams, NY
Join a freecycle local network to give away unwanted items

Copyright 2008, INNERGY Coaching, LLC - Belen Carmichael
All rights in all media reserved.
The content of Wellness Within may be forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for nonprofit purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given.
For other purposes, please contact Belen Carmichael.
Wellness Within is published monthly by Belen Carmichael of INNERGY Coaching, providing life coaching, nutrition and lifestyle coaching and personal training to women business owners.
Newsletter designed by A5design