13. BUYER BEWARE

 This is a short page on a huge subject. Today, a staggering 10% of all species of life on Earth are endangered. In a quest for more profits, we’re even threatening cherished creatures like elephants and dolphins. As a consumer, your purchases are your power. Use it to protect wildlife.

Do Not Buy Ivory- not for any reason, under any circumstances; do not buy tortoise shell, coral, reptile skins, cat pelts, sharks fin, sea horse, whale products, exotic birds, and other products from endangered animals.
Substitute other fish for the tuna you normally buy. Tuna fishermen have needlessly killed more than 6.5 million dolphins. Using circular “purse seine” nets, up to ¾ miles long, the fishermen surround an entire school of tuna, then draw the net closed at the bottom and pull it aboard. Anything caught in the net dies. Dolphins, which travel with yellowfin tuna, are being hauled in and slaughtered en masse. Keep it simple, by boycotting all kinds of canned tuna. Boycotts work: Recently, Iceland gave up whaling as a result of a boycott of its fish.

14. WORK HABITS

Most of the things you’ve been working on at home apply to work, too. It’s not always easy to implement them, but it’s worth it—an enormous amount can be saved. Added incentive: you may wind up a hero because recycling can save your company big bucks.

   The average office worker throws about 180 pounds of high-grade recyclable paper every year. Recycle and reuse papers. Reuse manila paper envelopes by putting gummed labels over old addresses. Bring coffee cup to work instead of using disposable cups. Set up environmental bulletin board and post notices with interesting tidbits and statistics about conservation. Include photos when appropriate. Recycle newspapers. Share this article with friends so that they too can start conservation and recycling. Make your company outing an environmental awareness trip. Ask your company to support and make donations to the conservation efforts of NGO’s.

Also, consider carpool to work.

15. HELP PROTECT THE RAINFOREST

    Some people consider the destruction of the world’s rainforests the most frightening of all recent ecological developments, because it’s something they can measure. A tropical rainforest is technically defined as a forest in the tropics, which receives 4 to 8 meters of rain per year. Beyond that, it is nature’s laboratory for all kinds of plant, animal, and insect life. The world’s tropical rainforests are critical links in the ecological chain of life that makes up the planet’s biosphere.

This is more than a political cause; it’s a fight to save a precious piece of the world. Support organizations involved in rainforest conservation. Consider alternatives to tropical hardwoods in furniture, lumber, and plywood. Do not buy forest products.

Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Better practice some of the above suggestions rather than sitting and doing nothing.  Share this article to friends so that they too can do their part. Teach the kids at an early age the importance of caring for the planet. Let’s do something. Anything.

(based on the second-hand book i bought, "50 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE EARTH" by The Earth Works Group)

We would like to hear from you. E-mail us [email protected] your suggestions, projects, activities, tips and concerns regarding simple ways to make our planet a "living planet."

Meanwhile, check out these related links for further information:

www.panda.org

www.haribon.org.ph

www.skyfishproject.org

www.wwf.org.ph