You know that feeling when you want to help in a situation but are either too busy or you think you can’t help? Well the definition is called having sympathy. Most people struggle with sympathy, especially when it comes down to a global problem that can affect everyone.
But there is one global problem that we all cannot just have sympathy for: the destruction of our Earth’s environment.
We all want to help the environment in some ways, but most people cannot find the time to help, or in some cases, people believe that their small assistance will not make any difference. Well anyone who thinks that their help will not make a difference, they are wrong.
Small change can mean a big difference, especially when it comes to the environment’s change. Humans may have caused severe damage to the ecosystem and environment of our planet, but humans can also learn and help to stop climate change and find ways to make our everyday lives healthier for the Earth.
Here are some easy ideas on how to help our Earth and the environment from dangerous harm.
1. Don't just recycle, reuse!
Recycling is one of the best ways to help the planet, but reusing is even better.
When I get takeout food, sometimes the food comes in plastic containers that can be reused. I never throw out my plastic containers and always wash, reuse for other foods in my fridge, and keep them in my container cabinet. Food containers don’t need to look pretty or match! So make sure next time you get takeout, don’t throw away the containers!
2. Throw old stale water on plants
Whenever I have a glass of water that is a few days old and the water has gone bad to drink, I usually always throw the water outside on my plants and the grass. Throwing old water in the sink isn’t helping anything, so why not throw it on plants!
3. Recycle the shower water while you’re waiting to get in
For my shower head, it takes at least a whole minute for the water to heat up, and in the meantime while waiting, I realized that I have wasted about a gallon of good water. If it takes a while for your shower to heat up, the best way to save water is to get a plastic bucket and let the cold water fall in, that way the cold useful water is not just going down the drain. You can use the cold water to water plants, clean something, or even store it.
4. Clean up any trash you see!
I know I hate it when I have to clean up something that I didn’t mess up, but sometimes you have to take one for the team. If you see any piece of trash lying on the ground, then do a good deed and pick it up. It doesn’t matter who littered, they aren’t coming back to clean it. Every piece of trash I see on the ground I pick up if I can and put in a nearby trashcan.
5. Try public transportation
Public transportation is a great way to keep so many cars off the streets and a good way to minimize pollution. If there is any possible way to take public transportation, use it! Underground trains are useful also because they don’t have to run into traffic. Don’t forget about riding bikes as well.
6. Don’t take long showers!
I know the luxury of taking nice long showers, but the water wasted in each shower is immense. Try to cut down on your normal shower time. A good quick shower that also gives you enough time is about 7 minutes. Remember, the longer you are in there, the more water is being wasted.
7. Turn off lights when not in use
I have gotten better at turning off my house lights when they are not in use, and you should too. There is no purpose to have lights on in a room that isn’t required. So save the environment and save your electricity bill!
8. If possible, try to own an electric car
If you are looking for a next car, then a good car that rarely harms the environment and creates pollution is an electric or hybrid car. I myself have a hybrid Prius, and it is one of the best cars I have driven. Not only do I rarely pay for gas but the Prius is a safe car for anyone. Since the Prius runs on half being gas and the other half a car battery, I only visit the gas station once every 2-3 weeks, sometimes I don’t even have to fill up for a whole month. Electric cars are even better, which they rarely even need gas in the car to run. The environment appreciates electric cars and so does your wallet. It’s a win win scenario.
9. Use less heat and air conditioning
I know I know, I love turning on the heater when it’s cold and the air conditioning when it’s hot. But sometimes just turning them on can cause a lot of energy to be used against the environment, and not to mention fees on your house bill. If you are cold or hot, put on some warm clothes and a blanket or use a fan instead. Getting cozy doesn’t require any harmful energy, and using a fan is much better than turning on the AC, energy wise and money wise.
10. Start a garden or plant a tree
Planting a tree doesn’t just mean planting it for beauty or for your breathing; planting a tree can also help the environment greatly. Trees release Oxygen(O2), which is good for the air and for any living thing breathing, and we in turn give the plants Carbon Dioxide(CO2), which helps them grow. Trees are also amazing absorbers of pollution. Trees take in pollution and keep our air clean.
11. Avoid eating meat
I myself am what is called a pescetarian; it means that I only eat seafood and no other meat. My goal one day is to try and go vegetarian all the way, and it’s a working process. The reason why I quit red meat is because not only are the animals getting killed for the purpose of human food, but cow farms, for instance, are one of the worst examples of great harm to the environment. Cow farms don’t just keep cows, they take up land, they transfer the cow’s feces to a separate location, which is much like a lake, and dump the feces into the water, where some streams lead from. So some streams near a cow farm can be filled with poop. Fyi.
Another fact that cow farms cause against the environment is the cow themselves. When a cow farts, they give off Methane, a harmful gas to the environment. This is caused by the bacteria in the cow's stomach. It does not matter what the cows are fed, they always release some solution of methane into the atmosphere when they fart or burp. Methane is proven to be 20x worse than regular car pollution. This doesn’t mean that we should rid of all cows, it just shows us how many cows we keep cooped up in a farmhouse, and the damage just one cow farm can do to the environment. That is why I do not eat red meat, because if we all can boycott cow farms, then the amount of cow lives that can be saved and the amount of methane going into our atmosphere can be lowered.
Little actions that we take can greatly change the course of the environment, whether the actions or harmful or helpful. So be sure to ask yourself which action you will be taking to change humanity's future of the environment.
