Earth Day, which is recognized on every 22 April, has been celebrated in more than 175 countries to promote the awareness and the appreciation of earth’s natural environment.
Millions people celebrate Earth Day by participating in eco-friendly activities in order to make a positive impact on the world in which we live in. This special day is also the perfect opportunity to start thinking about how you can add small, environmentally-based actions to your everyday lifestyle. Those could be achieved through small effort at home, workplace and in your community.
Why Do We Need to Go Green?
It is a complex as the environmental problems the world population faces. If the greater action is not started for solving this problem, not only this generation, but also the future generations have to deal with this massive crisis
Understanding What Green Is
“Green” is not only the color, but also taking special steps to protect the environment—the water, the land and the air that we breathe. The term is meant to define the concept of renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly processes, products and energy.
Making Choices
Going green is a complex process which needs to be taken one step at a time while replacing current methods and products with green ones. The best way to teach kids about going green is by being a good role model in our everyday lives. By showing that we respect and care about the environment, our kids will do the same.
Getting Kids to “Go Green”
In their own day-to-day activities, we can encourage kids to find ways for limiting waste, cutting down on electricity, avoiding unnecessary purchases and reusing the items that they already have. Here is the idea: Conserve energy (remind kids to turn off the light when they don’t use it, shut down the computer after using it, turn off the TV when nobody’s watching it, and resist lingering in front of the refrigerator with the door open); Hoof it (if kids can safely ride a bike or walk to school or to visit friends rather than catch a ride from parents, encourage it! If safety is being a concern, consider to organize a “walking school bus” — this activity allows kids to walk or bike to and from school under the supervision of an adult); Let there be (more) light (older kids can help to replace the incandescent light bulb with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulb provides about the same light output as incandescent bulb, but it last much longer and use a fraction of the energy); Reuse and recharge (buy rechargeable batteries for your kids’ electronics and toys and teach them how to recharge them. This will reduce the garbage and keep the toxic metals, like mercury, out of your landfills); Pass it on (ask kids to gather toys, books, clothes, and other goods that they no longer use or want and donate them to local charities. Have kids ride along for the drop-off so they can see the work of Goodwill and the Salvation Army in using the donations to help others)
In our fast-paced culture, it’s easy to take the world around us for granted. Many people aren’t aware how environmental concerns of climate change and pollution to the rise of e-waste are impacted by our daily activities. It’s never too late or too soon to become an environmental steward by committing to be more kind to the planet. Take action by creating more eco-conscious traditions with your family.
Source: https://issuu.com/gogreenkp/docs/april; https://issuu.com/gogreenkp/docs/go_green_kids_worldwide_magazine_; http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/go-green.html#; http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Why_Is_it_Important_to_Go_Green
