50 Ways to Save the Oceans

Written by Tim Dykman

Sunday, 03 September 2006 13:35

50 Ways to Save The Ocean is a new book by David Helvarg. Even if you think you know what those 50 ways are going to be you'll be surprised which ones you didn't think of. In fact, why not make your own local 50 ways? Exchange the names of grocery stores, rubbish companies, dry cleaners and other stores that have good attitudes about helping the environment. You can even modify and use the amazingly comprehensive checklist developed by the Shinnecock Shellfish Hatchery and Environmental Center for their families to use on their tribal reservation in Southampton, New York.  Look for more about the SSHEC's work in our Projects of the Month section next door. We're going to be featuring other ideas from David's book and you should check out the Blue Frontier's website. Read More... Here are some  of David's Helvargs ways to use less plastic: Make sure any plastic you take on a boat or to the beach goes home with you. When you go to the beach pick up the trash you see. Others will follow your lead and thank you for taking care of their front yard. Take a cloth bag to the grocery store. Buy food from bulk bins. If you can carry it or put it in another bag you already have, don't get a new bag when you buy something. Use newspaper or real popcorn as your packing material, instead of plastic peanuts and bubble wrap.  Recycle the plastic packaging that you receive by taking it to a packaging store that accepts it for reuse. Avoid buying throwaway products, like plastic water bottles.  Recycle what plastic you do purchase. Check out Patagonia's Common Threads Recycling program. Check with your local rubbish company or dump to make sure they really do recycle what you so carefully separate. Look for new biodegradable “green plastics” made of agricultural materials such as cornstarch. As you reduce your dependence on plastic, tell your friends and family and encourage them to do the same.                                                                Here's what we're trying to avoid!! Here is the Checklist The Shinnecock Shellfish and Environmental Center adapted from the book "Good Planets are Hard to Find." Home: _ Use paper instead of plastic products _ Use re-usable dishes and cups instead of throw-aways _ Turn off the lights, TV and Radio when I leave the room _ Cover cooking pots so the water in them boils faster _ Help my parents insulate and weatherstrip my home _ Keep the door and the stormdoor closed when it's cold out _ Don't waste food. Tell my parents to save leftovers and take them to school for lunch _ Conserve water. Turn off the faucet when I'm brushing by teeth. Take shorter showers _ Tell my parents to turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees in the winter _ Try to only use the airconditioner when it's really really hot _ Help load the dishwasher and only run it when it's full _ Wear my clothes more than once and only wash them when I have enough for a full load _ Try drying my clothes on a clothesline instead of in the dryer _ Don't pour bad chemicals like paint or oil down the drain. Help take them to the dump. _ Be happy with less stuff and give the things I'm not using to others Garden: _ Plant a garden _ Make a compost heap to fertilize my garden _ Make sure my parents only use safe pesticides or herbicides on our lawn and garden _ If my parents water the lawn or garden make sure they do it at night or early in the morning Recycling: _ Sort plastics, paper, glass, aluminum in the trash _ Return empty bottles and cans _ Fix things instead of throwing them away _ Donate the clothing I don't wear  and the toys I don't use to other people _ Use recycled paper _ 3-R's: Reduce waste, Reuse, and Recycle! Outside: _ Don't be a litterbug! _ Plant a tree _ Cleanup my neighborhood and beaches Buying: _ Watch what I buy myself and influence what my parents buy! _ Buy environmentally friendly products whenever yI can. _ Buy products that have the least packaging _ Buy products made where I live and food that's grown near me _ Buy rechargable batteries. When I throw them away take them to the dump _ Don't buy products made of ivory, turtle shell, sharks, or the fur and feathers of endangered species Transportation: _ Ride my bike instead of asking my parents to drive me around the Rez _ Take lots of people in my car when we go to school, the store or other places Reservation Environmental Center _ Read more about ecology and celebrate Earth Day _ Adopt a stream, tree, beach or road to look after _ Raise money for the center _ Join and support ecology groups and clubs _ Set up a recycling program at the Rez _ Twin with another project and have eco-contests and eco-projects with them _ Save trees and the Rez _ Ask our Trustees and Tribal Council to set up a roadside recycling plan _ Set up an organic vegetable garden at the Center and do a compost bin _ Visit a waste disposal site and find out what really happens with recycling _ Begin a news clipping service about pollution problems and solutions in our community _ Have a walk-a-thon or a run to gather pledges for ecology projects _ Write to business and governemnt leaders about stopping pollution _ Consider our impact on our Earth when making all of our decisions _ We can think globally (about what we do and how it effects the whole planet) and act locally (start making things better in our own community) _ < Prev   Next >