Posts Tagged ‘Earth Day Fairfax’

For those that do not know about boiling frogs, I will explain. If you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water he will jump out immediately. If you place a frog into a pot of water and slowly bring it to a boil, the frog will not resist. The image is often used to explain how we can become comfortable with situations and environments that might otherwise cause panic. Watch the news, look at your personal finances, turn on the radio, think about your job, watch an Adam Sandler movie, eat fast food, remember who you wanted to be when you were 18 – do any of these things and you will see how we are a culture of slowly boiling frogs.

We are resistant to change – even when the change is good for us – simply because change (of any kind) is scary. So, for Earth Day this year I propose that you begin the process of slowly changing who you are as a consumer. You don’t have to throw everything away for a life on the Ranch with the Manson family.  Take it one step at a time. Change one thing this Earth Day and make a plan to make another change every month. On the 22nd of each month, change some aspect of your routines or consumption that will benefit yourself and your environment.

I have listed some suggestions for actions you can take now. Not all of these apply to everyone so be creative – look around your home and at your life and find solutions that fit you.

1. Carry your own reusable water bottle.

2. Make sure you are recycling everything your city or county supports.

3. Change your bulbs.

4. Turn off lights and electronics that you are not using.

5. Support local farms – buy as many of your groceries as possible from a Farmers’ Market.

6. Don’t buy meats and dairy products with hormones.

7. Limit junk mail – ask companies to take you off their mailing lists.

8. Reuse scrap paper, packaging materials and bags.

9. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.

10. Switch to cloth diapers and napkins.

11. Try to buy used items or repair broken items before purchasing new.

12. Drive the speed limit.

13. Give up paper-towels.

14. Wash your laundry in cold water and line dry.

15. Buy GreenItUp!’s MultiPurpose Cleaner!

Change can be scary but the alternative is far worse. Have you seen a weather report in the last two years? Heavy snows, crazy hurricanes, Japan, tornadoes everywhere, fires in Texas…  These are not changes that I am willing to accept. With Frankie’s arthritis, we would not make it very far on McCarthy’s Road…

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GreenItUp! will be at the Fairfax Earth Day / Arbor Day Event this coming Saturday April 16th. The Event will be from 9AM to 2PM at the Fairfax Government Center. Workshops and seminars will be available to teach adults and children practices for cleaner living. Come out and meet the vendors and non-profit organizational members who are making everyday Earth Day. Don’t forget to pick up a bottle of GreenItUp!’s MultiPurpose Cleaner!

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