Ecology

Few can ignore the seriousness of the challenges facing us in the years ahead. Naysayers and spindoctors are now virtually silenced by the weight of evidence supporting the fact of human generated climate change.

The constant stream of depressing news generates despair and inertia. In the end, we just have to stay positive and do our best. Start with your self, your home and your local community. Use your consumer spending power wisely. What you buy and where it comes from has global influence..

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

10 Top Tips

1. Get informed and get involved
   Read books and newspapers and watch films and DVDs about global warming. Then talk to your neighbours, co-workers, friends, family and community groups about ways to reduce global warming.
2. Eat wisely
   Choose foods that are local, organic and low on the food chain whenever possible. Make the most of seasonal foods.
3. Fly Less
   Business travellers can take advantage of great new technologies such as video conferencing and webcasting. Explore new areas close to home for your next vacation.
4. Take public transport, walk, bike, car pool
   Consider moving to a location where taking transit and walking are an easy alternative to driving to work.
5. Take care of your trash & Leave No Trace
   Composting all organic waste – and recycling paper, cardboard, cans and bottles – will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfills. Use travel mugs, avoid buying plastic bottled water.
6. Create an energy efficient & chemical free home
   Look for the “EnergyStar” label when purchasing new appliances, and replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Switch off lights when you leave a room and unplug appliances that are not being used. Use biodegradable and natural cleaning and body products. Read the label.
7. Purchase your electricity from sustainable energy sources
   If renewable energy is not available from your utility, consider purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates, which are like using green power.
8. Support environmental charities.
   By influencing governments and businesses - which ultimately have most power to stem environmental damage, charities are bringing about big changes in the way we treat our planet.
9. If you buy a car, make fuel efficiency a top priority.
   Think about the day ahead and plan your trips so that you run as many errands as you can at once.
10. Go carbon neutral!
    After you've reduced, recycled and reused, you will still have a carbon footprint – we all do. Purchase carbon offsets. Support tree planting programs and forest preservation, e.g. through Rainforest Concern.

Writing

I have written articles on green issues for the Environment Agency, UK and Breathe magazine, Canada.

The written word is a powerful medium to communicate ideas. If you have the ideas but not the words, let me bring your concepts to life. Paraphrasing, spelling and grammar are my specialties, whether American, British or Canadian English.