Mike Dunford was a graduate student in the Department of Zoology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where he studied evolution. Life as an army spouse has since moved him on to Pensacola, where he's currently trying to figure out what to do next. While he's doing that, he writes stuff here, although not usually in the third person. He's also a contributer to Just in case you forgot (I did, somehow), today is Earth Day. The best bloggy way I can think of to celebrate Earth Day is to start a new meme. This one is on Earth Day resolutions.
I'd like you to take a minute or two to come up with three things that you can do to be more environmentally friendly. The first should be something that's small, and easy to do. The second should be more ambitious - something you'll try to do, but might not manage to pull off. The third should be something you can do to improve something you're already doing.
I'll start:
Small: From now on, all laundry will be done in cold water.
Bigger: At the end of the summer, I will make at least one tomato salad using tomatoes and herbs I've grown myself.
Better: From now on, I will return the reusable shopping bags to the car as soon as they're unpacked, so that I don't forget to bring them to the store and wind up using plastic again.
What are you going to do? Leave your resolutions in the comments here, or on your own blog, or on whatever blog you read this at. At the end of the week, I'll try to round up and summarize all the responses (tagging posts with smallbiggerbetter would help me do that). Once you've made your resolutions, tag a few of your friends and ask them to do the same.
Tagging:
Bora
Drugmonkey
Revere
Bob
Martin
Technorati Tags: smallbiggerbetter
Environment
Politics
Comments
I'm a sucker...
Last night, we went to the supermarket and spent $276 on groceries. Admittedly, we've just moved and so that's significantly more than normal.
All the groceries fit in the reusable bags we brought, except for needing one extra bag (and we got paper).
Is that a start?
Posted by: Ethan Siegel | April 22, 2009 3:41 PM
Thanks. I'll have to be a bit late - my body thinks it's almost midnight....
But I like the meme. I also like your "better", I'm in the "plastic bags are evil" camp.
Posted by: Bob O'H | April 22, 2009 4:51 PM
Nice recommendations Mike, I think people should do all three levels. Earth Day should be everyday, it is good that there is at least one day to spread awareness. Here are some suggestions on what you can do to help the Earth: http://www.toptentopten.com/topten/things+to+do+on+earth+day, you can add your own suggestions.
Posted by: Vince | April 22, 2009 7:14 PM
I've taken up your challenge here.
Posted by: ScienceWoman | April 22, 2009 10:25 PM
Here come my ideas:
1) I'll ALWAYS separate and recycle paper, plastic and glass, and the organic will be used as a compost,
2) I won't print short-needed pdf-s,
3) I'll sleep early to save energy.
I hope they won't be like New Year's wishes - never to come true... Fingers crossed!
Posted by: wybory sondaze demokracja | April 23, 2009 1:47 PM
Although I've only just started blogging, I've also taken it up.
Posted by: Brian D | April 23, 2009 2:02 PM
Good stuff, but the order is backwards! "Small" probably has the lowest carbon footprint compared to "Bigger" and "Better." I'm really good about the last two but not about the first...
Posted by: Who's yer Daddy? | April 24, 2009 9:30 PM