Earth Month

[Maplen13]

 Yes, I know. But it is something that I really want MLNO to do in April. Earth day in April 22. And I think this is the best way to stimulate some thinking, debates, discussions, some contests, and etc.

 You see, I really do think I care about the Earth, and that we need to appreciate the month that Earth day is situated. And I want to say... this is a perfect time. And the ideas of contests to some etc, just like the Space Month forum, is needed.

I'm proposing that we should take a little time to celebrate nature to being in this forum.
Contests:
-Writing poem/essay on the state of the planet/ways to save it
-build a landscape or natural wonder of earth out of legos
-Drawing/Art contest, on natural landscapes, or advert about Earth
-scavenger hunt for selected pictures hidden in Environmental/Earth topics
Debates:
-The effect on Economy vs. effect on Environment
-Natural or Unatural occurance
-Moral responsibility of humans to clean the earth?
Discussions:
-Ideas of how factories can reduce pollution(Lego making contest?)
-Ideas for a green car(Lego making contest?)
-Ideas for a green home(Lego making contest?)
-Tiny ways to make your life greener

So many ideas, but I think... that it is this time now... right now, for the Earth to be rightfully treated as something that we need to be aware of. And this opportunity is all we have for a "Greener" Community.
Thank you.

[mtmerrick]

as long as there are no lectures about the evil that is LEED, i'm all for it.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

AHEM.. I am a certified LEED AP

[mtmerrick]

AP?

and so? my dad's LEED certified as well, but he hates it with a passion. =P and since i help his study for tests, ect... lets just say i've never met anyone wo didn't hate it. and i've met several people who are LEED certified as well.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Well maybe we can have a topic about that in April.

[mtmerrick]

it'd make for a good debate, that's for sure. i have plenty of ammo, i'd like to see what you have in return.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

I think another good topic would be the benefits of eating locally grown food.

[lionytai]

Maplen is a member of the Earth Month organizers, is there anyone else?

[MsRowdyRedhead]

We need to get going with this if we are going to do it.

[Teddy3333]

This is my opinion of earth day:

/EDIT: Removed because one of the words in the link isn't all that appropriate for here. -- Blade

[Mahri828]

 That's a great idea! Perhaps I'll write a couple haikus!

[Shoots Da Kine]

I think that would be a cool idea!

[Maplen13]

Well it's April, and I really don't think it will be happening anytime soon next to Earth Day  But nevertheless, I will at least make some kind of topics about Earth in the Etc board.

[Teddy3333]

Here is my report. I wrote half of it.

How does human population growth affect resources?

As the human population expands, resource consumption climbs. The result of population increases in developing countries is a demand for more stuff. It is perfectly possible for the earth to provide people's essential needs. But people don't just want their daily Bread and Water, they want an elaborate dessert to go with their excessive amount of "Daily Bread". People always want that better job, more money - more vacations. This is the essence of capitalism and materialism.

And so, as more people come into this world, more land will be developed and less land will be allowed to exist in its natural state. Wetlands, forests, and prairies are all being gobbled up by developments. Humans can consume resources faster than nature can create them: fossil fuels, soils, water and even various species. More humans also create more waste and the need for waste disposal. The land available for agricultural use is decreasing with the increased population.

In developing nations high population growth results in more urbanization and more unemployment. A greater burden is placed on already thinly stretched resources. This creates a competition for the limited resources available. Hostilities can then erupt escalating to violence and war.

Estimates vary with one study reporting the population as decreasing in 44% of the counties but increasing in the other 56%. Education is a key factor in reducing population growth in underdeveloped nations. These nations have their limited resources stretched already.

　

We, in the industrialized countries, can better manage our resources by following the old adage…reduce, reuse, recycle. It sounds very simplistic and yet it truly states the heart of the matter. We must reduce our consumption by buying less and also buying sustainably produced products. We must buy quality items instead of products that end up in landfills within the year. We should buy items in bulk when possible to reduce packaging. Items packaged in plastic should be avoided if at all possible.

Reuse is a term we can embrace easily. Shopping at garage sales, flea markets, and at local thrift stores is an easy and fun way to obtain needed items and conserve resources.

Recycling…is more than it sounds. Education is a key issue here. Just because an item has a recycling symbol on it does not mean it is recyclable. It is in some instances merely a marketing strategy. A huge percentage of plastic waste is exported to Pacific Rim countries. The amount of post-consumer plastics exported is at least 20% to 30%. In 1995 the PRCC sold nearly all of California's recovered PET overseas. These materials are sometimes badly contaminated. Conditions at these overseas factories have been documented as hazardous and extremely exploitive. Furthermore, 50% of the materials were found to be contaminated and had to go to landfills that were improperly managed. I do not believe plastics have been found to be a viable material for recycling and consumption of it should be avoided.

I believe the sustainably managed family farm can be a tremendous asset to the U.S. in terms of lessening our footprint and reducing waste. Buying local is a benefit to the economy and helps save our resources. Less fuel needed for transport of goods, less toxic waste from pesticides, and healthier food produced. By returning to the small scale farm we are able to utilize the tried and true methods of agriculture. Multispecies grazing cuts down on chemical wormers needed for livestock. Using chickens to spread manure and eat bug larvae helps reduce insect infestations and the need for chemical pesticides. Using goats for brush clearing reduces the need for fuel to run tractors and their bushhogs. Growing a multitude of grasses and plants increases the health of your pastures and your livestock and lowers the need for conglomerate grown grains for feed. Growing your own livestock feed is also a wonderful way to reduce reliance on Cargil and ADM. Turnips and Mangel beets are excellent fodder for goats, sheep, and cattle. Grass finishing livestock creates health benefits for those who consume it and for those who raise it and are no longer relying on genetically engineered grains for feed.

In order for anything to succeed, I believe we must be the change we want to see.

Works Cited

http://www.mindfully.org/Berkeley/Berkeley-Plastics-Task-Force.htm

Environmental Science Systems and Solutions

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Excellent, Teddy. Thank you so much.

I Anyone can make small changes painlessly.  Here is an article from 2006... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12318915/
These stats are about trees, but I think it shows the possibilities of private efforts..
Here is the link I got it from, but more importantly this set of bullet points just sums it up.  We should all give at least one of these products a try, I know I will.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12318915/

One million trees would be saved if every U.S. household replaced just one 250-count package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones.
544,000 trees would be saved by replacing a 70-sheet roll of virgin fiber paper towels.
424,000 trees would be spared by replacing a 500-sheet roll of virgin fiber toilet paper.
170,000 trees would be saved by replacing one 175-count box of virgin fiber facial tissue.

[Teddy3333]

Thank-you. Please give half the credit to Mom; I was helping her with her school project for Environmental Science.
That's an interesting idea. Who wants to start recycling their toilet paper?

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Your report should be a topic of its own. Today is Earth Day!