Our environment

Our environment
It's easy to have an environmentally healthy lifestyle. You just have to look at the things you do and ask yourself whether there's any better way. We've given you a big head start with this list.

Do not use paper towels, paper napkins and facial tissues made from virgin fibres and bleached with chlorine.

Use cloth towels, cloth napkins and handkerchiefs.
Do not buy plastic or foam cups and plates when you have guests or go on a picnic.
Buy a cheap set of washable dishes and silverware.
Do not buy a paper cup of coffee on your way to work every day.
Make coffee at work and drink it from a washable mug.
Do not use plastic utensils or bamboo chopsticks just once and then throw them away.
Use washable utensils when you eat fast food.
Do not eat meat. Raising animals for meat requires a much larger amount of resources than growing vegetables.
Become a vegetarian.
Do not let the supermarket pack your groceries in a paper bag nested in a plastic bag.
Bring your own cloth-bags to the supermarket. They hold more and are easier to carry anyway. You can use these bags at drugstores, etc., as well. Many stores give a discount for this.
Do not drive everywhere.
Walk when going short distances. Take public transit whenever possible.
Do not waste electricity by running your air conditioner all summer.
Open windows and use fans. Wear cool clothing and drink plenty of water.

Do not use just one side of the page for printing or photocopying.

Use both sides of a paper for printing. You'll use half as much paper with no extra work!

Do not dry-clean clothing unnecessarily.

Hand-wash any clothing that can take it.

Do not use chemical fertilizers on your garden or lawn.

Fertilize your plants with household compost.

Save Environment

The gifts provided by the natural environment are bliss for mankind as well as for the other living organisms. These natural resources including air, sunlight, fresh water, fossil fuels etc. are so vital that life can never be possible without them. However, with the increase in the greed for material goods by the large population, these resources are being used and misused beyond their limits. This, rather than ‘economic development’ is proving to be more hazardous for human health, which has been discussed below.

Reasons to Save Environment to Save Life on Earth

Following are the points describing pollution due to Misuse and Wastage of natural resources and their effects on life of living beings on the earth, thus we must save our environment to save life on earth:

Air Pollution: The increase in the use of petrol and diesel for transportation and the burning of fossil fuels in industries to produce energy make a terrible contribution in polluting the air. This results in an increase in the levels of sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons, chloro-fluoro-carbons, carbon monoxide, etc. These hazardous gases negatively affect human health causing chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and various other respiratory diseases. Also, causing the depletion of ozone layer, making mankind vulnerable to ultraviolet rays, air pollution not only accelerates ‘global warming’ but also weakens the immune system.

Water Pollution: The suspension of water soluble inorganic chemicals from industries, release of untreated human and animal wastes in fresh water and draining of fertilizers and pesticides during irrigation in rivers lead to water pollution. This not only makes the water unfit for drinking, such that its consumption causes gastro-intestinal diseases but also causes cancer. Moreover, by affecting the aquatic life negatively, water pollution makes fish unfit for consumption.

Soil Pollution: Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in soil not only kills’ bad but also good pests, thereby providing us with less nutritious crops. Also, the exposure to chemical infected crops due to soil pollution over several years causes mutations, produces cancer, etc. Soil erosion caused due to excessive deforestation and construction aids in the frequency of floods, which results in the destruction of human life on a massive scale.

Noise Pollution: Excessive noise emanating from factories and vehicles can cause physical damage to the ear, resulting in temporary or permanent hearing loss. Amongst Homo sapiens, noise pollution also has negative effect on mental, emotional and psychological health, causing stress, anxiety and irritability, thereby adversely affecting the performance at work.

Methods for Saving the Environment

Pondering over the pages of history, it can be observed that our ancestors were more concerned about saving our environment, than we are today. This can be witnessed in the contributions of Sunderlal Bahuguna, who through Chipko Movement guarded the forest resources. Similarly, Medha Patkar effectively saved the environment of the tribal people, which was negatively impacted due to the construction of dams on the Narmada River. We as the youth of today can take small steps, to similarly save our natural environment:

We should promote and also apply to the concept of 3R’s, i.e. reduce, recycle and reuse in order to prevent the excessive use of non-renewable resources. For instance, metal scrap can be used to make new metal products.

Use energy efficient tube lights and bulbs that save energy.