How to Save Environment in our Own Simple Ways

There are number of ways on how to save the environment - and it all start with you! Be the agent of change. Let's paint the world green.

For the past few days that I’ve been following the news about Manila's flooding, I’ve read that people mainly blame it to the mountain of garbage secretly hiding beneath. After the water in some areas subsided, another typhoon named Helen brought rainfalls that contribute to the rising of water again.

Some commenter said that people only take actions and steps when the problem already hits us. They also said that we only noticed what the causes were when it’s already too late, that the flood already submerged the place. We can always stop or reduce these kinds of situations if we just take responsibilities for our own actions. There are so many ways to help; we don’t have to rely on higher officials to solve the problems. The solution lies in every one of us.

Here are some simple ways that might help reduce environmental problems as well as stop situations like these to happen:

• Dispose the garbage and waste properly.

It’s not hard to properly put the garbage into a plastic or garbage bag, tie it neatly and dispose it properly like putting it on the appropriate places outside to be picked up. By tying it right, stray dogs and cats won’t have the means to trash it and scatter it everywhere.

By disposing our waste correctly, we can minimize clogged drainage and waterways that are the main cause of flooding. What do you do if you happened to eat a candy when walking on the street? Are you going to throw it anywhere thinking it’s just a small wrapper?

Think again. If every person thinks the way you think, what will happen if they all throw that small candy wrapper anywhere? They will grow into numbers resulting to garbage-dumped earth. You see, every small thing you do can make a difference.

• Stop Air, Water and Soil Pollution.

How? This will go back again to disposing our waste properly. Garbage contributes to air pollution as well as on the water and soil when not taken care of. Every time I walked on the streets, the smell of ‘dead things’ makes me dizzy. How much more to a person suffering from a heart disease that needs fresh air?

How will the fishes survive if we pollute the water with our garbage? Our water and land resources feed us by the product they produce. By not taking care of our natural resources, it’s like we are poisoning ourselves every day. Will there be any future for all of us?

• Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

Plastics, cans and bottles can be reused and recycled in many ways. There are so many valuable ideas that you can do with bottles or plastics, like hand paint it to be used as decorations or anything that you know you make use of it. Cans are the best material for planting flowers and house plants too.

Don’t burn the plastics; they are the main cause why the ozone layer is thinning. Separate the non-biodegradable to biodegradable. There are junk shops that buy plastics, bottles and cans and this help you earn extra, plus the thought that you helped reduce environmental problems.

Make sure that the cans are not left to rot anywhere. Mosquitoes quickly increase its populations by breeding on those cans and bring diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

• Planting flowers, trees and house plants

Plants are our own natural source of oxygen. It absorbs carbon dioxide and gives us fresh air to breathe. It’s very healthy to have a plant or two if you’re living in an apartment or places where you don’t have a backyard and can’t really plant flowers and anything green.

And that’s where our recycled cans be put into use! Joining tree planting projects also helps save nature and our world. Let us join hands and paint the world green.

• Drive Less, Exercise More

If you’re going to a place not really far or just short trip, try to walk and leave your car or motorcycle at home. It helps reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, thus lessening air pollution. Plus, exercise is good for your health.

• Save Energy and Water

These are very simple ways on how we can contribute saving the environment. Turn off water faucets and light or appliances when not in use. Check your appliances of leaks and breaks as well as their power consumption.

• Choose Reusable Shopping Bags

Every time you go to a grocery store, always bring a reusable shopping bag to decrease consumption of plastics. Plastics can clog our waterways and can kill thousand of marine creatures.

When problems strikes, people tend to blame others for their suffering but sometimes all we need is just a little realization on ourselves that these situations were brought mainly by our own careless actions and abused to the environment. We don’t need to blame anyone nor ourselves, it is no use anyway. What we need to think and focus is on the solution, not on the problem itself.

They are just very simple things that we can do if we want to. We can always choose healthy practices on everyday living and may help save our environment. We still are the ones who can benefit on those simple things that we can do. Be responsible for your actions.

Mother Nature is screaming for our help. Let us heed the call and start saving today. Think of the future, think of your children’s children tomorrows. They also deserve a clean and better place to live in. Let's Paint the World Green!