I have just finished watching an ABC's documentary movie titled "Earth 2100". This movie outlines us with the worst-case scenario of what will happen in the future if we don't start to change the way we live. Global warming is not a discourse that we can argue at but it is already a threat which someday possibly become our worst nightmare. The film starts with pessimistic tone but it wraps up in an optimistic tone that things can happen very differently when we start to do things differently.
It takes the character of a woman named Lucy who was born in 2009 and has to experience many shifts in the upcoming world. The lack of fossil fuels, melting ice on the pole, climate change, mass migration of people and animals, drought, famine, refugees, storms, water crises, viruses, and even post-technology dark ages. All these assumptions are preached by many scientists and experts who imagine what will happen in 2015 until 2100. They are foreseeing the future by using what we call as science. We should take good lesson from this simulation.
The exit doors are open when each of us starts to live differently. We should be careful with the use of energy and value green companies and products above others. We should be aware of our waste and start to live efficiently rather than ignorantly. Below are some lists of simple things that we can do which I take from this website. I encourage you to change as well.
- Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
- Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
- Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
- Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
- Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
- Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
- If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
- Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
- Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
- Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
- Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
- Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
- Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible
- Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
So, what are you waiting for? Let's start going green from now on.
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