Earth Day!

Well today is earth day and this post really should have been written much earlier in the day! So, after listening to Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh on the radio during our drive to and from Gettysburg (more on that later) I thought more about all of the things we do that have an impact on the earth. Rush implied that everything we use is from the earth so it isn't that bad, but just take a look around and you may see some of the various impacts we have. It disturbs me to see plastic soda bottles, grocery bags, and tons of other trash strewn by the side of the road, and even worse piled in the dumps. Our country has slunk so much into consumerism that many do not even care about the environment around us anymore. During my research on cloth diapers for an English paper (stay tuned for a series of posts about this), I found out what it takes to make disposable dipes and was disgusted, needless to mention what the dipes contain! The chemicals used to make diapers (paper, and many other things) destroy our environment. One person commented that nothing grew downriver of one plant because of the contaminants they dumped in the river.
This brings me to think that yes, while the earth is made for us to use, we are also responsible for it and overall it will take care of us as well. How can we do this? Recycle, Recycle, Recycle, Reuse what we can, and make do or do without! Read my upcoming post about recycling since I am not going to dwell on this too much here.
Reuse- don't waste that great leftover stuff! Save the extra screws, fabric, or whatever. This is how they survived during the Depression and since the recession is not getting any better we should really start focusing on what we can reuse. My personal faves are cloth diapers and the containers from cool whip or other things with lids (they are great for passing on and not worrying about again!). It is great to see the many uses of things once you start looking. Shoeboxes make great storage compartments as well as many other boxes (the big diaper boxes fit great under my bed making them another fave). What can you reuse?
Last of all make do or do without- we are a consumer based society and many times just go out and buy the things we want. What can you use instead of the expensive new toy (whatever it may be)? Can you get something cheaper with the same options? Run your errands together to eliminate as much gas waste and save you a little. And overall, just learn to do without! After all, how likely is it to end up in a box somewhere, forgotten about until the next time you look in there?
Happy Earth Day, may our earth be a nicer place for all of us to live in.