Just a quick reminder to my fellow earthlings to participate in the Earth Hour tonight.  Please turn off your lights from 8:30-9:30pm.  It only takes 60minutes to show the world that you also care for this planet we live in.

Please support the Earth Hour this coming March28, 2009 by turning off your lights from 8:30-9:30pm.  Help save the earth.  Help fight global warming.  Click the banner to find out more.

Our Daily Bread for today is about the environment . . . . .

Use it Wisely
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness. – Psalm24:1

God gave us an incredible gift – the beautiful world in which we live. Naturally, though, as we share this planet with so many others, we run the risk of seeing its beauty diminished and its resources depleted.

While we have every right to use the resources God placed in and on earth, we also need to recognize our responsibility to respect the earth as His and to preserve its resources for future generations.

In Genesis, the Lord told Adam (and, by extension, all of us) to ‘tend and keep’ the earth (2:15). Because we don’t know when Jesus will return, it would not be responsible stewardship to leave our children and grandchildren without the resources that God provided for them as well.

We might think our individual efforts to preserve God’s world aren’t valuable. But we can all work together to do our part. Buying and consuming less, simplifying, repairing instead of replacing, reusing, and recycling are all good stewardship practices.

One way we can testify of our love for God and to express our gratitude for what He has done is by tending and keeping the earth and all that it offers. Until the Lord returns, let’s use our world wisely. – Dave Branon

The natural world that God has made, Is given to us and must be shared;
May generations yet to come, Be thankful that we cared. – D. DeHaan

God created the world and placed it in our care.

(Also read: Genesis1:27-31, Nehemiah10-11, Acts4:1-22)

Flushing old medications might seem like the best way to keep them out of your child’s reach, but it creates a potential public health hazard by allowing drugs into our water supply.

Similarly, do not pour it down the sink as it may end up in the local water table. And do not throw it in the trash. It may still be within reach of kids and pets.

The safest way to get rid of leftover medications is to take them back to the pharmacy. However, not all pharmacies are required to take back unused medications but you can inquire at your local drugstore or pharmacy for options. Besides prescribed medicines, vitamins and minerals are chemicals, and can also be harmful to the soil and groundwater.

source: Reader’s Digest May2008 issue, pg136

Celebrate World Earth Day this month (April22) by buying goods that are green. But with so many products claiming to be earth-friendly, organic and natural, how do we know if we’re really saving the earth?

Don’t be Duped
Terms like natural and eco-friendly are on everything these days. “But that means absolutely nothing,” says Diane MacEachern of theworldwomenwant.com. These terms haven’t been defined by the government, yet manufacturers use them without backing them up. Only a certified third-party endorsement on the label guarantees green. For instance, Green Seal verifies many household products. And those three arrows in a circle? They mean only that an item can be recycled, not that it’s made from reused materials.

What to Look Out For
Not all labels tell the truth. Dr. Jaca Cubrillo, spokesperson for Lavera Naturkosmetik, warns that a product with just one per cent of natural ingredients can be labeled ‘natural’. For products to be considered 100% organic or natural, it should have certification from an internationally recognized certification body like BDIH Foundation in Germany or ACO (Australian Certified Organics). Cosmetioc products, in particular, are notorious for containing ingredients that are synthetic and toxic even, so consumers looking to buy truly natural skin care products should be mindful of labeling claims.

Cotton doesn’t always mean it’s natural. “Just because cotton comes from a plant, doesn’t always make it a ‘natural’ product,” says Issy Richardson, founder of Belle and Dean, a line of organic clothing for women and children. Organic cotton clothing is made from organically grown cotton that’s free from pesticides and harmful chemicals and grown using natural farming methods that are safe for our environment. Again, look for certification like SKAL (Netherlands), Ecocert (Europe), USDA and Soil Association (UK).

source: Reader’s Digest Apr2008 issue, pg138

Your everyday decisions really can make a difference.
by Mary Atkins

1. In public toilets, is it better to use a paper towel or an electric hand dryer?

Go for the hot air. The energy needed to heat and blow air at your hands is far less than the energy needed to make and transport paper towels and haul waste away. One US study found that nine fully grown trees are cut down to supply an average fast food restaurant with paper towels over the year; the tossed towels then create over 450 kilograms of landfill waste. The hand dryer is also more hygienic. Doctors at the University of Ottawa claim the hot air gets into more crevices in the skin, killing off germs quicker.

2. Should I do the dirty dishes by hand or use a dishwasher?

This one’s not so crystal clear, since it all depends on how you hand wash and on the model of dishwasher. According to Tanya Ha, the author of Greeniology, old-style washing, suing one sink for washing and another for rinsing, consumes 15 – 20 liters of water. “However, the amount increases considerably if you rinse dishes under running tap water instead of using a filled sink or bucket.”

Research by the British government’s Market Transformation Programme last year found that dishwashers get items cleaner and use about 75 per cent less water. The key is having a modern model. Dishwashers built today use around 95 per cent less energy than those built 30 years ago, says Ha. Older models can use up to 90 liters of water a load; modern two-drawer dishwashers use as little as nine liters. To be even greener, stick to full loads and use the no-heat or air-dry option.

3. Should I do my laundry in a front-loader or top-loading washing machine?

Front-loaders win, hands down. Top-loaders have faster cycles but they use much more water, energy and detergent. When you are buying a new machine, look for the labels listing its energy and water ratings. Also choose a machine size that suits your household. Even if you’re not planning on buying a new machine, you can still make your current washer more eco-friendly. Clean the filter, use the minimum amount of detergent, stick to cold water and stick with full loads.

4. What should I eat for dinner tonight?

Out of everything you do, what you choose to eat has the biggest impact on the environment, says Rebecca Blackburn, author of Green is Good: Smart Ways to Live Well and Help the Planet. “Farming uses more resources than any other industry. It also produces one fifth of our greenhouse gas emissions.” In fact, one third of the average person’s carbon footprint is due to their intake of animal-based food, which is far more than the impact of driving a car or the energy used in our homes.

So should we turn vegetarian? Blackburn says you’ll be surprised at how much you can help the environment simply by reducing your red meat intake even slightly. In fact, eating three kilograms less red meat each year is equivalent to reducing household water use by half! Blackburn’s handy tip: go for Meatless Monday.

5. Is it correct that flickering fluoro lights on and off uses more energy?

Actually no. New data suggests frequent switching doesn’t shorten the life span of bulbs or waste energy. Compact fluorescent bulbs are basically energy-efficient versions of the strip lighting we used to put in bathrooms. Manufacturer Osram is now selling a bulb that claims can be switched 500,000 times – equivalent to 91 times per day over its 15-year life.

6. When it comes to grocery shopping, should I do a big shop each month or fortnight, or should I shop every few days?

Around the world, billions of dollars worth of food gets thrown out each year. The United Nations Food Programme reports that just five per cent of leftovers in the US alone can feed four million people in Africa. “It’s not just money that’s being wasted, it’s the resources that went into making the food,” says Blackburn. “Do an audit of the fridge before you go shopping and figure out what’s left behind, what went off and why you didn’t eat the food.” So by all means, do a big monthly shop of durables and non-perishables, but buy your fresh fruit and vegetables every couple of days so they don’t sit in the crisper unused.

7. Are the new hybrid cars that much better than small, fuel-efficient, conventional cars?

Hybrid cars are not the be-all and end-all. “Choose the smallest car that you can manage and choose the most fuel-efficient car in that range,” says Blackburn. “You can make a big difference without buying a hybrid,” she adds. “If money’s an issue, you’d be far better off spending the extra money on a rainwater tank, solar hot water, insulation and energy-efficient appliances.”

8. What’s best: curtains or venetian blinds?

When it comes to keeping your house insulated, curtains win hands down. Venetian blinds don’t reduce heat transfer at all; a close-fitting, lined, floor-length curtain with a pelmet will reduce heat loss in winter by one third. To keep the radiant heat out in summer, install outdoor shutters, awnings or miniature louvers. Window films provide some protection from the sun but are less effective than external blinds, and they also don’t protect against heat loss when it’s cold.

9. When it comes to baby, what’s best: disposable nappies or cloth nappies?

Let’s call this a draw. Several independent studies – taking into account all the environmental factors such as raw material and energy usage, emissions of air and water pollution, and even waste management – conclude that both have roughly the same environmental effect. But the dollar cost is another equation.

10. I’m thirsty. Bottled water or tap?

Millions of liters of bottled water consumed each year. Around the world, more than 100 million tons of plastic is produced every year, most of which ends up as landfill. When it comes to tap water, there are no transportation costs or carbon emissions. If the tap water in your home is safe to drink, buy your own water bottle.

11. Solar hot water and solar panels: what’s the difference?

A lot of people get confused about this. One is taking the sun’s energy and heating up hot water. The other is taking the sun’s energy and producing electricity.

If you can imagine going camping with a big black barrel filled with water sitting in the sun, when you had a shower from the barrel, the water would be warm, says Blackburn. That’s essentially the same as the process in a solar hot water system. Solar electricity is more complicated and it’s still quite expensive.

Blackburn says, “It’s not cost effective to install solar panels as a way to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. For much less money, you can install energy-efficient appliances, lights and insulation and reduce your emissions by about half.”

12. Rechargeable versus disposable batteries?

Rechargeables. No question. They work out better on the hip pocket, too. “You buy them once for about $4, versus a normal alkaline battery for $1, but get to use them about 100 times.” And for those who think rechargeable batteries are too fiddly to use and take too long to charge: remember, you’re already using them in your mobile phone and laptop. “If you were using throwaway batteries in your mobile, it would cost more than your phone bill.”

13. Scraps. Should I compost them or throw them straight in the bin?

Up to 50 per cent of domestic waste is food scraps and garden waste that could be composted. Make it easy for yourself: keep a little plastic bin on the kitchen bench, or use a stainless steel cooking pot and line it with newspaper so it cleans more easily. You can compost the strangest things: vegetable oil, tea bags, coffee grounds, vacuum dust, eggshells, hair removed from a brush, shredded paper and cardboard, even dried flower arrangements.

If you live in an apartment, consider a Bokashi bin. It sits under your sink and the fermentation process doesn’t produce smells. When full, visit the communal garden o enrich a friend’s garden. Go to rdasia.com to learn how to make your own Bokashi bin.

source: Reader’s Digest Apr2008 isse, pg106

A friend sent me this email last week and I am posting it here to help spread the word.

On 29 March 2008 the Philippines will join countries around the world as we literally “turn the lights out” for Earth Hour - an event that will fuel awareness on climate change and prove that when the people of the world work together, they can make a difference in the fight against global warming.

Earth Hour will take place throughout the Philippines from 8 to 9 in the evening on Saturday night, 29 March 2008. WWF invites you to participate by shutting off lights for 60 minutes, organizing your own “lights-out” event or by forwarding this mail to your friends, workmates and family.

Launched in Australia on the 31st of March 2007, Earth Hour moved 2.2million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced the city’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour. With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

YOUR participation will go a long way in spreading the message that we, as individual droplets working collectively – can create an impetus far more powerful than the mightiest of rivers. For more information, log on to the WWF Earth Hour page at: www.earthhour.org.

If you want to learn more about how else you can help make Earth Hour in the Philippines a success, reply to this email or drop us a line at (632)920-7931, (632)920-7923 or (632)9207926.

Some of you may already know this while some do not and others may have forgotten. Just a helpful reminder to all of us . . . . .

Here’s what to do: Take shelter in a car or building. Don’t use electrical equipment, including the telephone, and stay away from windows and metal, such as pipes and radiators. If you’re outside, never take shelter near or under a lone tree, and keep away from open ground and ridges. Shelter, instead, in a cave; in a wood, avoiding taller trees; in a hollow or dry ditch, or under a hedge, avoiding high points. Crouch down, keeping your feet together, or curl up into a ball. Discard metal items, such as golf clubs, spades and bicycles.

source: Reader’s Digest March2008 issue, pg132