Have you done your bit, to save the Earth?
The planet Earth that gave us a place to live is in danger. It’s being used in an astronomical scale. And who are the abusers? We. A pity.
Is it not a classic example of drilling a hole in the same plate we are eating?
Is it not a classic example of raping one’s own Mother?
Is it not a classic example of digging one’s own grave?
Here is how, we are abusing the Earth.
We destroy forests in the false pretext of development. Coal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. We burn the fossil fuels. All these activities tantamount to release of carbon di oxide. Carbon di oxide is the major contributor for environmental erosion.
Chlorofluoro carbons, simply known as CFCs are used for refrigeration and air-conditioning. They are also used in foams and electrical components. The presence of Chlorofluoro carbons in the atmosphere paves the way for destruction of earth’s ozone layer. This ozone layer protects us from sun’s ultraviolet rays.
The presence of Methane in the atmosphere, is said to be responsible for global warming. The main sources of Methane are agricultural activities like ploughing soil, landfills and gas leaks.
The sources of Nitrous Oxide are burnt fossil fuels and microbes. Manufacture of acids and nylon. The presence of Nitrous oxide causes global warming.
Ground level pollution is the source of Ozone. The pollution caused by motor vehicles, power plants and oil refineries creates the conditions for ozone formation.
All the above mentioned problems are created by man. If man is the problem for the deteriorating conditions of atmosphere, man can be the solution also. The solution to pollution is very much in the hands of the man who has created the problem.
Simple deeds lead to amazing results.
Nothing is a small thing. No contribution is a small contribution. Even a small thing also can contribute in a big way in solving the problem. Here are some tips. The tips at a glance appear to be small and insignificant. Think, if every one of us follow these seemingly insignificant and small tips religiously, the outcome will be unbelievable. After all, even the mighty ocean is also made of tiny droplets.
Let our efforts to save earth start from our respective homes. Many of us are not aware that our domestic chores are considerably contributing to the environmental damage. And most of our deeds are inadvertent deeds.
Improper maintenance of household appliances
For our day to day chores we use fridges, washing machines, ovens, filters and many more.
Microwave ovens use less energy than ordinary or conventional ovens. If fridge temperature is lesser than necessary, the amount of energy consumed by the fridge will be more. The same applies to freezer; the temperatures stipulated should be followed. Else this leads to more power consumption.
Computers
If you have to be away even for a short time, set the computer to standby mode. Screen savers will not save much energy. If you don’t use the printer, turn off the master switch. Turn off the monitor if you leave the home for longer time.
Paper towels
The paper towels we use are bleached. During the process of bleaching, a deadly toxin is created. And it goes without saying, the stuff goes in to our rivers and lakes. Avoidi aluminum foils to store food. Its advised to use rags for cleaning purposes instead of paper towels.
Water
Do you turn off the tap, while brushing your teeth ? Do you turn off the tap while shaving? If not, do it immediately. This simple deed can save a considerable amount of water. For drinking purposes, use tap water instead of bottled water. This avoids using those plastic packaging. As far as possible, washing the clothes in cold water is an ideal practice that contributes in a great way to energy conservation.
Amazing facts behind inflated tyres.
The first thing that one should know is under inflated tyres of your two wheeler or three wheeler eill lead to lessening the life of your tyre.Engines of your two wheeler or three wheeler have to consume more fuel because of the resistance of under inflated tyres offer. Thus an over burdened engine adds more carbon di oxide and other greenhouse gases like nitrogen oxide and smog. To the atmosphere. Using Radial tyres is the best antidote to arrest this malady.
The effect of Paint you use for domestic wall painting.
Mostly, oil based paints contain cadmium and titanium related oxides. They are not only toxic, but also, the paints when disposed lead to groundwater contamination. The solution lies in using emulsion paints. Emulsion paints are water- based. Though most of the paints available in the market are lead-free, still we come across with paints with lead. By all means avoid them.
Leaded or Lead-free petrol?
Leaded petrol is an environmental catastrophe. When used, the lead in the petrol goes in to the atmosphere from the vehicle exhaust. This causes liver, brain and kidney damage to the people who are subjected to the vehicle exhaust.
The solution lies in switching over to un- leaded petrol. Now some cars can run both on Leaded and Lead-free petrol. In this respect if your car needs a conversion, go for it.
Make it a point to avoid your car as far as possible. If you want to go to a nearby place, use your two-wheeler or better go by walk. Its good for your body as well as for the environment. One way to achieve this target is to club all your activities and finish them in one go.
If this is not possible, use public transport like buses and trams.
Low speed saves, high speed kills.
Low speed is good for your safety as well as fuel consumption. Drive your car at 60 miles per hour and at 70 miles per hour. See the difference in fuel consumption. Accelerating and breaking often will amount to higher fuel consumption. Save your life and also fuel by going in moderate speed when you are driving your two wheeler or three wheeler.
Recycle your junk papers.
We use many forms of paper for varied purposes. Their necessity and worth will not last for long time. It’s up to us to check the essentiality of such papers from time to time and deal with them in a befitting way. Foe example we start our day with a news paper. After an hour or at the most after a day, its value perishes. They are to be recycled if you are one of those persons who care for the health of the earth.
It takes pulping of several trees to produce one ton of paper. Presently in the metropolises of India there are recycling agencies. Just check your yellow pages and get one of them. There are arrangements to collect junk news papers in the malls and super bazaars. Avail them. This gesture helps in saving the trees from annihilation.
Worth noting points.
As far as possible avoid disposable things like, disposable coffee cups, disposable nappies etc. If there is a possibility of making a thing work. better make it work. Envelopes, especially manila envelopes can be reused by using sticky labels on the address portion of the envelope.
Know that each ton of recycled paper saves a considerable number of cubic yards in a landfill space. Similarly a considerable amount of oil is saved.
Give back what you have taken from the nature.
The one and only way to arrest the evils of ecological abuse is to plant the trees. As it was mentioned at the outset of the article, Deforestation in the name of development is the root cause for all the evils we are facing today. Obviously, if the nature is left undisturbed, it keeps the ecological balance intact. The millions of plants, animals and micro organisms work in unison because they are entwined with each other. The efficiency of one’s functioning depends on the efficiency of the other. Its obvious malfunctioning of one factor destroys the functioning of the remaining factors.
Hence, it’s essential to keep the sanctity of all the factors that influence their functioning.
Among all the factors, trees constitute a major chunk. Saving the tree itself saving the earth.
The tips given above look so simple, people may doubt their effectiveness. There is every possibility of dismissing them saying, ‘If the mammoth job of saving the earth is so simple, why on earth it still persists? How a commoner like me can handle this herculean task?’.
I agree. There is a reason for their cynicism. But, they should know, we all are the inhabitants of this planet. If this home of ours is in danger and it’s very existence is jeopardized, won’t all of us sweat out in saving it in our own way within our capabilities and abilities?
Each one of our efforts may look very small. But collectively it contributes enormously in putting back the Earth in its track. Here it’s the question of involvement in tackling a common problem of ours.
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