It's not all about ME

I’m a water waster, I will admit it.  After I come back for a run there is nothing I want to do more than to jump in the shower with all my clothes on.  I do have slightly more self control than that, but still I spend a lot of time post work out in the shower.  I start the water cold to cool off, and then slowly turn it up till the hot water is soothing my sore muscles; the whole time not doing anything but standing in the stream of the water.  In reality I could probably be in and out of the shower in four minutes, but I stand around relaxing instead, knowing I have enough time to do so before my next class.  Does it occur to me that people may be parched in some foreign country, or that some take baths in rivers? No the only thing I am thinking about is myself; and that way of thinking cannot go on any longer.

In the eighteen hundreds people used to take baths all in the same tub with the same water.  The people bathing would take turns starting with the males and go in decreasing age order, then switching gender and repeating the process.  This was a very simple way in which they were able to conserve water.  Nowadays we know that this was not very sanitary, so I am not suggesting we do this now but there are other ways to help conserve water.  For example, whenever my family is headed out of the house my sister and I always brush our teeth first.  Instead of us both separately turning on the water we could both stick our toothbrushes under the faucet simultaneously.   This may only be a small amount of water but over time those little bits of water will amount to something larger.  Also as mentioned earlier in the blog the toilets here at Elon have a two way flush as a way of conserving water.  And they are so powerful that I rarely find the need to ever push it down.  I can assure you even saving the tiniest amount will make a difference.  I know you frequently hear people saying turn off the water when you brush your teeth and wash your face, but have you ever really done it? And would it hurt you to turn it off? Probably not.  Changing the planet and conserving its resources are things we need to work on as a whole globe, and its time to stop only thinking about our wants and needs. WE NEED TO BE IN THIS TOGETHER, because if the planet goes down so do all of us.  So in order to change I have to remember it’s not all about me.

TC  

The 'Ole Bike

The summer breeze is blowing through my hair while the early birds sing their own tune. The streets are vacant at this hour of the day, so I decide it isn't too risky to ride in the street. Although I wasn't too happy to be riding my bike to morning practice, work right after, and to afternoon practice each day, I made a promise to myself that I would go a whole summer without driving my car anywhere within riding distance. 

I have to admit, the more I rode my bike throughout the summer, the more I looked forward to it. It became my time to reflect, think, relax, and enjoy the world around me in a light I have never seen before. Plus, I became in unusually good shape after three months of riding approximately 8 miles a day, as opposed to the zero I used to ride. 

You see, it all started with the gas prices three summers ago. Their prices just kept on rising! I was lucky that my parents let me have my own car. Sure it was my dad's old one with the outside was rusting, the air conditioning not working (which is another reason I took my bike), and the radio broken, but it got me from point A to B and that is all that mattered. However, I felt guilty that I was driving to everyday places that I could easily ride my bike to. So I made that promise to myself, and each year I try to go another summer without taking my car, but I can never hold myself to it. 

Resource depletion is a huge concern in our crumbling world. Maybe not so much for our country as to others, but we have seen many prices rise due to the product's recent scarcity; and it is scary. 

Even though we got rid of the old third-family car and got a new eco-hybrid vehicle with a working air condition system, radio, and with no rust, I have decided that I am going to try, yet again, to go another summer without taking the car. And I mean REALLY try. There are some places that are too far to ride a bike to, but those places in riding distance, I am going to make sure I take the 'ole bike. 

Besides, it is about time I reflect on what I am doing with my life. What is my major again? 

M.T.C.

It's Electric: Back to the Future( Cars Edition)

I was walking to class when I happened to check out this hybrid car in the parking lot that was in the spot labeled "fuel efficient cars only" I was pretty impressed at the fact that Elon has taken a step to promote those who drive fuel efficient cars that they get the VIP treatment. Electric cars have been the focus of the future. They are cars that are supposed to run on electricity and save on using gas and fossil fuel to make the gas. Even though many car companies are experimenting with this, they have found some positive results on electric vehicles. Here are some facts about them, according to fueleconomy.gov:

Electric vehicles (EVs) are propelled by an electric motor (or motors) powered by rechargeable battery packs. Electric motors have several advantages over internal combustion engines (ICEs):

• Energy efficient. Electric motors convert 75% of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels—internal combustion engines (ICEs) only convert 20% of the energy stored in gasoline.
• Environmentally friendly. EVs emit no tailpipe pollutants, although the power plant producing the electricity may emit them. Electricity from nuclear-, hydro-, solar-, or wind-powered plants causes no air pollutants.
• Performance benefits. Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation and stronger acceleration and require less maintenance than ICEs.
• Reduce energy dependence. Electricity is a domestic energy source.

EVs face significant battery-related challenges:

• Driving range. Most EVs can only go about 100–200 miles before recharging—gasoline vehicles can go over 300 miles before refueling.
• Recharge time. Fully recharging the battery pack can take 4 to 8 hours. Even a "quick charge" to 80% capacity can take 30 min.
• Battery cost: The large battery packs are expensive and may need to be replaced one or more times.
• Bulk & weight: Battery packs are heavy and take up considerable vehicle space.

However, researchers are working on improved battery technologies to increase driving range and decrease recharging time, weight, and cost. These factors will ultimately determine the future of EVs.

So as we have seen, Electric vehicles have been the future and what we need to strive for in order to become a green planet. Our focus this week has been electricity and how to make a difference by conserving it or going to alternative energy because of it. Electricity is something that we, as humans are trying to look forward to in the future. It's alarming that many of these cars are still running on gas. We must be the generation that takes that step to making change and buying these type of cars. It's nice because you can charge your car up in your own house and it will run for a long time. 

There are a lot of powerful things that Electricity can do. It is our future and we should not shy away from it. We need to accept it and do more to promote alternative energy, like electricity. Even though we want you to use electricity, conserve it as well, because it is important for our future. 

B. L. J.= Static Shock

Extreme Makeover: Green Home Edition

            There are many things that cause global warming, and one of the lesser known causes is electrical pollution. You’d be shocked to know that electricity causes pollution in many ways, some worse than others. In order to create electricity, fossil fuels need to be burned. Fossil fuels are made up of dead plants and animals. Two examples of fossil fuels are petroleum and oil. When these fossil fuels are burned, they release many pollutants into the air, water and land. Some of these chemicals are also called greenhouse gasses. The production of electricity is also responsible for:

•          63% of sulfur dioxide emissions that contribute to acid rain
•          22% of NOx emissions that contribute to urban smog
•          39% of carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change
•          33% of mercury emissions that pose significant health risks

 Petroleum, one of the sources of energy we use the most, is used for transportation and making electricity and many other things. Even it is know that this source of energy gives off a lot of pollution, it used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

           

           One of the greatest electrical users in the United States is an American home. In 2010, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 11,496 kWh, an average of 958 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. Tennessee had the highest annual consumption at 16,716 kWh and Maine the lowest at 6,252 kWh (US Energy Information Administration). The reason for these high numbers of electricity usage comes from:

•         Turning on a light
•          Watching T.V.
•          Listening to a stereo
•          Washing or drying clothes
•          Riding in a car
•          Heating a meal in the microwave
•          Using an air conditioner

But don’t fret! There are many simple and easy ways to change our homes from energy guzzlers to the epitome of sustainable living.

            So during summer vacation or the next time your home, try some of these tips to reduce your carbon footprint and your utility bill (yet another perk of going green):

•          Hang your clothes up to dry, either indoors or out
•          Turn your refrigerator down (but not so far that you find food spoiling too quickly – that, of course, is also wasteful).
•          Invest in compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you are able, have skylights or sun pipes installed.
•          Cook outside whenever possible. Patio grills are relatively inexpensive. Or you can go to a local park or forest that has public grills or fire pits.
•          Use timers on your lamps.
•          Sweep whenever possible instead of running the vacuum cleaner.
•          Landscape with trees and shrubs that will shelter your home from the wind in the winter and provide shade in the summer.
•          Unplug electrical devices when they are not in use, especially those electronics that have a rechargeable battery (if it’s blinking, it’s using electricity).

The reality is, seven people restricting their electricity usage for the betterment of the environment can only have a limited positive effect, but a society-wide shift of less energy use can lead to significant reductions in pollution and another step forward for a sustainable planet.

For more tips on cutting down electricity in your home go to: http://www.ourgreenerlife.com/2010/10/how-to-cut-down-on-electricity-in-your-home/

T.Y.G.

Electricity: Electrifyingly Scary

Go stand outside and take a deep breath. Inhale and exhale the air. What did you think? Did you smell "fresh" air? Well if you said yes, you are totally WRONG. There is nothing fresh about the air we're breathing right at this very moment. You can thank your buddy electricity, because he has everything to do with it.


Electricity generation is the dominant industrial source of air emissions in the United States today. Fossil fuel-fired power plants are responsible for 67% of the nation's sulfur dioxide emissions, 23% of nitrogen oxide emissions, and 40% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions can lead to smog, acid rain, and haze.


Look at this:

Can you believe that coal fueled 42% of 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy generated in the United States? That's trillion, with a "T"! What makes it so bad is that coal is a source of nonrenewable energy. When coal is burned, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury compounds are released into the atmosphere, into the air we breathe!

On top of that, oil and other fossil fuels are used to create electricity so that we can live by what we define as "comfortable." To make matters worse, these forms of energy are in short supply, and have been at the center of world conflicts with the Middle East, especially over the greed of oil.

Did you know that U.S. electricity use in 2011 was more than 13 times greater than electricity use in 1950? 

Check this out:

We are polluting the air we breathe by wasting so much energy and electricity for what? To just be able to stay up 45 minutes longer to catch the evening news or read a book? (That might not be why, but you get what I mean.)  It's just not worth it.

That is why it is so crucial for us to understand the importance of cutting back on electricity use. If we can unplug items when they're not in use, keep lights cut off, and not use so many power strips, then maybe our air will stop being so polluted. As we've reiterated before, the purpose of the "Going Green" team is to help save the planet, which ultimately means YOU! This means that we need to clean up the air that is a necessity for human life to thrive! Therefore, cut back on electricity use! Trust me, your lungs will thank you later.

S.P.

Power!

Electricity is defined as the physical phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge. In other words, electricity is a form of power. Now while electricity is a major form of power on this planet, there is another form of power that has an even greater impact on earth. That power is oil. Oil, gasoline, fuel- these are the real powerhouses that drive our global industrial economy and its impact on earth has a magnitude far greater than that of electricity.

However, while electricity has a relatively low impact on the environment, oil is one of the leading contributors to our current environmental problems. All over the world carbon emissions from oil powered machinery is spewed into the environment, trapping heat and casing the planet to gradually get warmer. A phenomenon also called global warming that has the capacity to and has already melted glaciers, acidified the seas, and forced dozens of species into extinction. But what can we do to stop these things from getting worse?

Let’s think about it y’all- what do we as Americans living in such a mobile society do every day? That’s right- we drive. We drive our cars, SUVs and pick-up trucks everywhere. As a result, we are constantly pumping CO2 into the atmosphere through our exhaust pipes and it is taking a toll on our planet. So make some changes people, and by changes I don’t mean sacrifices, but changes for the better. So here comes a few ways to reduce the C02 emissions solely from our automobiles:

1. Carpool: A shout out to all the soccer moms out there; use those mini-vans and endless amount of cup holders to carpool with other children, parents, or families. You never know, you may even make some friends along the way, no pun intended. However this idea goes for more than just the Dodge Caravans out there, just about anyone going anywhere, to work, school, vacations, or friends houses can find another people headed in their direction. Many cities even sponsor carpooling by setting up rideshare programs that allow people to carpool in an easy, fast, and safe way. Think about how much less traffic congestion would occur on roadways if people carpooled together, and parking as well, you might even be able to find a parking spot without having to drive around for 30 minutes. Better yet, this would tremendously reduce the CO2 emissions from car exhausts and help make the planet greener and cleaner.

2. Switch it up: To all my fellow farmers out there, there was a time when revving your diesel engine was cool, but it is not today! Now y’all just look plain dumb. Diesel fuel produces far more carbon emissions than regular grade fuel because diesel is less refined and therefore thicker, dirtier, and more importantly, more toxic to the environment. So if you’re pick-up can take regular, switch and switch now. I promise you your machine’s performance will not suffer.

3. Two words: Public Transportation. Use it!!!

4. Prove the rest of the world wrong and show that Americans are not lazy by walking. Walk to work, school, a friends house, etc and you will not only be making yourself healthier but also the environment by reducing your carbon footprint in each step you take.

5. Any boaters out there? Why not stop polluting the air and water by harnessing the power of the elements. Use the power of the sun a.k.a solar panels to keep your boat afloat. Or keep your boat sailing by another one of mother nature’s gift; the wind.

6. Go for Gold!: If you really want to reduce your CO2 emissions why not just eliminate it entirely by driving one of those classy electric cars. More and more charging stations are popping up all over the country which makes it easier to be greener. If that’s too ambitious for you, why not try for the silver and consider a hybrid car in your future? Gas mileage is fantastic and while your car still does run partially on gasoline, the amount of C02 your car would emit would decrease exponentially!

Alright now, so while power is necessarily a good thing, it has bad forms as well, consider some of history’s most famous dictators and you will believe me. That is why it is a good idea to consider when there is too much power, as in the case of oil, or even more specifically the CO2 emissions it derives just from automobiles and what to do about. If you care about your life at all, which I would believe most of you as I’m guessing you’re not all existentialists, then really consider some of the above choices to reduce our carbon emissions and make our planet healthier. That’s it for now and I hope I see y’all in Greener Days.

The Phantom

Do you remember last week when we discussed my curiosity? Well this week it happened again. The result of this curiosity led me to discover this: in my own room in Brannock my roommate and I have a total of 27 outlets in our door room. Now this is obviously not just outlets on the walls, this also includes the plugs that are included in extension-cords. Nevertheless, there are still 27 places that an appliance or form of technology can be plugged in; 27 places for channels of electricity to pass. And that is just n our room alone; we must remember that we live in a suite style dorm that has four rooms. If every room has approximately the same number of outlets, that is a total of 108. That seems like a lot of electricity. And think about that on a bigger scale, like a house; that to me seems excessive.

But that is the way that our world works now a days. Everything that we love to use can’t be used unless it is plugged in and sucking up our valuable electricity. Now let me make myself clear in saying that I am not asking anyone to stop using his or her toys, it is obvious that that is unfeasible. What most people don’t realize though, is that even when these things aren’t on or being used, if they are still plugged in, the electricity is still flowing. This is known as phantom electricity. If everyone unplugged everything when it wasn’t being used, think about the amount of electricity we would be saving.

Now I understand that we can’t unplug everything; for example we obviously need to keep the refrigerator plugged in, but there are ways to prioritize what stays and what can be unplugged. While obviously things like phone chargers should always be put away since there is no reason for having them out, bigger things such as TVs are more of a question. There are devices such as Watt Meters that people can buy that measure how much electricity an appliance uses, even when not turned on. This could give you more of a general sense of what uses the most energy and allow you to make smarter decisions about what to unplug when not in use. I read one person say that when her family started doing this, they saved around $40 dollars a month on their electricity bill; so not only are you saving the environment, but you are also saving yourself money.

A.M.Y.  

Morning Routine

           Beep, beep, beep. The sound of my alarm going off at seven thirty on a Monday morning, I roll over and slam the button wishing I could just sleep for another hour.  But despite the urge I roll out of bed, slip on my plastic flip flops, and head to the bathroom to start getting ready for my day.  You may be wondering ‘did I forget to mention flipping on the lights?’ no I didn’t.  There are two reasons I do not turn on the lights in the morning; if I did there would be a chance of me waking up my roommate who would proceed to be in a terrible mood for the rest of the day, and because I simply don’t need to.  Even though it’s early it is light enough out that the open blinds and window provide me with enough light to get ready.  Would this be enough light for you to get ready in the morning as well? Using the natural light would save money and help the environment, so giving it a try may be well worth your efforts. 

            When thinking about the lighting situation I wondered how is the light produced for when we flick the switch?  Light is a form of electricity, and in the United States the majority of electricity is produced by using steam turbines. The steam turbine converts kinetic energy (energy of something while it is moving) of a liquid or a gas and converts it into electrical energy which it what flows to the switch. This turbine is powered by the burning of things such as fossil fuels, coal, petroleum, and natural gases being burned to heat water and produce steam.  The diagram below illustrates what was used to produce electricity in 2011, the percents are out of four trillion killowatthours of electricity, the amount of electricity generated in the US last year.

 

Thinking about how the electricity we use on a daily basis is made, and how those things affect our planet you may want to leave the lights off when you wake up tomorrow morning as well.

TC

For more information: http://205.254.135.7/electricity/

Simply Electric

While walking from Danieley to Colonnades cafeteria for dinner, I was greatly anticipating my daily wheat turkey wrap with lettuce, tomato, and mustard. Of course, I also had to get my baked barbecue chips and piece of chocolate (I don't know how a girl goes a day without her chocolate). I had barely eaten all day and was trying to beat the dark, hovering clouds above with my hair blowing in the stormy wind when all of a sudden, the lights illuminating the brick walkway shut off. In fact, the lights in all the buildings surrounding completely shut off as well. It went pitch black, and you can imagine I screamed as loud as I possibly could in fright (I was extremely embarrassed, but come on, I am a little girl when it comes to the dark). Although they came right back on, it happened multiple times (and I continued to scream each time) and it made me realize how much we truly rely on electricity (especially light) in our every day lives.

Electricity is a miraculous invention that today's society takes complete advantage of. Electricity is expensive and we waste it in our daily lives; leaving plugs in when we are not using the object (such as hairdryers, video games, chargers for phones, etc), leaving the lights on when we are not in the room, leaving the television on while we sleep, and much more. Also, lights use more than five times as much energy to run daily than any other electric component.

So, in order to cut down on my use of electricity, and to help Elon out with their electricity bill, I am going to be more conscious of my every day actions: turning off the lights when I leave my dorm room or bathroom, unplugging chargers/anything with a plug when I leave the room, not leaving the television on when I am out or asleep (or just cutting down television time in general), and open the blinds during the daytime instead of turning on the lights to allow natural light to enter.

The truth is, saving electricity not only saves money, but it also saves the environment. Sure, you don't see pollution when you plug something into the wall, but the pollution is there-it just is at the power plant. Almost all electricity is made by burning coal and other fossil fuels and every time you turn the lights on, you create a little pollution. Therefore, saving electricity doesn't just help you out financially, it helps keep the water and air clean too.

M.T.C

Water Usage in Movies: Wake up Call from Media?

I just finished watching the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and I noticed that one of the antagonists were keeping water from the poor citizens in Colombia that was kept underwater in a cave and leaving the residents struggling on barely a teaspoon of water a day to drink and provide for their families. It shocks me in some ways because even beyond the commercials we see struggles for water in those places who need them the most.

One reason that I have really noticed it is because many people are struggling and they should we be motivated to make a difference even in the end that the poor citizens get the water, it should send a message to those who watch that water usage in the US and abroad. As discussed in our last post, we need to take care of our water before we end up like those portrayed. WE live in a world that is easily influenced by the media. So it would be right to see the media doing things such as portraying water usage in movies, especially James Bond. This should be a wake up call for us around the world to take action and give back to those in need of water and also conserve water for ourselves. If this isn't going to wake people up, then what will? I feel that we don't even need to start large. We need to start small in communities, churches, neighborhoods and work our way from there. Major movies have come out and have also been big promotors for advocating for water usage and helping the environment. Our video was a perfect example and seeing that James Bond has been popular over the ages has really caught the attention of not only myself, but the water conservation organizations, as well.

There must be better action taken so that we can prevent those from unnecessarily using water. We have learned from this week that we must be proactive and take a stand against those who overuse water. We have also learned that Americans and those globally waste water every single day and there needs to be a change or else we are going to be in enormous trouble. We have also learned that through this project that we can be more creative and develop new ideas to make this world a better place. We have made choices to step out of the box and do different things to help the environment go green. Let's keep that going and get everyone on track. One community at a time. Enjoy the acronym. Let us know what you think.

G- Green
R- Revolution
E- Every
E- Earthling
N- Needs


B. L. J. = Captain Planet, defender of water conservation

A World Without Water

          “Should water be a human right or a tradable commodity?” This question is posed by the above documentary which is entitled A World Without Water. The documentary was released in 2006 and produced by Brian Woods. It investigates the future of the world’s water supply by depicting an alarming picture of water’s increasing commodification and the fight for its ownership. Everyday 3,900 children die due to lack of water and poor sanitation. There are billions of people in this world that do not have access to safe water. This situation seems to be worsening as water becomes even scarcer.

            

           The most devastating scenes of this documentary include a little girl by the name of Vanessa who lives with her family in El Alto, Bolivia. Vanessa and her parents have to travel miles to collect water from an unreliable well every day. The most disturbing thing is, they live next to their city’s main water treatment plant and see that there are millions of gallons of water at an arm’s reach, but cannot afford it. They have fallen victim to the increasing commodification of water. In Bolivia the water system is privatized and is owned by the global corporation Suez. There are many negatives that come with the privatization of this scarce resource. One is privatization puts a price on the water supply. By putting a price on this scarce resource, it will lead to a two-tiered world of those who can afford water and those who cannot. This will force millions of people to choose between necessities such as water and health care. In some places, the water rates force people to choose whether or not to wash their food, flush their toilets, or even bathe. So what will happen to the families who cannot afford to pay for water? Some may end up like Vanessa and her family, having to receive water from an untrustworthy source and be susceptible to water borne diseases or will be forced to go without it and meet an unfortunate end.  With the billions of people who inhabit this earth, are we going to stand by and watch as our right to clean water is taken away from us? If we continue with the trend of losing public control of our water systems, there will be no one left with the ability to claim this life-giving source for the earth.

            

          No one is safe from the reality that there is not enough water for the rest of the earth’s existence. If we continue on this path an expert from the film cautions that in coming years, the price private companies charge for water will be higher than the price of gasoline. It is time that we combat this problem now before it is too late. I highly recommend watching this documentary and to pass it on to your friends and family. It is time that people realize the extent of this issue.

T.Y.G 

H2Ohhh NO!! What about us???

3%. When you think of 3%, what do you picture? Probably not a lot right? You probably barely picture anything at all. That’s how micro 3% is. Well that’s how much usable drinking water there is on this planet. 7 billion people have to share 3% of the planet’s water to survive.

You might be thinking, “what does this have to do with going green?” Well it has everything to do with going green. For the past week, the Greener Days bloggers have been reflecting on how we are changing our mindsets to live more sustainably. We have been reflecting on how our planet can be impacted by recycling, etc. Now, we are beginning to once again talk about the impact water has on our environment. My fellow bloggers recently posted some eye-popping statistics about conserving water. I’m going to add a few more to the list to make a greater point:

• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.
• Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.

See how many thousands of gallons of water you can save by the smallest of tasks? 

Think about it, by saving those thousands of gallons of water, you are saving that 3% of water that we depend on for life.

Life. When you think of "going green," people automatically think of saving the life of the planet. But saving the planet also means saving our own lives. By conserving water and recycling, we are adding time to our own occupation on this earth. By saving water, we are saving human life.

See what I mean:

• 780 million people lack access to an improved water source; approximately one in nine people.
• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
• People living informal settlements (i.e. slums) often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city.
• An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day.

So by "going green" by conserving water, we will have more water to give to the people who need it most. By conserving water, people will be given the chance to live. By conserving water, we can afford to not worry about fighting over the world's water supply or worry about running out of water. By conserving water, we can sustain the planet's life AND human life. 

By reflecting on how we can change our mindset to "go green" on our planet, don't forget to think about how we are saving ourselves. We will be saving mankind. Now that's food, I mean, water, for thought.

S.P.

For more statistics like those mentioned above, visit                           http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php 

and:

http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/

Being Your Own Cat

Have you ever heard the phrase curiosity kills the cat? If you haven’t we might need to discuss the rock you are living under. While in many situations curiosity and snooping can lead to consequences that most of us don’t want to have to deal with, much of the time, it can also lead to beautiful revelations and learning that you would have never had before if you hadn’t asked that one question.

My curiosity led me to paper. I know it sounds strange but just hold in there with me for a while. The other day I was cleaning out my desk, which is something to be curious all about itself, and organizing school materials. This led me to three notebooks that I use for my classes. When trying to organize these I became very frustrated with the amount of paper that I had to find a place for; and that’s where my curiosity came in. Exactly how much paper do I have here? So I counted. In those 3 notebooks, I had over sixty sheets of paper that had been used. SIXTY. Maybe its just me, but that sounds like an atrocious amount for three classes.

After I was able to absorb the shock I was feeling, I then began to think about how absolutely ridiculous this is, especially because almost every single one of those pieces of paper could have been on my computer, not printed at all. I know some people feel that computers will decrease the value of reading and writing and the English language will suffer, blah blah blah. But why can’t we make an effort to save our language while saving the planet as well.

After writing this blog for just two weeks, these are the kinds of things that I begin to ponder over. I see the smallest thing and relate it back to how it could be possibly be hurting our environment and what extremely simple way we have to fix it. As said in the last blog, my bubble has been popped. But these are the things are we need to be curious about. So from now on, be your own cat and don’t be afraid to be curious about things related to the environment, the results could be wondrous.

A.M.Y.