As addictive as TV can be, if watched unchecked, it does serve as a bridge to what's going on outside our insular world. Our mild climate in California is like living in paradise with its availability to a large slice of the earth's resources. We have a good life here. It's hard to put ourselves in the shoes of a refugee, or in the middle of a war. One such chilling TV segment simulated a nuclear winter. That was especially chilling, the ultimate game changer. Closer to home, the recent fires here in Northern California reminds us of how vulnerable we all are.
This "rude" awakening to the reality of our fragile planet, makes me more determined to bring Person of the Planet to the community, the country and the world. When many individuals unite by sharing their knowledge of thoughtful environmental practices and daily asking the question, “Is this good for the planet?" For every decision or action, we come closer to making a difference. There is no other planet option for us out there......let's restore this one.
There is an Eco-Challenge going on right now for two weeks. A small group has sign up through the Northwest Institute (www.nwei.org) to make a small change our own behavior. It is a good chance to make a personal difference. Here are the categories people could choose from:
· Health - regular exercise, eat healthy sustainable produce food, quit smoking, etc.........
· Water - take shorter showers, use a re-usable bottle for water, drought tolerant landscaping ...
· Transportation - Use public transportation, walk or bike instead, drive less, etc........
· Energy - choose LED bulbs, power down the computer, turn off lights, etc........
· Community - Write letters or emails, attend an environmental lecture, sign a petition, etc....
The North West Earth Institute (www.nwei.org) is sponsoring this Eco-Challenge from October 11 -25. We are team Person of the Planet (# 148). They encourage you to choose one or two things to do. The key is to "Keep it simple" so you actually do it.
If you really hate signing up on line, but would like to do a challenge, just do it! As a Person of the Planet you are already asking yourself "Is this good for the Planet?" when it comes making daily decisions. With that in mind, do your own personal "eco-challenge"... a little addition to what you already do. Let us know what you did and what you learned. You can let us know through my POP email: lshantiom@gmail.com.