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THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Upcoming Event :
The Natural Step’s 6th National Conference On Sustainability.
May 9-11 at Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA.

The Natural Step, an international organization founded to address the systemic causes of environmental problems, holds its 6th Annual Conference. The Natural Step uses a science-based systems framework to help organizations, individuals, and communities achieve sustainability. The conference will feature presentations by business executives and municipal leaders from around the world, as well as interactive working sessions. Business and civic leaders are especially encouraged to attend. www.naturalstep.org (415) 773-0552 or (866) 547-3309 to register.

 

YES, your personal actions and behaviors do add up to make a difference. Here are some things you can do help affect a positive outcome for our world:

  • Learn as much as you can
  • Teach others what you’ve learned
    • increase awareness by sharing your concerns and your knowledge
    • use the "Send Page" function in the "File" menu of your browser to email this page to someone you know
  • Start at home
    • spay or neuter your pets, keep domestic cats indoors to protect birds
    • use rechargable batteries
    • consider solar power and solar gain when building
    • insulate buildings well
    • garden with heirloom varietals
    • don’t plant a lawn, landscape with native plants instead
    • sweep the sidewalk instead of hosing it
  • Protect biodiversity
    • limit use of antibiotics
    • do not purchase products made from endangered plants or animals, nor extracted by damaging an ecosystem, such as tropical hardwoods like teak and mahogany
    • do not eat depleted or endangered fish stocks, such as swordfish, shark, Chilean sea bass, wild-caught Atlantic salmon, or orange roughy.
  • Use resources wisely
    • drive a fuel-efficient car
    • carpool or bike to work
    • unplug unused appliances
    • turn off lights.
  • Reduce waste and pollution
    • recycle whenever possible
    • compost biodegradable waste
    • never pour household chemicals or motor oil into storm drains
    • never use CFC-based propellents
    • read the labels on the items you buy
  • Vote with your wallet
    • be an informed consumer
    • choose products from environmentally sound companies, boycott companies who willfully damage the environment
    • avoid overpackaged products
    • buy recycled products.
  • Get involved, both locally and globally
    • take part in local clean-up days
    • be civically active and vocal about your beliefs
    • volunteer on a regular basis
    • support organizations, such as the Wilderness Medical Society, that work to protect open space, biodiversity, and human health
    • join the Center for Biological Diversity; their periodic Biodiversity Activist updates are a convenient and effective means of staying informed about current issues impacting biodiversity.
 

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