LOW CARBON DIET TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING
You have the power to make a difference. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to bring changes in helping to stop global warming.
The rubbish that we as a society are producing threatens to engulf us, and that would eventually pollute our earth. These three 'R's are part of the solution; we still must find other ways, both technological and creative, to dealing with waste.
Respect might also be added before the three 'R's: lets learn again to respect the earth, not pollute it – after all, it’s the only one we've got!
Here are three great ways in which you can eliminate waste and protect the environment! Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Reduce
The first task for all of us is to reduce the amount of packaging coming in to our homes and workplaces. This after all will become rubbish after we have unpacked and used the goods that are in the packaging. With fruit and vegetables, and food in general, we can choose to limit the amount of packaging around the produce.
Supermarkets are now selling and recommending big strong reusable bags, with incentives for not using the disposable plastic bags. Some stores and the Co-operative supermarket are to be commended for pioneering this idea, and are using bio-degradable plastic bags that decompose when buried in the ground.
Of course, sensible shoppers will already be using their own bags when they go to the shops. Cardboard and polystyrene are the worst packaging offenders when it comes to electrical goods. Cardboard can be recycled, and there are now special bins or skips for this purpose, hopefully to be found at your local recycling centre, or possibly even collected from the roadside by your local Council's collection service. Cardboard can also be composted. But polystyrene is a real pain as there are few options for recycling it currently.
Reuse
Re-using stuff that we would otherwise treat as rubbish, and dispose of without a seconds thought, is a great way to cut down on our waste. This gives the opportunity for creative thinking – what can we do with all these boxes we got our new computer and TV in? How can we use this wood that is our old wardrobe?
One use for old pieces of wood and timber is building a compost bin for the garden. See our page on composting for more information on this. Paper, particularly shredded newspaper, and materials, cut or ripped up, can be used as insulation material for attics etc. Here is where second-hand shops are such a treasure trove of stuff – for clothes, books, electrical equipment, furniture ... if you don't want your old stuff anymore, don't just throw it out, donate it.
And don't forget that if something is broken, say a leg of a chair, or a lamp is missing a plug for instance, many folk can fix these things and refurbish them. So go, either reuse something yourself, or give someone else the chance to!
Recycle
Finally, if the other 2 'R's aren't an option, we can recycle. This is as important as the others – the paper we have just finished reading can become next week’s newspaper, or the beer or wine bottle we've disposed of could become a champagne bottle in its next incarnation!
So be fastidious in your collection of disposables
for recycling. We have the facilities and technologies in place to re-process many materials, such as paper, glass, cardboard, CDs, aluminium and others, so do your bit to stop precious resources being used up and new products being constantly created.
Help stop stuff simply being used once and then dumped – do your bit for the earth and
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Reduce your impact AT HOME
You have the power to make a difference. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big changes in helping to stop global warming.
Most emissions from homes are from the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity and heat. By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%.
In addition, since agriculture is responsible for about a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, you can reduce your emissions simply by watching what you eat.
Here’s how:
· Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb
· Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
· Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
· Install a programmable thermostat
· Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
· Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
· Use less hot water
· Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
· Turn off electronic devices you’re not using
· Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
· Only run your dishwasher when there’s a full load and use the energy-saving setting
· Insulate and weatherize your home
· Be sure you’re recycling at home
· Buy recycled paper products
· Plant a tree
· Get a home energy audit
· Switch to green power (wind and solar energy)
· Buy locally grown and produced foods
· Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
· Seek out and support local farmers markets
· Buy organic foods as much as possible
· Avoid heavily packaged products
· Eat less meat
Reduce your impact
WHILE ON THE MOVE -
Almost one third of the carbon dioxide produced in the United Kingdom comes from our cars, trucks and airplanes. Here are some simple, practical things you can do to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you produce while on the move.
Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible -
Start a carpool with your co-workers or classmates
Keep your car tuned up
Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
Try car sharing
Try telecommuting from home
Fly less
After reducing your emissions you can do even more by going "carbon neutral." By supporting clean renewable energy, you can effectively neutralize your personal CO2 emissions. Your small investment will ensure that for every ton of carbon dioxide you are emitting, a ton of carbon dioxide will not be released into the atmosphere.
Go NEUTRAL! | EARTH GIRLS IN THE PRESS....   
  
  
GMTV- Northern Ireland
ITV- Yorkshire
CHANNEL 4 - Bite
Newtownabbey Times IRELAND - Stacey competes for Miss Earth title 2010
Birmingham Mail - Renault Birmingham Dealership shows it's green and supports Miss Earth Birmingham 2010 - Sandra Lees
BBC Radio - Miss Earth Derbyshire 2010 -Fliss Hilton bids to become Miss Earth 2010
Warrington World 2010 -Catriona Cameron Sunday school teacher wants your votes ......Runcorn Weekly News....Runcorn in the running for Miss Earth awards...
This is Plymouth 2010- Teen UK Charlotte Goodacre....City student bids for glory in green vote
The Ecologist 2010 - Miss Earth Girls attend Camden Green Fair
The Sun 2009 - Meet the queen of green
Daily Record - Scotland - Ecoqueen Sarah Finlay is chasing world title.
Wales on Sunday - Wales - Dominique Dyer spreading the word in top title. Islington Gazette - England Kirsty Nichol...Eco beauty set to take on the planet News of the World Scotland -
Courtney St. John...SHE’S an eco PHWOAR-rier
The Press- Caroline Duffy-
Miss Earth - England Winner joins Green Rascals Nursery..........
NO1- Magazine- Scotland's Glamourous Glossy- Courtney St.John ....Black and White Ball (Princes Trust) June issue 2009
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser - Scotland
Merissa Lennon...Overjoyed after landing Miss Earth Spot The Scotsman- Rolling out the green carpet for Scots carbon ball
BBC Lancashire - Kate White at 2008 UK Grand Final of Miss Earth
The Sun- Green babes Beauty Contest 2008
Wales On Sunday- Jamie Lee Williams......Our Green Goddess
Wales On Sunday- Jamie Lee Williams......Style that doesn't cost the earth
Belfast Telegraph- Gemma Walker...... Gemma set for Miss Earth Contest
County Times- Jamie Lee Williams...... Jamie wins Wales Miss Earth title.........
The Press - Caroline Duffy...... York green campaigner wins England's Miss Earth........
The Press - Caroline Duffy...... The net benefits of saving the seas
BBC Northern Ireland- Aine Gormley... Stormtroopers and Green Goddess Vietnam News - Aine Gormley... Intelligent Beauty
RSBP -Aine Gormley... Beauty backs call for Environmental Protection Agency
Dundee Messenger-
Gillian Murphy ...Scotland's Miss Earth 2008 Finalist
The Evening Echo-
Katie Amess ...
MP's girl wants to be Miss Earth
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Merissa Lennon 2009- Aims to win Miss Earth ......
Many more press features to be added here very soon!
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