April is Earth Month

This year marks the 55^th anniversary of Earth Day.

The idea for Earth Day began when Senator Gaylord Nelson became concerned about the deteriorating environment.  In January 1969, he witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbra, California.  More than 3 million US gallons of oil spilled, killing more than 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals and sea lions.

Earth Day is now a global event with 192 countries and over one billion people participating.

Here are just a few things we can all do:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: cut down on waste by recycling properly, reusing items, and minimizing single use plastics.
2. Conserve Water: Turn off taps when not in use, fix leaks and use water efficient appliances
3. Save Energy: Use LED bulbs, turn off electronics when not in use.
4. Use Eco-Friendly transportation: Walk, bike or carpool to reduce carbon emissions.
5. Support Sustainable Brands: Choose companies and products that are eco-friendly.
6. Reduce Meat Consumption: A plant based diet or eating less meat can lower your carbon footprint
7. Clean up your community: Participate in local events to remove liter from parks, and streets.
8. Compost: Reduce food waste and enrich the soil by composting organic materials.
9. Educate and Advocate: spread awareness about environmental issues.
10. Plant a Tree: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, and help combat climate change.