Sustainability- From Ignorance to Care.

How can the Aam Aadmi implement sustainability?

It is quite often that we talk about conservation of environment. It is easier for us to blame some governmental policies or the works done by other people which result in pollution. Actually, it’s not the job of only the UN or the government or your neighbour.

It is your job!

Let’s all try and inculcate certain habits at our own level, which will result in the betterment of the planet.

Waste Management

Reduce-The waste you produce in the first place.

• Avoid buying disposable items such as paper plates and foam cups.
• Print or photocopy on both sides of the paper- it saves money, storage and postage.
• Repair an item instead of replacing it or giving it to someone.

Reuse-Reuse items before they become waste.

• Wash and reuse glass and plastic containers.
• Reuse strong plastic carrier bags instead of buying them or use permanent cloth bags for groceries.

Recycle-Recycle your waste! Many waste types can be reprocessed into useful items.

• Purchase recycled or eco-friendly products.
• Recycle as much as of your refuse as possible. Items such as glass bottles, tin cans, paper, plastic and car oil can be recycled. Collect these items in a seperate bin and take to your nearest solid waste drop-off facility or recycling depot.

Reduce pollution

• Walking or Cycling can result in much decrease in the pollution. Instead of using the car everywhere, ask yourself the following question: Do I really need my car? If you do, it’s fine. If you don’t, you need to bring a change in your mode of transport.
• Use mops or rags that are damp when cleaning. The moisture will send less dust into the air.
• Avoid aerosol spray cans- When buying hair, body and cleaning products, avoid aerosol cans.
• Have some plants, or a little garden- Plants produce the oxygen needed for survival, add moisture and filter toxins. Indoor plants can reduce pollutants in your home too!

Conserve Water

• Collect the water you use while rinsing fruits and vegetables.Use it to water plants.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save upto 4 gallons a minute. That’s upto 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• Check your taps and showers for leakage.One drip every second adds upto five gallons per day!
• Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
• There are many successful water-harvesting systems running, and these can be promoted in larger buildings.

Conserve Electricity

• Be sure to turn off lights when you leave a room.
• When you go away on a trip, be sure to unplug all the machines because they have stand-by mode that consume electricity even when they are turned off.
• Make use of daylight hours and not turn on lights and lamps.
• Use one large light bulb (CFLs) instead of a few small ones. One 100-watt bulb uses less energy and gives off more light than two 60-watt bulbs.
• Use fluorescent ligght bulbs because they use very less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs.

Be kind to Animals

• God has made all of us from a beetle to blue whale, when all are equal in the eyes of god then who we are to harm the animals just to fulfill the the greed of some richer sections of the society.
• Animals are as much as important for human survival as the oxygen or water. The entire structure is interconnected and dependable on each other. When one phase gets disturbed, others will also be affected.

Plant a Tree

• Planting trees can also help cool your home in summer.The overall effect of the shade created by planting a healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners running 20 hours a day!
• People who live around trees are generally happier and proactive, have healthier relationships and generallly less stressed.

Nature calms people and it also helps them to rejuvenate psychologically. It is the time to start with the bit we b=can do, to change our ignorance into care and to take little steps. Little when alone, these changes will bring larger differences when united.