Earth Week Day 5 (final)

Hey Jammers! Sorry I didn't write up my last Earth Week post yesterday, it was a long day and I had a ton of homework to do late. ^^;

Thank you all for your wonderful comments, I'm so happy you guys love the Earth like I do. :')

What I'm planning on doing (maybe this weekend?) is make a sidebar section or page on AJ Stream with some resources that could help you help the environment, just for easy access. 

Because it seems you guys enjoyed Earth Week, I might make some longer posts dedicated to specific stuff you can do, like gardening for wildlife. 

But without further ado, let's get into the final day of Earth Week on AJ Stream! C:

Prevent Pollution

"Does your favorite ice cream shop use plastic spoons?

Ask an adult to help you talk to the owner about switching to a non-plastic option. Some kinds of spoons are even edible!"

"Participate in a community cleanup. The groups that host the events sometimes weigh the collected trash, which helps leaders make decisions about laws that encourage people to waste less."

(NOTE: Areas where animals live are often polluted by people the most. Cleaning up the trash from those areas directly helps those animals!)

Combat Climate Instability

"Hang up your clothes to dry instead of always using a dryer. You'll be saving energy and helping with chores."

"Use an online carbon footprint calculator to see how much carbon dioxide your actions release. If you know how you're impacting the planet, you can take steps for change."

(NOTE: Here is a good one. You might need your parents' help answering a couple of the questions, but it's pretty easy to understand.)

Prohibit Habitat Destruction

"Habitats are often disrupted to create more stuff for people. So try your best to use less: Visit the local library instead of buying a DVD, share games and toys with friends, and reuse school supplies."

"Clean your shoes before going on a hike, especially in a new place. The mud caked on your sneakers may contain seeds of invasive plants, which can push out native plants that keep the ecosystem healthy."

(NOTE: This is also important for animals. A disease that is hurting bat populations is spreading from a species of fungus that latches onto hikers' shoes.)

"People cut down about 15 billion trees every year, much of them to make paper. Save your sheets by using the back, buying recycled paper, and asking your teacher to sometimes switch from printed homework to online assignments."

(NOTE: Also, something small you can do when you are shopping is say "no" when the cashier asks you if you want a receipt printed.)

Bring Back Biodiversity!

"Invasive species are plants and animals that don't belong in a certain habitat. They can destroy native species and shake up the whole ecosystem.

You can help! Sign up to help remove invasive plants at a local park or nature center."

(NOTE: Invasive species are not necessarily "bad" species that should be completely eradicated. In their own ecosystems, they are important, but can become invasive if transported to ecosystems that have not adapted to them. Because the native plants and animals cannot defend themselves, invasive species can reduce the health of the ecosystem.

Fun fact: by definition, humans are an invasive species in most places. 

Of course, because the population is too huge for everyone to go back to our native region, the best we can do is reduce the negative impact we have on our ecosystem.)

"Bring binoculars on an outdoor adventure to enjoy wildlife from afar. That way you don't disturb animals, which can stress them out. Critters are better off thinking about looking for food or caring for their young– not hiding from you!"

Thank you guys for reading. Remember, just because Earth Week is over doesn't mean you should stop thinking about your world!

Together, let's turn our negative impact on the Earth into a positive one. :)

See you in Jamaa!

~DoomyPanda