For my Earth...

Some things we do for the environment, some things we do for ourselves -

• We re-use old bath towels for cleaning the kitchen counter, the floor and the scooter.
• Old handkerchiefs are used as dusters
• I do not use the paper napkins for drying my hands in the office. Instead I let them dry on their own. (My parents n hubby carry hankies, I can't bring myself to carry a hanky coz I seem to lose them time n again)
• We wash our own clothes, wash our utensils, clean the house - all with our own bare hands :)
• If the clothes aren't dirty or are used only for a short while, we use it once more n only then put it for a wash - saves water
• We put off the tap when brushing the teeth, scrubbing the utensils n rinsing the clothes
• We use fluorescent lights at home
• We use two-wheelers for commuting long distances instead of four-wheelers. We use bike for longer distances because the mileage is better than the scooter
• Our two-wheelers are tested for emission from time to time n they are under the acceptable range
• We switch off the engines at traffic signals and during traffic jams
• We don't honk, and sound the horn only when absolutely necessary
• Earlier we used to pool our two-wheelers - we worked in the same office. Now we have switched to cycling - our offices are on opposite directions
• Vegetables, pulses n rice are cooked in the cooker

There are some things which one of us (hubby n I) does, at the same time making the other follow - and that helps a lot in the long run, I think. Things such as -

• Hubby tends to keep the lights on in the room that is not used. I remind him to put it off. Same when the TV is on n hubby is busy on the Internet.
• I like hot water baths but hubby likes it warm. He mixes the hot n cold water n brings it to a warm temp for me to use later.

Some things in the pipe line which we have been planning to but were not able to till now.

• Start a garden: one, for the obvious reason - environment; two, to reduce the organic waste that goes into the garbage can - it can go back to the earth instead; three, for the joy of gardening n living amidst nature.
• Start carrying cloth bags or old plastic bags when we go out to buy grocery. It will reduce the usage of plastic

Hopefully people will see that it is not difficult to do your bit for the cause you believe in. We have done it n are doing it n will continue doing it. It's not difficult at all.

P.S: Read somewhere that Oct 24 is International Climate Day. Not that it matters to us. For us, every day is worth doing something for the environment