"GREEN WORLD"

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." Environmental protection is a major concern in today's society. Environmental movements are a form of new social movements alongside the women's movement. Environmentalists are concerned with the environment in its relation to human society. There are many environmental issues facing our green world today. We the new generation owe the basic responsibility of protecting our green world. Some of the issues which we can focus on to improve the earth's environment are mentioned below; Save fuel The biggest issue the world faces today; it is our dependence on oil. This dependence we have is so strong that, we have started wars for oil. It is time we do something about it and try and find an alternative form of energy. Because soon this problem will be too much for us to handle and by then it will be too late. Save energy o Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs. o Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. o Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts energy use. o Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. o Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. Save water o Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too. o Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area. Save Trees o Illegal cutting of trees shall be stopped. This reminds us of The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, which is a socio-ecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. o Since wood is required for producing paper, we can save more trees by avoiding unnecessary usage of paper, using one side paper for rough use and draft printing. Avoiding printing of papers when not required. o Recycling of papers (such as news paper, old magazine etc.) can help in saving trees. Plant More Trees One has to plant at least two trees in a lifetime. The photosynthesis conducted by trees is the ultimate source of energy and organic material in nearly all ecosystems. Photosynthesis radically changed the composition of the early Earth's atmosphere, which as a result is now 21% oxygen. Animals and most other organisms are aerobic, relying on oxygen. Plants are the primary producers in most terrestrial ecosystems and form the basis of the food web in those ecosystems. Many animals rely on plants for shelter as well as oxygen and food. Trees are key components of the water cycle and several other biogeochemical cycles. Plant roots play an essential role in soil development and prevention of soil erosion. To conclude with we have to create a culture of environmental responsibility across the nation. We shall put all our efforts to go green and protect our green world, which will in-turn protect coming generations and the environment for years to come.