Yahoo! Canada Answers Blog

Flickr photo by Daniel Rodrigues Gomes

Today is another day devoted to going green and saving the earth. This time, it is the United Nations’ change their way of thinking.

As part of World Environment Day, Yahoo! Canada Answers is pleased to have journalist Alan Weisman, author of the international best-seller The World Without Us, ask a question. The World Without Us is a fascinating vision of what would happen to the earth if humans suddenly disappeared. Alan’s question focuses on another aspect of human extinction, namely the knowledge that any species that outstrips its resources will become extinct. Humans have certainly stretched our own resource base, with alarming consequences for the planet. Alan asks how can we best bring humanity into balance with the rest of nature, as opposed to in mortal combat with it?
The UN is focusing World Environment Day on reducing greenhouse gases. That is a task that is mainly in the hands of big business, but each person must do his or her part. Talking about saving energy and green products may not seem to accomplish much, but if you could get your whole neighbourhood talking, imagine the possibilities.
Businesses sometimes need an extra push to go green, because doing things the old-fashioned way is easier. If we all refuse to buy things that have lots of packaging, though, it may force these companies to think about the extra waste they are creating.
If public transit and bike paths in your community are in shambles, take your complaint to city hall. With the price of gas rising every day, an efficient transit system can help the whole city. Bike paths will not only save you cash, but give you that work-out you have been meaning to do since New Year’s.
We know it’s not feasible for everyone to install solar panels at your house, but unplugging things isn’t so hard. If we all change our ways and shape up, maybe “green” and “environmentally-friendly” will no longer be buzzwords kept aside for specific days, but just something we all are in our everyday lives.
Stephanie