“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”-Psalms 24:1
PRACTICAL STEPS TO Become BETTER STEWARDS OF THIS EARTH:
Last week’s blog post was about the passionate love of Jehovah God who sent His only begotten Son to the earth for us and the obedient Son Jesus who took our place on the Cross and thus defeated Sin and Death forever. This week’s blog post talks about a God assigned role of Man that mankind has unintentionally neglected; The Caretaker of God’s Creation.
We have a God of great organization and order. We see in the Book of Genesis that after having created the Universe,God gave man the responsibility of being the caretaker of the earth. Being good Christians, we take good care of ourselves, our bodies, minds, talents, possessions, careers, families, loved ones, churches, missionaries etc. Unfortunately, however, often we overlook and forget our duty to look after the earth we live in. God gave Adam the command in the Garden of Eden Gen 1:28:“to be fruitful and increase in number and to fill the earth and subdue it and God also made Adam ruler over all the works of His hand.(Psalms 8:6).
What better time to remind ourselves of this forgotten role of ours than the 41st Earth Day Celebrations?
History of Earth Day:
Earth Day was originally started in 1970 by a newspaper publisher and activist John Mc Connell from the US. It was Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson (1916 - 2005), (a passionate advocate of protecting the environment and increasing awareness about Environmental issues)who inspired and helped organize the Earth Day celebrations in the United States on April 22, 1970. The UN has designated April
22nd as Earth Day and the month of April as the Earth Month.
22nd as Earth Day and the month of April as the Earth Month.
Why Earth Day?
Earth Day highlights many environmental issues and aims to address environmental problems such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, over-consumption of non-renewable resources, global warming etc. This year, the Earth Day Network is launching the Green Generation Campaign which focuses on reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable consumption, and creating greener jobs and a greener economy.
Embracing Earth Day in other words means directing our love for the Creator to flow from our hearts to all His Creations as well.
MAKING EARTH DAY CELEBRATION A DAILY EVENT: ADOPTING A GREEN LIFE STYLE:
In order for this venture to be a success, it is essential that we aim to celebrate Earth Day not for a day/week/month, instead we should strive to adopt a green life style .For this,we must alter some things in our lives and adapt to some changes in the way we live. This is how we can make every day Earth Day.
“Sounds good, but I am too busy/ what can I do / where can I start? /Will what I do make any difference at all?” I hear you ask me….Well; let’s listen to what Mother Teresa once said:
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love….. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."
Now, let us look at some Practical steps to help us be better stewards of this beautiful earth that God has created and asked us to look after:
Always Keep in Mind The Four R'S – They are:
REUSE, REDUCE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLE:
1) REUSE:
You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away, or pass those materials to others who could use them. Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure!
a) Take your own reusable bags to the store with you.
b) Stop buying bottled water instead carry your own water bottle.
c)Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins so you can wash and use them again.
d) Carry travel mugs / washable cups to offices or restaurants .This helps reuse as well as is hygienic.
e) Use old Styrofoam containers for Crafts /Old T shirts to make a quilt, old jars as containers for household items like hairpins, clips, buttons, safety pins, nails, screws etc. This is called Repurposing.
f) Hold and participate in yard sales where you can find useful things you may require at a cheaper rate and you can get rid of unwanted things as well.
b) Stop buying bottled water instead carry your own water bottle.
c)Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins so you can wash and use them again.
d) Carry travel mugs / washable cups to offices or restaurants .This helps reuse as well as is hygienic.
e) Use old Styrofoam containers for Crafts /Old T shirts to make a quilt, old jars as containers for household items like hairpins, clips, buttons, safety pins, nails, screws etc. This is called Repurposing.
f) Hold and participate in yard sales where you can find useful things you may require at a cheaper rate and you can get rid of unwanted things as well.
2) REDUCE :
i)Buy products with the least amount of packaging and preferably recycled packaging (Help support green corporations by looking for the recycled symbol.) ii) Avoid buying disposable items (plates cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) They only fill the landfill more.
iii) CONSERVE WATER: Some tips to help: a) Do not turn the faucet on full blast while using and turn off faucets tightly after use. b) While washing dishes/brushing teeth etc don't let the tap run free. Instead, fill vessels with water and then use. c) When waiting for running water to turn hot or cold, collect the water in a pitcher and use it to cook with or for plants.
iv) CONSERVE ENERGY: Some tips:
iv) CONSERVE ENERGY: Some tips:
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| On a more humorous note....LOL! |
b)Use natural daylight as much as possible
c)Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
d) Don't open the refrigerator door more than you need to
e)Read books instead of watching TV or playing electronic games
f)Don't leave computers, TVs or other appliances on when not in use
v) CONSERVE FUEL: Some tips: a) Service your car to keep it at peak performance.
b) Go lightly on the gas pedal.
c)Keep your tires properly inflated.
d)Don't rev your engines.
e)Save fuel by car-pooling, walking or riding bicycles.
f) Combine errands and trips.
vi) CONSERVE PAPER: Some tips:
a) Say NO to junk mail! Take your name off unwanted mailing lists
b) Whenever possible, use Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogues, stock reports and other information that usually comes in a paper format.
c) Always use both sides of paper for writing.
d)Avoid unnecessary printing and opt for back to back documents.
b) Whenever possible, use Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogues, stock reports and other information that usually comes in a paper format.
c) Always use both sides of paper for writing.
d)Avoid unnecessary printing and opt for back to back documents.
vii) AVOID POLLUTION:
Tips:
a) Keep your neighborhood clean. Throw all litter in the designated trash boxes.
b) Change your car’s air filter regularly to avoid pollution.
c) Avoid spitting in public places
d)Avoid honking as far as possible
a) Keep your neighborhood clean. Throw all litter in the designated trash boxes.
b) Change your car’s air filter regularly to avoid pollution.
c) Avoid spitting in public places
d)Avoid honking as far as possible
3) REPAIR:
The next time something is broken we must try to repair it instead of replacing it with a new one. Bicycles (or other durable goods like washers, dryers, etc.) can be repaired rather than replaced when they break. New is not always better, nor it is always necessary. You'll be helping your environment as well as your pocketbook!
4) RECYCLE:
a)Buy recycled paper products whenever possible.
b)Make a compost pile with biodegradable garbage such as scraps from fruit and vegetables to use in the garden.
c)Recycle glass bottles and jars.
d)Learn to separate your trash.
e)Buy long life and concentrated items to save on packaging as well as product.
f)Recycle electronic items,batteries,etc Have an old cell phone? Visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com a program that uses money received from recycling cell phones to purchase calling cards that are sent to military troops overseas.
b)Make a compost pile with biodegradable garbage such as scraps from fruit and vegetables to use in the garden.
c)Recycle glass bottles and jars.
d)Learn to separate your trash.
e)Buy long life and concentrated items to save on packaging as well as product.
f)Recycle electronic items,batteries,etc Have an old cell phone? Visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com a program that uses money received from recycling cell phones to purchase calling cards that are sent to military troops overseas.
PRECYCLE means to Prevent Recycle: Action that should be
taken well in advance to Prevent recycling .
5) OTHER STEPS:a)Buy a house plant
b)Become a gardener.
c)Eat and buy local products.
d)Plant a Tree
e)Use Organic Products
f) Use Natural Household Cleansers like lemon to neutralize odor, fight stubborn stains, ketchup to polish brass cookware, use alcohol to remove permanent marker stains on solid surfaces etc
g)Eat Healthy food particularly fruits and vegetables. Avoid all junk food.
h) Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land.
i)Don't purchase Styrofoam. It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down and is considered a hazardous waste.
j)Buy items in cardboard/ aluminum/steel/glass and plastic containers marked 1& 2.(These containers can be recycled more easily.)
b)Become a gardener.
c)Eat and buy local products.
d)Plant a Tree
e)Use Organic Products
f) Use Natural Household Cleansers like lemon to neutralize odor, fight stubborn stains, ketchup to polish brass cookware, use alcohol to remove permanent marker stains on solid surfaces etc
g)Eat Healthy food particularly fruits and vegetables. Avoid all junk food.
h) Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land.
i)Don't purchase Styrofoam. It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down and is considered a hazardous waste.
j)Buy items in cardboard/ aluminum/steel/glass and plastic containers marked 1& 2.(These containers can be recycled more easily.)
Thus you can see that there is indeed a lot that each one of us can do to help in becoming more environment friendly consumers and thus prove ourselves to be accountable caretakers of this earth. And to the question: will what I do make any difference? Will that be enough to save the Earth?
I leave you with yet another quotation from the great woman of God:
Mother Teresa: "We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."
If all of us do our bit, we will definitely be able to make a huge difference gradually.
DECISION: Let us strive to make our hearts bigger, our hands dirtier and voices stronger for God’s creation by rediscovering the Biblical Call to love , serve and protect God’s Creation and thus help in Restoring Eden
Let me end this post by sharing with you a link to a song that says it all! Hope you enjoy it!
Click below to hear this amazing song with catchy tune and meaningful lyrics:
MOTHER NATURE NEEDS US : http://youtu.be/0kLxAeyyom4 (Duration 3.47 mins)
Have a Wonderful week,
Take care, God bless,
Sparky Laurie
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