There's
a popular saying which goes, 'Each one plant one'. This saying essentially
urges all human beings to plant at least one tree in their lifetime. If
every human being planted a tree, and if our planet had as many trees as
it had people, the environment wouldn't be quite as unstable as it is today.
The hole in the ozone layer wouldn't be quite as big or threatening, and
the globe wouldn't be warming up as quickly as it is.
The importance of respecting your
environment and Mother Nature can never be underestimated. While everyone
grumbles about pollution, not many of us really do anything about it. "What
can we do?" you say. The answer is: plenty. Here's what you can do for
starters:
Don't Litter
You're in a car, munching on a packet
of chips. The instant you chomp down the last wafer, you roll down your
window and chuck the packet out of the window. Bad. Very, very bad. Golden
rule no. 1: Don't ever throw anything out of the window of your car. Only
if you follow this rule, can you set an example for your children. If you
have something to discard, simply keep it in your car, and throw it in
your garbage bin when you reach home. Take pride in your country! Someone
once said "People get the government they deserve." Well, what does that
say about us?
Save Paper
Yes, it's true. Paper is made from
trees. So don't, don't waste paper. DON'T! We're not asking you to abstain
from using paper. Feel free to use as much as you want, as long as you
USE it, and not just waste it.
Instead of giving your younger children
a drawing book, wherein they scribble their way through 10 pages in 10
minutes, give them a sheet of paper instead, so they keep scribbling away
on that one sheet. (The same rule applies to you!)
Use both sides of the paper when
printing, unless you are taking 20 printouts and you cannot be bothered
to keep changing the side. But if it is just a couple of pages, use BOTH
sides.
Similarly, use both sides of a writing
pad, notepad or letterhead.
Remember that every piece of paper
can be recycled, no matter how small. So recycle paper.
Separate your
garbage
Separate your dry garbage from kitchen
waste. Give your dry garbage for free to the neighbourhood raddiwallah
when he comes to purchase your old newspapers. Did you know that because
most people don't separate their garbage, slum children rummage through
piles and piles of slime, trying to salvage whatever they can so they can
sell it and buy themselves a meal? In the process not only do they get
various skin infections, but they also often cut themselves on broken glass
pieces and rusted nails, and are constantly ridden with diseases.
Do your bit for
charity
Do you do your bit for charity? There's
no compulsion, and if you're still in the process of making a life for
yourself, coughing up extra cash so someone else can have a chance at making
their lives, may not be a very appealing option. However, you don't have
to donate money if you'd rather not. There are various other options:
Give old clothes to a government
hospital or to a charity institute (not to beggars on the street.)
Ask your child to hand over the
toys he does not play with any longer, and the clothes he doesn't wear.
(Of course, you can have the final say and put those expensive, new, M&S
trousers that fit perfectly, back in his closet!) Explain to him that these
clothes and toys will be sent to a charity home. This way your child will
learn the lesson of giving.
Every once in a while, give your
newspapers to a newspaper collecting drive.
Educate someone. Does the washer
woman have a son or daughter who could use some help in school? Help the
child with school work. If you don't have the time, encourage your children
to teach them. In this manner, you would also be inculcating a sense of
social service in your children.
Or simply, do a great service
to your planet, and plant a tree.
