This might sound strange, but once you think about it, you will discover that it is true. Hamburgers harm the environment far more than you may expect. Making hamburgers requires lifestocks, and to rear lifestock, a vast expanse of land has to be cleared. To clear land, trees will be cut down, and imagine what is already happening to our ozone layer. You might hold a warm, juicy hamburger in your hand, and rejoice that you are about to have a great lunch, but imagine all those other people holding juicy hamburgers in their hands, and all the fast food centers in all those different countries.
What can you do? Actually, just do not eat that many hamburgers. When people do that, less meat is needed, and when less meat is needed, less lifestock will be reared, and when less lifestock is reared, less land is needed.
When less land is needed, less trees will be cut down.
Don't think that one person cannot make a difference. It is an entire chain reaction, like many things are, and when one component, one very tiny, almost unnoticeable component of any chain reaction is removed, something will happen to that reaction. It will be changed.
The above words are not my own. For all the facts and figures, go to http://www.peta.org. It is a very good site that I recommend, and there are many facts there that you might prefer to have been ignorant of, but ignorance will not help, will not teach anyone anything - so just go and have a look around, and remember the above about the hamburgers. :)
Recently, we have been doing, and I guess, we will be doing, a lot of models. The models might need ice-cream sticks, straws, plastic ups, paper cups, plastic plates, paper plates etc.. In such cases, please try to use recycled materials. Ice-cream sticks used can be washed and reused, and so can all the rest. Buying a whole new pack of materials will not only cost a lot, but also be harmful to the environment. That is why it is advisable to keep some of your used straws, ice-creamed sticks and such things together in a box. It helps - you never know when you will need to use them.
Here are some things you can do everyday for the environment:
1) Avoid using the air-conditioner at home when you sleep. Instead, open your doors and windows. This will not only prevent further harm to the ozone layer, it will also increase your tolerance for noise, and generally allow you to wake up feeling more relaxed.
2) Recycle your recyclable things! I am very glad less people, almost none, are throuwing unrecyclable litter into our class recycling bin now. :)
3) Bury your dead fish instead of flushing them down the toilet or throwing them into the bin (or any other way you dispose of them). Bury your dead plants too.
I will be writing down more ways later on, so please check again soon!
A website for Bonsai kittens is http://www.bonsaikitten.com/. Imagine being squished into a container, unable to move or eat normally, with you anus sealed, you waste redirected, just for the money-making purpose of some people, and for others to coo at you, when you can actually be frolicking in the sun like other cats!
You can enter some messages in the guestbook, and send emails to the email address of people you see wanting to buy Bonsai Kittens. Do not curse them or sound prejudiced towards them in any way though. Some of them may not even be aware that it is wrong.
You might get very angry when you see some of the replies the webmaster put down in answer to some guestbook messages. However, keep trying, and look for other websites too. Thank you Kingyan, for this website.
I have added a shoutbox to the side of this page so that you can put down comments or discuss about issues you have discovered. :)
Take some time off to visit http://www.passport.panda.org/. It is a site where you can campaign, send automatic emails and sign petitions regarding environment issues. Each time you do something for the world, you 'passport' will be stamped. The recent issues are:
18/03/2004
Germany threatens to destroy critical climate-saving law
Germany's Minister for Economics is threatening to undermine a progressive EU law, critical to tackling climate change.
Urgent action needed... Read more
17/03/2004
Construction work threatens untouched Alpine wilderness
One of the largest floodplains in central Europe - home to polecats, red foxes, and a wealth of birds - is at risk
Stop out-dated construction work on the wild Tagli... Read more
09/03/2004
Croatia: Stop digging up the Drava river
One of Europe's most pristine rivers is sentenced to death if Croatia continues its massive river engineering schemes.
The Drava needs your help again... Read more
27/02/2004
Prevent destructive fishing in the Galapagos
Help prevent a fishing free-for-all in the Galapagos marine reserve.
Urge Ecuador's president not to weaken environment... Read more
26/02/2004
Stop Austrian threat to the mighty Danube River
The Danube river, the lifeline of Europe, is at risk if Austria goes ahead with plans to deepen the river to improve in-land shipping.
It is very simple and it only takes a small step to be part of the people fighting for the rights of those life and land. Remember the light in all of us. Remember that it takes more than one's own happiness to be happy.
Love should be unconditional and should spread to everything in the world. It aims to serve and to bring happiness. It is undescribable and infinite. I hope after reading about these issues, everyone will put in efforts to make things better for the world.
Pollution, abuse of land usage - they have both directly and indirectly harmed our environment, and thousands of our fellow beings. We have to accept this heart-wrenching fact. Love. Compassion. Use them to make life better. Use them because you have them. Feel for the dying and the suffering.
We are all lights, lights to shine upon the lifes of others. We can make a difference somehow, big or small, it does not matter. What matters is the love and the effort and all the hope that we hold dear.