Image via Wikipedia

Recycle your Christmas paper? Right – once the ceremony is over and everybody gets busy with sampling their presents, or gather at the Christmas dinner table and chat about who has got what, the paper heaps up in an unsightly irregular mountain next to the Christmas tree, and is completely forgotten. Later or even only the next morning, everything gets dumped into the general rubbish bin. It is a huge amount of paper, which goes to waste every Christmas, but could be recycled in one or another form.

If you’d like to recycle your Christmas wrapping paper after it’s been used for wrapping the presents, so what could you do, or what are the options for recycling?

1) Put it simply into the recycling bin. This especially applies if it has been torn apart into pieces.

Picture via Wikipedia

2) If you are a little bit more careful, and think of it in advance, you could just unwrap your presents with the required care, which leaves the sheets intact, and allows you to re-use them next Christmas for presents of a similar size. Think ahead! That will save you from buying more Christmas wrapping paper next year.

3) Decorative or ornamental use. Most Christmas wrapping papers have lovely prints with ornaments you could re-use for making Christmas cards or something similar for another Christmas yet to come. Cut them off neatly with a pair of scissors and store them in a box for card making. Alternatively, you could make some Christmas tree decorations from these ornaments, if you reinforce the with pieces of card board and make holes into them. This will provide you with free Christmas tree decorations of unique value.

Example: recycled Christmas bags, picture via China Factory Christmas Gifts

I hope this has given you some inspiration, not to discard of the Christmas wrapping paper too carelessly this time, but pay a little bit more attention to what can be done with it. Our environment will thank you for it.

If you’d like to write articles like this one on Triond, don’t hesitate – everybody can do it. Simply try it – you can get started by clicking this link.

You might also be interested in:

For Christmas in love

Santa’s Grotto

Strategies to save money when shopping today

Recycle wood from your garden

Alternative Christmas dinner ideas

So, what should we do ….?? In the sphere of small and simple, to keep the earth remains comfortable for us, can start from your own. There are five small measures but have a major impact to the health of our planet by implementing 5R, Namely:

1. REDUSE Reducing the amount of waste.

2. Reuse Reusing goods.

3. RECYCLE Recycle goods that can not be used back into other raw materials.

4. Refuse Refusing to buy useless stuff.

5. REPAIR Repair items used for the use again.

It is now ??… you know what we ought to continue to do ??… after understanding we hope to apply it to everyday life. With so participate for the convenience of our environment. Quite easy too! as long as we care about and want. Save the earth can start from yourself. OK

And then, in a staggeringly short 33 years the world’s population reached 3 billion (in 1960).

Fourteen years later in 1974 we reached 4 billion and in another 13 years the world hit the 5 billion mark (in 1987).

It took 12 years from then to reach 6 billion in 1999 and now; in another 12 years on we are just about to hit 7 billion.

This is phenomenal growth and was made possible through medical developments and a massive growth in agricultural productivity. But now many people are struggling for the basics in life. We have global food companies who can seemingly get away with murder just to keep up with the supply and demand to sustain us. We are using up resources faster than they can be produced and we still seem to have problems getting along with our fellow man..

So where exactly is it all heading?

Are we all in danger of facing a growing food crisis? There are already far too many people dying of starvation in the world. Could you imagine being in that position?

There’s no denying that climate ‘change’ is happening (and has always happened through the earth’s existence). And more and more of the world’s population are being directly affected by climate related disasters.

We have certainly been fed enough of these disaster movies to condition us to what may or may not happen to us in our future.

This could all be pretty depressing stuff (and I’ve already given many of you enough to cry about with my articles: Songs guaranteed to make you cry  and 13 movies guaranteed to make you cry) so I didn’t really intend to give you any more reasons for reaching for that box of tissues!

Perhaps the best tool of survival for any of us is knowledge and understanding. With awareness we can make better choices. We can decide to buy our food locally and eat a macrobiotic diet, we can choose to reduce, reuse and recycle for charity, and we can make sure we buy things wisely and truly understand the difference between ‘want’ and ‘need’.

Ultimately, we can all choose to tread more carefully on this planet and enjoy every moment while we are here.

Earth is our Mother. She breast-feeds us with her water and vegetation. If we keep her well she will keep us hale and healthy.  Children of today will be the citizens of tomorrow and rule this earth. They should be aware of the value of Mother Earth and learn to protect her. They should be given opportunities to learn about the environment awareness. Opportunies such as “the earth day” can teach them love earth.

Ten kinds of activities for children

Children have a great part in maintaining the earth in good condition. Activities of earth Day can enlighten them responsible in protecting the earth. It is the duty of the parents, teachers and others to teach children make this earth beautiful into an earthly heaven.

Image by norfolkdistrict via Flickr

1) Several activities of fun

There are several activities through which children can make Earth Day memorable and fruitful throughout their life. The Earth Day activities for children can be fun, educational, adventurous, creative, or can make a good time to go on a picnic or field trip. 

2) Just initiate activities

Children are very cute. They will be very happy to be involved in various activities if they are properly motivated. Let them use their imagination and creativity. Create opportunities for children’s participation in those activities connected to Earth Day. They can be engaged individually or in groups. They can undertake projects in communities.

3) Arrange creative projects

Creative crafts projects can be arranged for preschool, kindergarten, elementary and high school children. Children can be encouraged to use materials found around the house, like egg cartons, cardboard, paper, boxes, string, crayons, paint, glue, etc.

4) Awareness competitions 

Various competitions can be arranged to encourage environment awareness. Children are quite interested to exhibit their talents. Painting, essay-writing, creative mono-act, debate, etc. are some of the methods to make the occasion lively.

5) Make the children involve their senses

Modern lifestyle has tied the children to chairs and sofas watching TV or games. But actually they love to go out, play and enjoy nature. Teach them to enjoy the beauty of nature, displayed in attractive colors. Encourage playing games of tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing and touching the wonders of nature. Let them know about different herbs and spices.

6) Let the children adopt plants and trees

Children will be very happy to plant trees and adopt them. Plant a tree movement has been successful throughout the world. Children love to care their own vegetation and protect the eco system healthy.

7) Recycling games

Recycling games are really funny.  They help children learn and earn. They explain children why they should not throw everything in the trash and what fun things come out of recycled materials. They will surely be charmed to find yogurt cups becoming toothbrushes, plastic things becoming playground materials and juice pouches changed into cool bags. Reconstructing recyclables, reusing them and re-engineering everyday materials into creative things will be really funny and informative.

Visits and field trips

Visits to parks and field trips to local farms can give eco-awareness. The children will be excited to know from where their food comes. Picking up dinner from a Farmer’s Market will make it enjoyable. They can be guided to utilize leftovers, by starting a compost pile.

9) Energy conservation campaigns

Optimum use of energy should have an important place in eco-green programs. Developing the sense of good energy conservation habits has become inevitable in the modern world. Awareness of global warming also needs their attention.

10) Involve children in go green movements

Awareness about toxic chemicals can be introduced through Earth Day programs. Children should be aware of the toxic chemicals used in their environment.

Batteries. Many stores like Office Depot and Radio Shack let you recycle your batteries at the store in order to keep the dangerous metal out of the landfill. For car batteries, contact a local distributor, which will probably be able to recycle or tell you how to recycle the battery correctly.

Recycle books and magazines. Instead of throwing them away, call your local library as many donations accepted. Remember also to recycle books and magazines, you can help people who do not have access to some reading materials and study can do so in public libraries and reading centers.

Cell phones are also recycled. There are many nonprofit sites that accept second-hand mobile phones and give to the needy. For a list of local businesses that accept cell phones, please consult the Internet or call the government agency environment.

Computers or computer equipment. If you have an old computer that has no intention to resell, you can donate his shares to some institutions that can use them to teach computers to poor children. There are also services that will repair your old computer and give to nonprofit organizations, needy families, and schools need additional funds.

The metal frames of the glasses can be recycled. If you have plastic frames, consider making a donation to a social cause. Often department stores have bins where you can donate eyeglasses frames for poor people. 

The cards for the holidays or birthdays can be recycled with other paper products. Many large companies that make paper packaging usually buy paper recycling to make its products and at the same time help the environment. Such companies also tend to teach all people who want some good ways to recycle.

Also recycle printer cartridges. Nearly 70 percent of printer cartridges are dumped into landfills could be recycled while. Take your printer cartridges for recycling. Many stores will sometimes give a discount on your next purchase for carrying cartridges to be recycled. The printer cartridges can take up to 500 years to decompose if not recycled properly.

Nowadays, when most of our purchases have traveled the world prior to landing in our reusable shopping bags, it is hard to see what values and societies our pennies are supporting.  That is why buying goods from local merchants, artisans and farmers is so empowering.

Have you ever reflected, on any given day, that nearly all of the clothes you are wearing and all of the food you have ingested could have been produced & grown in a place that you have never visited?  When societies worldwide are in such economic peril, it feels good to support neighbors and keep dollars in local circulation.

Here’s a brief guide on how to start buying local.

FOOD:

A visit to your local farmers’ market and choosing locally grown produce is a good first step.  

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is another way to get involved and support local food production.  In my town, no such programs existed, but a few neighbors got together and started our own version of this, now we have fresh produce being delivered weekly from an organic farm a few hours away.  We know that our produce contains no cancer causing chemicals, and we are helping a noble family farm.

When it comes to treats, try to support a local ice cream shop, chocolatier, winery or canned goods when available. Locally produced candy or other edible goods make thoughtful gifts.

Supporting a local bakery is also a feel-good way to spend money, albeit the convenience of the grocer’s bakery is sometimes hard to surpass.  

Try to alter your shopping route to include a local market, specialty store or bakery before your trip to the grocer’s to purchase local products when possible and find other staples at larger stores.

Dining out also provides an opportunity to support local eateries in a day when massive chain restaurants clutter our landscape as much as their billboards.  Often times, local restaurants are also purchasing produce & staples from other local businesses, enhancing the cycle of circular local investment.  Feel free to ask during your next visit to your favorite local spot if they purchase from local growers and suppliers.

CLOTHING:

Depending on where you live, this can be a little more difficult.  However, certain economic trends are leading more people to explore the potential to earn money sewing and crafting, and you may be surprised to find a custom clothing designer in your area.  The art of tailoring is not dead.  Check your local listings to find a custom dress maker or tailor in your area that produce high quality original designs. 

A good place to start is Etsy.  Choose the “Shop local” option from the “Ways to Shop” menu.  Etsy is an online marketplace for artisans and vintage collectors.  Which brings us to our next topic…

Buy vintage.  Nothing says ‘Save the world’ like recycling.  Check our local Goodwill or other thrift stores for finds that can offer extraordinarily unique looks at next-to-nothing prices. 

HOME:

In many areas, you can still find local woodworkers, blacksmiths and masons that can produce high quality original designs for nearly any of your home building, remodel, design or construction needs.  

Beyond brick and mortar, find a starving artist in your area to support by purchasing pieces.  Good art can be found everywhere in the world, and can be an invaluable investment if it brings you joy by embellishing a space.

Functional items, such as pottery, serving pieces, quilts or hand woven area rugs are still being produced by artisans all over the world and can enhance your home.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

For more information on CSA’s, try www.localharvest.org, for gads of material and an interactive map of organic farms and markets in the United States.

Swellr is a new site aiming to connect local businesses with community educational needs.  Schools and teachers can request aide or supplies that they need in the classroom, and buyers can purchase vouchers to be used at participating businesses in which a sizable donation will be made for such causes.

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) has an ultra informative website full of advice on how to further strengthen community and entrepreneurial relationships.

Find even more information, forums and suggestions at www.buylocal.net.  

Search the web for a “Buy local directory (your area here).”

At the end of the day, no one is considering that large chain stores are not a valued and integral piece to any local economy.  After all, such retailers have rightfully boasted that they are major employers in most US cities.  However, buying and supporting local businesses can help strengthen communities and relationships, one purchase at a time. 

And don’t forget your reusable shopping bag.  

Repair it.

The obvious solution when it comes to reusing shoes. Take it to your local shoe repair or go to Shoegoo.com

Give it another purpose.

Use it as a…

• Flowerpot

Drill holes on the sole for irrigation and spray with adhesive to prevent decay.

• Pencil/penny container

• Chew toy

Suggested by some bloggers, but it’s really not advisable for it encourages dogs to chew on furniture or shoes still being used.

• Bird house

• Playground padding

• Art material

• Pin cushion

Preferably baby shoes.

• Part of a costume/cosplay

• Door stopper

Fill it with cement.

• Patch

Use the materials (e.g. Canvas) and turn it into a wallet, patch, casing, and etc. go crazy with it!

Donate it.

Here is a huge list of places where you could give away your shoes where it will either be recycled or shipped to people who could reuse them.

• Nike Reuse a Shoe

They only accept:

- Athletic shoes

- Livestrong bands

- No metal

- No cleats / dress shoes

Shoes can be sent to

Nike Recycling Center

c/o Reuse-a-shoe

26755 sw 95th AVE

Wilsonville, OR 97070

• Soles 4 souls

Ships shoes to the less fortunate in various counties.

• Recycled Runners

• Free cycle

• Sole Aid

• Sole Responsibility (Canada)

• Eco Cycle (Colorado)

• Run the Planet

• Kenneth Cole Shoes – Donate a shoe and get 20% off on new pair!    

• Okabashi

• Hope Runs (Kenya and Tanzania)

• Shoe Bank (Dallas)

• Recycle My Shoes

• Running Free

• Shoes 4 Africa

• Share Your Soles

• Waynes Boro Running

• Shoes That Love You

• Salvation Army

• Local Homeless shelter

(Picture by author)

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This weekend, I had the great fortune of volunteering for WorldFest 2011 in the EcoTent. A simple 9am-2pm shift granted me free admission and a free t-shirt. But, I really wasn’t as interested in the freebies as I was in the experience of the day.

I was glad to be a part of the EcoTent because that’s where educational movies like “The Electric Car” and films about why you need to be careful about what skin and makeup products were played round the clock. Additionally, eco-friendly speakers would periodically grace the stage, extolling their knowledge and heartfelt advice.

At about 12 noon, I was asked to go watch over a “Hemp Clothing” booth while the fashion designer spoke at the Ecotent. It threw me off a bit, because in my mind I always thought “hemp” was an illegal drug, little did I know, it’s actually a very widely used natural product that lasts longer than standard cotton clothing. Also, “hemp” can be used in over 50 items, another interesting fact I discovered by a highly knowledgeable person who stopped by the booth. He was extremely passionate about the vegan lifestyle as well giving me much “food for thought”. In fact, the entire WorldFest event was not only eco-friendly but vegan based. While I must admit that I do my best to eat as healthy as possible, and have even lived a fruitarian lifestyle for a year, still do from time to time, the idea of a vegan lifestyle and the passion behind such a practice was both inspiring and one I needed more time to think about.

(Picture by author)

After my shift was over at 2pm, I decided to walk around the event and check out the booths. Some of the vendors that really stood out to me were the following:

1. From War to Peace - this organization really touched my heart. Not only was the majority of their jewelry in the shape of peace signs, but it was created from dismantled nuclear weapons systems. With such a potent origination, I had to stop and appreciate the beauty of such a unique line of accessories.
2. Save the Chimps - was another booth that caught my extra special attention. The man explained that their organization had literally saved chimps that had either been used in experimental testing and / or exploited in some fashion or another. They provide a safe sanctuary where these chimps can live in peaceful harmony. They accept donations to continue their goodwill.
3. Farm Fresh to You - had a box of fresh organic veggies and fruits displayed giving you an idea of the door-to-door delivery service they provided. They were offering a discount of $5’s off your first purchase if you ordered there, but I told the nice guy that I needed time to think about it, but that I may write an article about it. Because of this he eagerly handed me a discount card and said that I could receive a discount at a later time and said “I hope you write about us.”
4. Another booth called Best Friends Animal Society – explained that they help starving artists care for their pets when they aren’t able to financially afford veterinary bills. I thought this was a very unique organization and thought more people needed to know about it.
5. World Peace Pilgrimmage - was the one booth that struck me most profoundly. According to their flyer: “For the past two years, over 200 people from many different faith traditions have come together on beautiful Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles to send out a wave of love and light to the world from this sacred mountain.” When I heard this, I could feel tears begin to surface.

Overall, today was a mellow, thoughtful, good day. I’m really glad I decided to volunteer for such a great cause. Good music, good people, good events ~ even Tesla Motors was there (they once tried to recruit me to be a spokesperson and as exciting as it sounded, well, I’m pretty blessed with my day job). It pays the bills and it’s for a well-established company (while I’m working on my writing dreams).

Other than that, things are great, life’s exceptionally beautiful…

Joie Schmidt © Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved.

==================================================================

Dreams of the Heart – volume I by Joie Schmidt is available:

  * Volume I: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks

Dreams of the Heart – volume II is available:

  * Volume II: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader

———> Stay tuned . . . vol. II will soon be available on iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks!

(*In memoriam of the tragedy in Japan all proceeds from – volume I – sales will go to the relief efforts until 3/11/12)

==================================================================

For more great reading:

• Il Moro: A Restaurant Review
• Mat Kearney: You Pull Me Closer to Love
• Four Feel Good Songs to Brighten Your Day
• OneRepublic: This Could Really be a Good Life
• Cultural Differences: A Glimpse of South Korea
• Marilyn Monroe: An Iconic Beloved Treasure
• Five of the Most Extraordinary Places to Visit in the World
• Beautiful Duets: These Streets Will Make You Feel Brand New
• Melrose Avenue: Hollywood’s Hippest Must Do Shopping Experience
• Five for Fighting: No Act of God Could Pull Me Away From You

Do you have a story, poem, artwork or photography you’d like to share? Please check out this site to earn limitless income for life: Triond

Global warming and climate change have become international action points.  Environmental destruction  has been traced to large-scale business operations such as mining, logging and industrial dumping of toxic wastes.  Apathy and the cumulative wasteful practices of people have also contributed to global harm.

Image via Wikipedia

Entire communities are still being displaced by profit-greedy mining corporations, while those who raise their voices against these abusive businesses are either coerced, threatened or silenced by hired guns.  Endangered species continue to face extinction.  Coal-fired and the potentially hazardous nuclear power plants, and the cumulative pollution from factory and vehicular exhausts remain as top environmental threats, especially in developing countries.  It is no wonder that despite international jubilation every Earth Day, we still have an ailing environment.

Awareness campaigns and pro-environment activities must be done every day, across the world, and adapted as a way of life.  Governments ought to make environmentalism part of policy, paving the way for “green laws” and the overall upliftment of people’s well-being.  Healthy ecosystems, healed environments, nurture healthier people.

The world deserves cleaner and energy-efficient fuels, power sources and machines; lesser waste products; no more destructive business operations; zero harmed eco-activists; more plants and vegetation, especially in densely populated cities; flourishing ecosystems; and a caring global culture that promotes harmony between humanity and nature.

Love for Earth and Life clearly goes way beyond Earth Day.