Hi everyone, I figured since I made a thread in the Critical thinking forum that had parts about pollution and harming the environment, I figured I could create another thread to help spread ideas of how to prevent so much environment destruction.

Now, I'd say that Environmental Awareness is a fairly big topic, but for now I will stick with basic ways an everyday person, like myself, can help. It is also an important topic in today's world and I feel like it isn't taught enough and that not everyone is made as aware of it as they should. So for now, here is some simpler advice on simpler matters. (I will add more later. )

Saving Water: Water is very important to the Earth and every living thing on on it. Many of our key water sources are being drained and it is majorly effecting the ecosystem within it. So, not only are we slowly depleting important water supply areas, but also killing the environment and the animals around that said area.

A good example of this is the Colorado River in the United States. The entire southwestern parts of the US depends on this one river. That means that Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, Wyoming, and Nevada all are supplied with water from this river. This river is running dry now, severely changing the environment around it.



A great quote from an article I read,

There’s not enough fresh water to handle nine billion people at current consumption levels,” says Patricia Mulroy, a board member of the Colorado-based Water Research Foundation, which promotes the development of safe, affordable drinking water worldwide. People need a “fundamental, cultural attitude change about water supply in the Southwest,” she adds. “It’s not abundant, it’s not reliable, it’s not going to always be there.”

So, even if you don't live in an area that depends on the Colorado, you depend on some water source and it may not last forever either. A very simple way to help save water is to not be greedy with it.[Arrow] Don't take long showers when it isn't needed, don't keep the water running while brushing your teeth, or try not to flush the toilet every time you simply pee. Try not to waste water and only use what is necessary. For more on how to save water go here to read an article that gives you 100 ways to conserve it! - 100 Ways to Conserve Water

Read more about the Colorado River Here: Colorado River Runs Dry

Another great Article to read about over usage of water here: 8 Mighty Rivers Run Dry From Overuse


Helping Reduce Landfills: Landfills are nasty, huge, and destroy the overall surrounding area. Some are located by the ocean and the trash can spill over the side and pollute the ocean even more than it already has been. Everyday thousands of pounds of trash is taken to be dumped, buried, burned, or left in a giant pile somewhere. By limited the amount of trash you go through, you can actually have an impact on land fills.




How can you help with landfills? Simple enough. Recycle your cans, glass, and plastic, use trash bags until they are at their fullest, try to limit the amount of things you throw away. Reuse when possible and give away things that can still be used that you just don't want anymore.

Here are some of the things I do to reuse:

If I buy something that comes in a box, I keep the box and reuse it for storing items, wrapping presents in, and even make little makeshift play tunnels for my ferrets.

If I mess up on a drawing, instead of just throwing it out I reuse the paper from anything like a grocery list, to jot down a note, or to even look at later on and fix it up. I don't immediately just throw it in the trash. That goes for any piece of paper, I always find another purpose for it.

And I love collecting special types of glass bottles as is, but I also like keeping glass bottles for vases that I can paint and make pretty, for small terrariums with small flowers, or even as a decoration item. The glass can be painted easily and made to match whatever you like.

Just a few ideas on how to reuse items. I'm sure you could come up with your own ideas!


There will be more ways to help the environment to come. All of these things can even help you save money.

I will update with more soon.


Your thoughts? Or is there something you do that isn't listed with the categories so far? Have you learned anything from this thread or do you not care?

I posted this in the General Discussion because I don't feel it is a debate, but an awareness and information threadie. :P

I love the ideas you posted in here, Velvet. The ones for conserving water, I think everyone should try. I hate how everyone thinks that being environmentally aware means that one would have to go out of their way, but it's really just a small change in habits that make a difference.

One neat thing they have in Portland is called go-box. GO Box Portland - Doing Away with Throw Away It's like a reusable takeout container. It's such a neat idea and it works well here in Portland because of all the food trucks we have.

I hope that the idea of reusable packaging catches on. I hate the thought of disposable packaging filling up all that space when there's such simple solutions available.

I agree with that completely.

And the GO Box sounds really neat. hat a great idea to help save with garbage disposal. :3

I'm glad that Walmart here has started recycling their bags. They have a center for you to drop off any plastic walmart bags you get. I keep them when I shop there though. I reuse them for so many different things. Lol. Pretty handy and much better to reuse than to take up space in the trash.