Frost and Los Angeles. Two words I don't normally put in the same sentence. Dew and Los Angeles? Yes. Cool temperatures and Los Angeles? Yes. But frost? My parents lost a tree that blooms with fiery red blossoms this year, not to mention, the acres and acres of citrus trees that fell to the fate of abnormal weather completely running California's economy askew.
My thoughts have been pirouetting on global warming lately--watching taxi cabs grumble through the streets of Manhattan twenty-four hours a day wafting toxic fumes into our Earth's lungs, seeing an office refrigerator chock-full of water bottles right next to a sink. And, believe it or not, New York City has some high quality tap water, according to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Residents can even have their tap water tested at no cost by The Free Residential Testing Program, a program required by the state that stands as one of the largest of its kind in the country!
So, what are we doing? What can we do? Well, NPR had a good idea yesterday. Instead of buying a $2 bottle of make-you-feel-good Ethos Water at Starbucks (which donates 75 cents to in-need communities, but also aids in harming our planet), take that $2 and send it over to UNICEF's new Tap Project.
The April issue of Outside Magazine--dedicated to all things Green--had some noteworthy suggestions that may even take the pressure off your wallet and improve your health. Join a car-share network now available in 65 cities or get some use out of that lonesome ten-speed bike in the garage and start or join a bike-share program. If you must use a car (which many of us must), keep your tires pumped for better fuel economy. Traveling? Rent a hybrid. Aid in saving 62 million trees by opting out of receiving junk mail. Want more daily tips? Outside recommends Ideal Bite for advice on greener living via e-mail.And just in case you haven't sprung into an earthier lifestyle yet, read this. As noted by Outside Magazine, "Science [magazine] estimates that by 2048 there will be no commercially harvestable seafood left."
Hope you don't like salmon all that much.
[Image 1 thanks to 0 W8ing according to this license.]
[Image 2 thanks to sato sugar according to this license.]
