In the early
spring and fall, my cat shows are far less busy than in the summer. This gives
me an opportunity to talk to the public for longer. One of my favorite things
about being a zoo keeper is educating, especially if I feel like people walk
away with a new level understanding. One day after my cat show, I was standing
around answering questions and a young man came up to me. He told me he really
wants to help animals but he doesn't just want to donate money and call it a
day. He asked me what else he can do to help. This question caught me a little
off guard because it was so open ended, but I told him my opinion.
I think if
you want to help animals and the environment you have to start with yourself
first. I think a lot of us are guilted into being environmentally friendly
because we're told that the negative impact humans have had on this planet is
the whole reason we're in this mess. As I pointed out in my last blog entry,
humans do need to act less self-centered that they do now. However, seeing all
the headlines about global warming, endangered species and the like can get
pretty depressing. The thing I hate about this is that it makes people feel
hopeless – or at least I feel hopeless. Feeling hopeless doesn't inspire me to
make changes; instead, it makes me feel like nothing I do will have any
significant impact. That is, however, not true and I think the little changes
are what will make the greatest overall difference.
I told this
young man the best thing he can do is change his lifestyle. Humans will always
have a negative impact on the world. So will every other animal that has to eat
to survive, but we can still make changes so that keeping us alive and happy
doesn't wreck it for every other living thing. I decided that I needed to stop
thinking of myself as a species that destroys the planet and start accepting
that I need resources to live. Now it's a matter of where I choose to get my
resources from.
Here's some
of the things I do to try and help the planet:
1.)
I don't eat sea food. (as a marine biology student it's hard to
ignore the horrible fishing practices that go on in our oceans).
2.)
I don't use liners in 3 out of the 4 garbage
cans in our house.
3.)
I bring reusable bags to the grocery store,
including reusable bags for produce.
4.)
I recycle any plastic bags I accumulate.
5.)
I compost
6.)
I buy biodegradable garbage liners for the
kitchen garbage.
7.)
I don't idle the car at train crossing or at
stop lights that I know are going to take a long time.
8.)
I buy local when I can afford it and I pick
berries in the summer to freeze for winter from local farms.
9.)
I buy eggs that are chicken friendly.
10.)
I volunteer at a local horse rescue shelter once
a week
11.)
I buy environmentally friendly detergent for the
dishwasher and the washing machine.
12.)
I buy or make environmentally friendly cleaning
products and scrub extra hard.
13.)
I tell anyone that is considering getting a wild
animal as a pet not to do it and explain why.
14.)
I try very hard to remember to turn off the
lights when I leave a room.
15.)
I don't leave the light outside my front door
running all day just to provide light for me for 20 seconds when I come home in
the evening went it's dark. I have a small flash light on my key chain instead.
16.)
I don't buy things that are individually
wrapped.
17.)
I buy bamboo products whenever I can because it's a much
more environment friendly material than other kinds of wood.
18.) I don't litter.
As you can
see I’m not a super hero. There's still things I need to improve on. I’m really lazy about composting and I need to
improve. I don't do nearly as much as I might have the potential to but I
choose not be feel bad about it because I want to stay motivated to find more
ways to make positive changes in my life rather than feel defeated and
discouraged. I think I motivated the young man at the cat show to live his life
this way and I hope I can convince you guys to make changes where you can and
feel good about them!
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| Don't litter! Baby Muskox will thank you :D |
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