Be water, my friend

Earlier this year, I remember reading an article about how little we (as humans) know about water. It is an elusive topic and one that is being brought to the forefront as Blog Action Day 2010 kicks off. Water covers nearly three-quarters of the earth's surface, yet it remains a mystery. Space travel is like a thing of the past, yet what lies beneath the ocean continues to daunt scientists. 

Water is so versatile. It can soothe, it can refresh, it can relax, it can clean, it can power. Water is also dangerous. It can flood a village, it can freeze onto roads, it can rush onto beaches and it can sink a ship. Water can also be completely breathtaking and it can provide energy. Yet somehow, despite its faces, water is essential for each of us. Unlike manufactured beverages like soda and wine, water requires no other ingredients—it is the way it is. Every creature requires water to survive and water is part of nearly every aspect of our lives. 

Perhaps that is why it is a shame that we know so little about it. Statistics float to the surface every now and then—did you know that we use less than 1% of the world's available water? —but it seems that nothing ever comes out of them. There are still more than 800 million people worldwide that do not have access to healthy, clean drinking water. The majority of water on Earth is found in the oceans. Although costs of desalination are decreasing, it is still rather expensive to convert salt water to drinking water—and that does not work for the poor countries that need water the most.


How can we know more about water? What will truly raise our awareness of what it is? We gain so much from our oceans, rivers and lakes. We (as humans) are also not the only ones that need and use water. The sea life that inhabits Earth's waters are also affected by our knowledge. This great balance that water provides to the other elements is responsible for our survival and if we are to survive, I believe we should learn more.


Though I continue to talk about learning more about the world's water, I don't want it to seem like we are completely uninformed. However, while many aspects of life are placed on pedestals—oil consumption and energy, technology, and "green" living/sustainability—water is always pushed to the background. Projects to provide drinking water or to advance our knowledge of water generally fail or are underfunded. However, efforts are being made to remedy this fact and providing water to poor countries can be accomplished. By signing the petition to build an International Water Treaty providing everyone in the world with clean water, you can take action.


For more information about water, visit Water.org. If you would like to know more about Blog Action Day 2010 and how you can be involved, visit BlogActionDay.org.

Trailblazer in space...

Now, I don't like chimps or apes. I just want to clarify that before you watch the video below. This was still a creative way to make people care more about our planet—sorry, our home.

Space Monkey from Leo Burnett on Vimeo.

Thursday Traffic | 22 April Earth Day Edition

What better time to discuss pollution than on Earth Day? The environment is the source of water, food and the air we breathe. It is only fitting that we should work to keep those resources clean and free of danger. However, transportation, chemicals and energy use put a lot of stress on nature. Population growth taxes the land due to the growth of cities and waste. We have to produce to consume and we consume a lot of materials. Most of what we buy does not work in a cradle-to-cradle scenario but cradle-to-grave instead. Our packaging is unsustainable and we throw away a great deal of items that cannot be broken down for reuse.

That is why efforts being made now are so important. Puma has introduced new shoe boxes that use one piece of cleverly folded cardboard and a reusable tote bag to package their shoes. This is a smart way of changing the way people consume products from the beginning. P&G has changed their approach towards creating products so that they use less water and energy. These are important steps that many other companies are making—and some should be making. In all honesty, consumers and can only purchase products. If the products we purchase are "green" then already we have made strides in helping our environment.

Yet, consumers are a big part of the product. Even if all products became "green" and used resources responsibly, it would all be a waste if people did not recycle and reuse materials. In many foreign countries like Germany and Japan, recycling is not only separated into sections, but it is also mandatory. Glass, paper, and plastic are reused and recycled. Many consumers use old materials for art projects or as something other than what they were intended for. Here's an example: When ordering Chinese food, the dish that it comes in is plastic with a lid; you can reheat the dish as many times as possible meaning that you don't throw it away, but hold onto it until you want/need to recycle it later. Small things like that become a big deal when everyone does it.

So what would I say is the best way to be eco-friendly? First, don't freak out and make it seem like everything is evil. It isn't. I would say that the best way to be eco-friendly or "green" is to only use what is necessary. It was true back in the olden days and it is true now. Remember learning about supply and demand? If there is low demand for an item, it will not be produced as much/as often. We can do our part by being smart in what we consume.

Image via UNC Asheville

What I am watching on television...

Last night, I began watching the 11-part mini-series of Life on Discovery. Like Planet Earth and Blue Planet, you are given a glimpse of nature in amazing detail. You are shown frogs the size of a fingernail with so much clarity that it is a bit scary. Following in the steps of its predecessors, Life allows you to learn more about our environment in hopes that we will take steps to save it. Oprah is not a bad narrator and overall, the show keeps you interested. If you would like to watch and rate scenes, visit the Discovery Channel's website.

Image via Discovery Channel

Naked

The nudity I'm talking about is environmental and only seen in certain locations worldwide. I was walking to the bus stop this morning and all around I saw naked trees. They were baring their branches for all the world to see and I must say that it is beautiful to behold. Something about the loss of leaves gives trees an almost elegant appearance. They no longer have blossoms to hide behind. They are completely exposed and you can see their imperfections. Yet they are so interesting with knots, curves, twists, turns. This is one of the reasons that fall is my favorite season.

Image Wikimedia Commons

Blog Action Day 2009 | Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day. It is a day for bloggers worldwide to all blog about one common theme and it is held every year on October 15. Since I am new to the blogosphere, I thought I would give it a try. The theme for this year is climate change. Climate has been changing for quite some time. I remember when global warming was the biggest myth ever and people denied its occurrence—kind of like the ozone layer and hairspray.

Well, obviously, climate has changed and it is affecting the way everything lives its life. Animals are either adapting to these changes or going extinct. Polar bears will probably be a thing of the past, joining the do-do bird. Sharks and other aquatic creatures will move closer and closer to the shore making a trip to the beach a life-or-death situation. All of our vacation spots will slowly lose their seasonal luster. Storms will become more intense and more deadly costing lives, money and resources.

The way I see it, we have to start making the changes ourselves. Instead of giving options to be "green", products should be made "green". Eco-friendly shouldn't be a choice, it should be the standard. The only issue with this change is that once people become used to one way of living, they get stuck in it. But if we continue in this direction, our greedy and lazy culture is going to be the downfall of us.

So, how can you start making the change? Reduce, reuse, recycle—it has been taught for years. The less you use, the less waste you produce. The more you reuse, the less you need to get rid of and the more money you save. Recycle your goods so they can make new goods. It's simple, but it has to be done globally for an impact. Luckily for you, there is Hunch to help you make these decisions.

What's a good way to go green? - make thousands more decisions on Hunch.com