How should we change our habits to help the planet?
Throughout the Trans-Amazon Expedition, all of us have been thinking about ways we are going to change our lifestyles once we get home. We would like to change our lifestyles to reduce our impact on the earth and its resources.
We've come up with a few different ideas and want your input to decide which would be the most beneficial to our planet.
Option #1: Drive less or use public transportation. Whenever we drive a car, we are emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and using fossil fuels. Scientists agree that carbon dioxide emissions are the main causes of global warming. By reducing the amount we drive (by riding a bike, walking, and taking public transportation), we'll be helping to combat global warming.
Option #2: No more plastic bags or pop/water bottles. Nearly everytime we go to the grocery store, gas station, or restuarant and buy something it gets wrapped up or given to us in plastic. Disposable plastic is designed to be used once, and then thrown away or sometimes recycled. But the problem is that most plastics end up in landfills where they take hundreds of years to decompose. By switching over to cloth bags or re-usable bags, we will contribute significantly less to landfills. Also by not buying pop or water in plastic bottles, we'll reduce our impact even further. We will also demonstrate to others how easy it is to refuse plastic bags from stores and restaurants by using our own.
Option #3: Make environmentally friendly food choices. The average piece of food we eat in the United States traveled over 1,500 miles to get to our grocery store. Whether it came on a truck, airplane, or train it uses a lot of fossil fuels to transport food. Eating food that is grown locally and/or organically can signficantly reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. Plus food that is grown locally generally tastes better, because it hasn't had to travel across the country to get to us.
We will also pledge to not purchase foods that are excessively packaged, which will reduce our trash. Eating foods that are un-packaged or bought in bulk not only save money, but they also help the planet.
Let us know what changes you'd like to see us make in our lives, and why. Also tell us what changes you'll pledge to make in your lifestle and habits to help the planet.
How should we change our habits to help the planet?
Comments
We think using less plastic will really help the earth. There is too much garbage and where will all of that garbage go 100 years from now?
We are going to try to make our parents recycle more. Our town is starting curbside recyling so we can easily recycle now even without our parents help!
Posted by: Mrs. Doxstader's class | November 17, 2008 3:00 PM
Earth friendly foods are healthy for humans also. You will also have to drive less saving gas on the transportation of foods and the gas that it takes to get the foods from the store. It doesn't take any fuel to walk out your back door and pick from the plants. It we are picking the foods from our garden in the backyard they will not need to be packaged for transport to our kitchen tables. By choosing to use earth friendly foods we can comsume much less energy and help to save the planet from destruction by using less fuel and less plastic.
Posted by: Kevin | November 18, 2008 3:16 PM
I THINK WE SHOULD DRIVE LESS TO SAVE THE EARTH
Posted by: Anonymous | November 20, 2008 10:40 AM
We think that we should drive less and use lots of public transportation. Driving is not good for the environment because it releases gases that harm our atmosphere. It causes pollution and global warming which hurts our delicate environment. If we cut down on these gases, we will help our earth.
Posted by: SJC kids- Madeline and Emma | November 20, 2008 10:51 AM
I think we should try to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. Also, we should try to use public transportation, bicycle, an walk places more often. Lastly, we should try to take shorter showers.
Posted by: Nicole | November 20, 2008 10:52 AM
We would like you to drive less and usually use public transportation because we would like to end global warming for good.
If you would also bike around or walk that would be way better.
Posted by: Griffin and Michael | November 20, 2008 11:11 AM
We think we should use reusable bags, ride bikes, walk, and grow foods in a garden in our backyard. We will try to walk as much as possible. It is hard to walk because where we live it is getting COLD!!! We both reuse our grocery store bags. We will go green and we hope you all do too! We hope you have a good trip home!
Posted by: SJC - Katie and Katie | November 20, 2008 11:15 AM
I think that we should drive less to help the ozone layer to stop global warming. The green anaconda was my favorite animal. Have a good trip home!
Posted by: Dan | November 20, 2008 11:17 AM
We think that option #2 is the most useful to our environment because it will save plastic and our land. It is a good idea to use cloth bags instead of plastic bags because of that. Keep on using cloth bags. Thank you for listening to our comments to you for our environment. Have a good last day and a good and safe trip home!See you when you come to visit S.J.C!! We loved learning about all of your adventures in the Amazon. You rock!!
Posted by: Mag and Gigi | November 20, 2008 11:18 AM
Are you going to do any other expeditions soon? If you do,we recommend Africa. We hear it is very cool and probably fun to explore.
Have a good last day! Also be safe on your travels back home! We also enjoyed seeing all the cool things you posted on your website BYE!
Posted by: SJC EmmyandLaurie | November 20, 2008 11:19 AM
I think we should drives less because the less we drive the less carbon dioxide is emitted and we could get a good exercise every day.
Posted by: Colin | November 20, 2008 11:20 AM
I think you should do all three of those things. First we should also ride our bikes to places if we can do it. Another is that we shouldn't take planes places, if possible, because it uses more gas that goes into the air. I hope you have a good trip home and where are you going for your next expedition? Also go Bears and Notre Dame!
Posted by: SJC - Riley | November 20, 2008 11:23 AM
Hope you have a safe trip home. Remember,when you come back to SJC I want to sit in that cool hammock thingimabobber.
Posted by: Maja and Carra | November 20, 2008 11:24 AM
We think the Earth friendly food option is a very good idea. Not only does it make the Earth greener, it makes you healthier, too. Plus the food tastes much better organic than processed food. That is why we chose to eat Earth friendly foods.
Good job on the trip
And Chicagoans go Bears!!!!!1
Posted by: Pete and Pat | November 20, 2008 11:25 AM
We think that by driving less it will help the world's atmosphere and will slow down global warming. So we think they should create more hybrid cars. Also, we should ride our bikes or walk more. Have a very nice trip home.
Posted by: Matthew and Parker for 206 SJC | November 20, 2008 11:29 AM
The Trans Amazon Expedition is the best website ever!! I think my favorite part is casting my vote. I was the 100th person to vote for 1 poll, 150th for the same one and 50th. I did those at home.
I like to solve the mystery photos, see the videos, and like I typed above,voting.
In second would be a tie between learning about the animals you saw in animals of the Amazon or daily podcast.
Next I would say cultural connections or notes from the trail.
It is sad that you have to go. I hope you have a great last day and a safe time coming home.
Amy, Dave, Eric, Jay, Tony, Anne all rock!
Posted by: Gavin | November 20, 2008 11:33 AM