Think you can’t do anything to help make the Earth a better place? Think again! Earth Day Network has listed actions that can be taken this year to improve the planet, here’s a few for us here in Egypt to start with:
1. Eat more koshari, muli5ia, and vegetable ma7shy
Did you know that nearly one-fifth of man-man greenhouse gas emissions is caused by the meat industry (and not Cairo traffic, as we might have guessed)? Just by choosing vegetarian dishes more often, you can help reduce that pressure on the atmosphere. Fortunately, koshari is really delicious and hard to turn down anyway.
Extra Step: Get take-away less and eat-in more, to cut down on disposable packaging.
2. Use less plastic bags
The vendors at koshks always seem to be in a rush to throw your Todo’s and Chipsy’s into a clear plastic bag, but if you already have a bag in hand or don’t really need one, ask to go without. When you know you are going to the store, grab a reusable bag to take with you, because all those plastic bags add up and just end up in the trash anyway.
3. Buy more locally grown fruits and vegetables
This has two benefits. One, you will be healthier for eating more fresh foods. Two, the less distance food has to travel from the field to your plate, the less emissions it takes. Come on, support better air and the guy selling oranges around the corner.
4. Unplug your electronics
Just because an appliance is off doesn’t mean it’s not using energy. If you leave your electric kettle plugged in when you’re not actually making tea, or any other appliance you’re not using, it can drain precious energy. Not to mention it can make your electric bill higher, which is nothing any of us want as we head into summer with its air-conditioning bloated bills.
For more information and steps you can take to be a better resident of our planet, see the link to Earth Day Network’s page below:
http://www.earthday.org/takeaction/campaigns.html
