Green Zone

EARTH DAY 22nd APRIL, 2012.

It’s here again – bigger and better than ever! This year some 192 countries will unite in acts of earth-consciousness on 22^nd April. The target – A Billion Acts of Green – advocates a sustainable future with a focus on “renewable energy for all”.

There are many levels of engagement available – all participating countries and cities have organised initiatives suited to groups and/or individuals. These range from organised rallies and local action collectives to individual commitments like:

Swapping private transport for public

Planting a school garden

Reducing/eliminating domestic use of pesticides and toxic cleaning products Consuming more locally-produced food

Contributing to local environment clean-ups – park, beach, streets, waterways, reserves etc.

Improving recycling practises on the home front

Reducing energy consumption

Donating funds to support renewable energy enterprises

Earth Day came into being in 1970 – a time of burgeoning environmental and political awareness and activism in the general community. Long-time environmental advocate US Senator Gaylord Nelson galvanised 20 million Americans coast to coast to protest against appalling environmental pollution. Unfettered vehicle emissions and the by-products and waste from industry were poisoning America’s air, land and waterways. In response, by December of that year, the US government had created the US Environmental Protection Agency and passed the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.

Since 1970, Earth Day has evolved into a massive international event, uniting millions of individuals from diverse cultures in a common cause. The ethos has been globally embraced.

The size and activity of the movement has exploded in recent years, with the expansion of social media, better support from governments and most importantly, the universal recognition that time is running out to address the physical crises impacting planet Earth and the life it supports.

The celebration of Earth Day has generated many popular and effective campaigns including:-

Earth Day University

Arts for the Earth

Athletes for the Earth

Campaign for Community

Reading for the Earth

and Eco Faith.

Hope you can participate!

BUZZ OFF!!

What to do when swarming bees try to enter your house??? I confess on the first occasion I threw caution to the wind and took to them with a can of fly spray! This was probably reckless, but some were already indoors so I had to act quickly and they were so intent on following the leader through a gap in the metal window frame that they were seemingly unbothered by my presence. It did the trick and they dispersed, but in hindsight I felt rather awful about spraying our little friends. On another occasion they swarmed around the top of a sliding glass door – this time I decided to try another approach. I lit a couple of large citronella candles (mosquito repellents) and place them on the ground directly beneath where the bees were gathering – they didn’t like the smoke and soon moved on, none the worse for wear!

NOTE: Whilst this seems to be an effective and friendly way to drive off a bee swarm, obviously assess your personal risk before taking action and if you are allergic to bee stings get someone else to help you or call a professional!

EARTH DAY – 22.4.2011

On 26^th March at 8:30pm we observed Earth Hour 2011, with a record participation of 134 countries and territories across all continents. More and more households, businesses, public buildings and landmarks switched off electric lighting for one hour in support of energy conservation and a sustainable future. Particularly encouraging was the enthusiastic response from emerging economies.

Friday the 22^nd April is an even more pro-active event, when, as a global community, we are encouraged to perform acts of “greenness”– it can be something as simple as reducing your workplace or domestic water and electricity consumption, recycling packaging, installing low-energy light bulbs or even just collecting litter in your immediate vicinity – be imaginative! Go online to explore the many initiatives you can participate in and together let’s do our bit for this special planet.

Earth Day is now the world’s largest environmental service campaign and this ever-expanding movement aims in 2011 to promote the target of a “Billion Acts of Green” before the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. Whether acting as an individual, an organisation or a whole community, there are countless ways, big and small to make an effective contribution to a healthier future for us all.

EARTH HOUR - 8:30 p.m. Saturday 26^th March, 2011.

Mark this date on your calendar so that you too can support our precious planet. Earth Hour is a simple, but highly effective environmental initiative first started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. The annual event now has huge global participation, as was demonstrated in 2010 when 100s of millions of people and businesses in 128 countries and territories around the world, switched off their electric lighting for 1 hour. Homes, landmarks and famous buildings were plunged into temporary darkness in recognition of our ever-changing environment and the need to be pro-active as communities and individuals.