3. Answer the question:
Are radical environmentalists “fanatics who discredit the entire movement with their extreme and illegal tactics” or “folk heroes who risk their lives to call attention to environmental wrongs”? Do they actually protect the environment?
What on earth can I do? Rethink at home
As individuals, we can all make small and simple changes in our lifestyle at home, which can help the environment.
Save Energy and Combat Air Pollution
The coal, oil and gas burned in our homes and power stations give off carbon dioxide and other gases which contribute to the greenhouse effect and acid rain. By using less fuel, you can help combat these major environmental threats. Some of these measures may cost more initially but the reduction in running costs will save you money, often over short periods.
Ensure that lights and heating are switched off when rooms are not in use.
Draught strip doors and windows and make sure you have at least 6 inches of loft insulation.
Lag your hot water tank and consider installing cavity wall insulation.
If you need a new central heating boiler, fit a more energy efficient gas or oil condensing boiler.
Fit thermostatic controls to your radiators and boiler, and a timer to your boiler to ensure that heat is provided only where and when it’s needed. Put your central heating thermostat in the room where you spend most of your working hours, and set it at around 18-20º C.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of ordinary incandescent light bulbs. These use only a fraction of the energy of an ordinary light bulb, and although they are much more expensive to buy, they last 8 times longer and will save you money because of reduced running costs.
Buy energy efficient appliances – ask the sales representative for the energy consumption figures.
In the Kitchen
In the fridge, instead of wrapping everything up in wasteful foil and plastic wrap, use containers.
Where recycling facilities exist use them. Glass jars, bottles, newspapers, aluminium and steel cans can all be recycled.
Choose glass over plastic. Currently there are far more glass recycling facilities.
Return milk bottles to the milkman or dairy.
Your old fridges can be disposed of safely. Ask your local authority, the manufacturer, or the retailer about arrangements for the collection and recycling of the CFC chemicals which each fridge contains.
Save the Rainforest
Wooden kitchen items and furniture often come from the rainforest. Currently a very limited supply of sustainably produced tropical timber is available, therefore try and avoid tropical hardwoods unless it comes from a sustainable source and is labelled as such. Use temperate hard woods such as oak, ash and beech whenever you can, or use soft woods such as pine and larch.
Waste not…
Try to avoid throwing your waste down the sink.
If you have a garden save your fruit and vegetable scraps and make a compost heap.