This is one holiday we shouldn’t be celebrating. Our world is dying. There is nothing to be happy about. I feel a certain sense of panic rising in me whenever I think of the state of our environment these days. How else will you feel optimistic for our kids and our kids’ kids when you’re certain that you’re leaving them behind in an uncertain world?

Let’s all do our part in saving our world. I’ve picked up some tips and little what-not’s on how to help save our planet. I’m sharing them since you guys might want to practice them too. =)

1. Use the hand dryer instead of paper towels. There is less energy spent in using the dryer than in producing the paper towels. (I know, right? I thought it was the opposite.)
2. Carpool when going to work! Or better yet, live in a condo. It’s better to live a few steps away from everything than spend gazillions on gas.
3. Ditch the straw. These small plastic things make life easier for your drinking pleasure, but it’s a major contributor to Earth’s degradation. *Did you know that Mcdonald’s in HongKong allot one day of the week for “No Straw Day?” Coolness.
4. I can’t say it enough: RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE. Go to your friendly neighborhood mangbobote and mangdidiyaryo and “sell” your old newspapers and bottles.
5. Next time there’s an EARTH HOUR, or a TOUR OF THE FIREFLIES, try to participate. It helps to create awareness. And it feels good to actually be doing something with a whole bunch of people.
6. Use Blackle.com as your user homepage. It saves kilowatt-hours everytime you log on to the internet.
7. Eat less meat. It takes an insane amount of energy to feed, grow, store and deliver meat. Lessen the meat intake, you’ll save the world AND get a great bod in the process.
8. Learn to walk. What are walkways and underpasses for? If it’s relatively near, and it won’t kill your feet, walk. Again, the exercise is a plus factor.
9. EAT IN. As much as possible, don’t order takeout. The styro boxes just kills.
10. Go paperless. My company is currently trying this policy. JO’s, compres, drafts are sent through email, so as to help in cutting back on paper usage. If it’s absolutely necessary to print stuff out, try using scratch paper.

They’re simple things, and won’t seem to create an impact. But if we all do it together, then it might just work. =)

TV TIP: Watch HBO tonight, 9 p.m. for Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, and maybe we can find ways, no matter how simple, to aid our dying planet.

Photo Credits: mine, Fisheye 2, Provia