By Michael Heintz, Senior Specialist, Environmental Laboratories, APHL
As we near the end of Earth Day 2013, I always wonder if the momentum from the day will be maintained in the coming days, weeks, and months. Surili got us started with a great post on some of the latest issues with climate change, and there were articles and activities from a wide variety of sources. But what about tomorrow and the next day and the next? I recommend the links below to learn more about what you can do to continue the aims of Earth Day—reducing pollution, limiting resource consumption, and generally getting a little more green.
Take action!
- Get Involved: No more excuses about being just one person or asking what you can do! Here are two US EPA resources to take action and find volunteer opportunities and for activities you can do regarding climate change.
- Green Tips: If volunteering isn’t your thing, here are some “green tips” from the Sierra Club. They are organized by activity and you can sign up for a daily email with a new tip. US EPA also has a monthly newsletter. Got kids? National Geographic has tips for them too. And you can find great stuff from APHL on our Green Tips Pinterest board.
- Earth Day Network: See what the international Earth Day effort suggests.
Learn more!
- Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by Michael Braungart and William McDonough: This is a great book about the green economy and how sustainability can strengthen business.
- American Chemistry Society: The ACS is a great resource for information on chemistry and other science topics in easy to digest forms (yes, I watched the podcast on the chemistry of beer foam—it was research!).
- Involve Children: There are lots of resources for involving kids in environmental responsibility. Here are games organized by topic, activities you can do with them, and books on science and nature. (Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without a reference to The Lorax.)
- Earth Day Apps: No reason to leave your smartphone out of the fun!
- New (to you?) Issues: If you are interested in learning about some of the new issues that seem to be making news, here are good resources on sustainability, toxic algae, and invasive species.
These links just scratch the surface of what’s out there. If you have additional ideas to share, we’d like to hear them! How are you making Earth Day more than just one day a year?
