Celebrating Earth Day
It's Earth Day's 40th birthday and people around the world are celebrating the earth and renewing their commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world.
To join in the celebrations Facilities Management and Development is holding an Earth Day Campus Clean-Up today. Campus and community members will be scouring the U of C campus picking up recyclables and garbage between 11:00am and 2:00pm.
If you have not already registered it's not too late to participate. A registration table will be stationed on the Dining Centre patio where gloves, bags and short orientation will be provided. Food and beverages will be served and a limited number of stainless steel Earth Day water bottles will be handed out.
For those interested in doing even more Earth Day Canada has developed a list of the top 10 easiest things to do right now to help the environment:
- Shop Smart – Buy what you need, not what you want. Consider renting and borrowing things you need once in a while and buy second hand.
- Simple Savers – Inexpensive things you can do include replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, using aerators on faucets and shower heads, and weather-striping windows and doors.
- Use Transportation Alternatives – Walk, cycle, car pool or use public transit; reduce or eliminate idling time; maintain correct tire pressure and consider a car sharing program.
- Choose local and organic foods that are in season and eat less meat.
- Wash your laundry in cold water and hang to dry.
- Install a programmable thermostat (and use it); set the house temperature to 19 C and air conditioners to 24 C.
- Stay close to home for vacations and work.
- Take shorter showers and shut off the water while brushing teeth.
- Clean with natural, non-toxic cleaning products.
- Don't Discard – donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing anything away. Keep things like batteries, paints, and electronics for hazardous waste round-up days or depots.
There will also be various other events and activities happening across the city. One such event is the Earth Day Birthday and Fundraiser being held by Green Calgary. Drop by the Uptown for a 7:30 special screening of Earth Days: Seeds of a Revolution. Tickets are $40 each or 10 for $375 and Calgary dollars can be used towards this purchase.
To learn more about this event and others visit www.earthday.ca/pub/
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April 22, 2010