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January 13, 2007

I Resolve To . . . Make Recyling A Priority!

February 19, 2009 02:59 AM EST (Updated: February 19, 2009 03:03 AM EST)

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Do you recycle, reuse and reduce? Are you aware of your Carbon Footprint and determined to take steps to erase your tracks? With dire predictions about the threat of Global Warming and Climate Change more people are waking up to the need for recycling and long-term habits that will protect and preserve the environment. In 2008-2009 my New Year Resolution has been to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients. I have made a pledge to 'Give The Boot To My Carbon Footprint'. Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs small, daily, habitual actions like driving fewer vehicle miles, using energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights in empty rooms.

With that in mind, I intend to 'Recycle', as part of my I Resolve To . . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness. Why not join me? The objective is very simple: Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'. Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'. Instead, make every day New Year's Day. Make every day count. The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals. If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com as one of your resources. Resolve365 in 2009.

If you are not doing things that will benefit the environment, I urge you to begin by performing just one beneficial action today, and another tomorrow, and another the next day. Keep it simple rather than trying to make drastic overnight changes in your lifestyle. There are so many different options. For instance at lunchtime, or at the grocery store after work, tell the clerk to keep the plastic bag and use your own canvas bags. Recycle newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles and other containers. I live in the country and can't get a trash hauler to provide recycling service, so I take these items to the recycling center myself. The Fredericksburg Library, meanwhile, makes good use of my donated magazines.

There are so many different ways to recycle, reuse, reduce, and eliminate Carbon Footprints, but it takes research, creativity, planning, and a general concern about the environment to build a system that works for you. Here is a broad collection of websites that I have used during the past year to educate myself about recycling and environmental protection. I'm also providing my 'Top 20 List' of habits that I've incorporated in my daily life. I urge you to follow my lead and if you have ideas or suggestions, please drop me a line . . . I'm always looking for new tips!

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce - My Top 20 List!

When you pick up your 'fast food' bring your own bag and decline the paper or plastic bag.
Better yet, pack your own lunch in a re-usable mini-cooler (save money and the environment).
Take Metro to work rather than driving.
Turn out the lights when you leave the room.
Turn your computer off when you leave your desk.
Recycle your magazines by donating to a charitable organization (or a friend).
Clean your lint filter after every dryer load.
Use cold water when possible for brushing teeth, washing clothes, and rinsing dishes.
Plant a tree!
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Leave your grass clippings on your lawn (they will decompose and return nutrients to the soil).
Re-use paper bags, plastic bags and containers whenever possible.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
Change furnace/air conditioner filters at least once a month.
Use a ceramic coffee mug at work and at home instead of paper cups.
Use cedar chips, cedar bars, or sweet-smelling herbs rather than moth balls.
Invest in a collection of canvas bags so you can decline 'plastic' when shopping.
Buy more products that you can use over and over again.
Buy more 'used' products such as furniture.
Walk or ride your bike while doing your errands when possible.

Climate Change -Take Action Today!

Carbon Offsets

TerraPass.Com
CarbonFund.Org
TreeHugger.Com
The Climate Trust
CarbonCounter.Org
David Suzuki Foundation
Wikipedia - Carbon Offsets
The Environmental Defense Fund
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change
NewYorkTimesFTCCarbonOffsetsJanuary2008.pdf
BusinessWeekAnotherInconvenientTruthMarch2007.pdf
ChristianScienceMonitorCarbonOffsetsJanuary2007.pdf
Joint Statement By WWF, Friends of The Earth and Green Peace on Carbon Offets: WWF-GP-FoE_on_offseting.pdf

Earth Day - April 22, 2009

Arbor Day - April 24, 2009

How To Help The Environment - Tips For Kids

Tips On Recycling

Tips On Reducing Plastic Bag Use

Poconorecord.com - Plastic Bag Use
Planet Ark - Why Are Plastic Bags A Problem?
Environmental Literacy Council - Paper or Plastic?
Salon - Plastic Bags Are Killings Us - SalonPlasticBags.pdf
AlterNet, The Great Plastic Bag Plague - AlterNetPlasticBags.pdf
Portland Business Journal - Whole Foods Market Bans Plastic: PortlandBusinessJournalPlasticBags.pdf

Tips On Winterizing Homes

Tips On Winterizing Gardens

Tips On Mulching Gardens

Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications, fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations, corporations, and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, with more than 30 years of experience, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.^TM Let's 'Go For It'.

Get your daily dose of inspiration at: http://www.iresolveto.com - As added incentive, why not make and keep your New Year Resolution by wearing it? Drop by: http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

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Tags: new year resolutions, resolve, new years, resolution, dreams, goals, success, achieve, well being, fitness, happiness, health, exercise, diet, holidays, christmas, resolutionista

To Groups: EXCUSE ME...DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY???, Gather Health Essential, NEVER EVER EVER EVER GIVE UP..........., New Year's Resolutions, One Hundred Comments, The Reader's Lounge, A new beginning to a new year, Exercise and Fitness, WELL, HERE WE ALL ARE........NOW WHAT??, I Resolve To® . . ., !! Gathering Fitness - your weight loss and/or fitness diary !!, Vic's Original Content, Points Nation !!!

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Comments: 11

Tim T. Feb 19, 2009, 5:17am EST

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Jerry S. Feb 19, 2009, 6:51am EST

Thanks. I'm onboard!

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Trish A. Feb 19, 2009, 7:04am EST

I've been doing many of these things for quite some time.

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Steve B. Feb 19, 2009, 10:05pm EST

Great source of information. Thanks for posting it.

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Connie C. Feb 20, 2009, 8:57am EST

Kim,
Could you please post this to my Back To Basics group?

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Connie C. Feb 20, 2009, 9:00am EST

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. This one does not work for me. I am not allowed around fluorescent bulbs. I have to be very careful. They are everywhere. It does not bother me as bad when the ceilings are high. after a day on the town I am in the ER that night. No fun at all. My neurologist said they also bring on seizures for those who are prone to them.

She said there is more evidence all the time that is proving that fluorescent bulbs are not good for our health

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Kim Simpson Feb 20, 2009, 12:16pm EST

That's good to know . . . thanks for sharing Connie. So often we use technology, or eat food that we think is safe, or healthy, and later find out that maybe it's not safe. I will post to Back To Basics Group . . . Thanks for sharing!

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Jodi G. Feb 20, 2009, 2:45pm EST

thanks for sharing

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Marsha S. Feb 20, 2009, 5:49pm EST

I'm sitting here on the computer and cutting up old t-shirts to crochet into rag rugs as well as cutting up plastic grocery bags to crochet my next projects with those.

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