What You Can Do
addition to supporting the institutions and NGOs (e.g., Defenders of Wildlife) I highlighted on the previous page, here are a few TIPS on what you can do, gleaned from a diversity of sources, including:
» Rowe, N. (1996) The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates
» CARE2.COM, the Global Network for Organizations and People Who Care2
» Hong Kong Environmental Protection Agency Tips to save the Earth
» A Chemist's Plan to Save Planet Earth
(1) Use compact fluorescent bulbs with solid-state ballasts that fit into a regular light bulb socket; this uses 1/4 of the energy of an incandescent bulb while generating the same amount of light.
(2) Turn off faucet when brushing teeth; this will save 10 gallons water.
(3) Car idling; Leave your car on if you'll be there less than a minute, otherwise it's more efficient to turn it off and restart it when you're ready to go.
(4) Turn down the heat, both furnace and water heater (set to 130 -140 degrees).
(5) Use cold water in washing cycles.
(6) Keep refrigerator temperatures at about 40 degrees; freezers at 0 - 5 degrees.
(7) Snip Six-Pack Rings to avoid tangling birds, fish, and small animals.
(8) Never throw spent batteries in the trash. Either switch to rechargeable batteries or take used batteries to a recycling facility.
(9) Avoid using Styrofoam it lasts 500 years or more. Use cardboard instead.
(10) Always recycle: Office Paper, Junk mail, Toner cartridges, Aluminum cans, Cardboard, paper bags, Newspapers, Plastic soda bottles, Milk jugs, Steel containers, Organic material/cuttings, Glass, Telephone books.
(11) Drive fuel-efficient vehicles.
(12) Use cloth instead of paper or plastic: wax paper, shopping bags, use rags instead of paper towels, diapers, etc..
(13) Store food in bowls or Tupperware that can be reused.
(14) Use unbleached coffee filters.
(15) Stop Junk Mail, write to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 11 West 42nd St., PO Box 3861, New York, NY 10163-3861. And/or, visit: www.privacyrights.org or www.junkbusters.com.
(16) Inflate your tires well. This preserves the life of the tires and saves gas, which ultimately saves money.
(17) Do not buy products from endangered animals and purchase cruelty-free products: http://www.navs.org.
(18) Use Low Flush Toilets and use an aerated, or a non-aerated showerhead, which cuts your water output by 50%.
(19) Recycle Your Motor Oil.
(20) Use CFC free products. Chlorofluorocarbons destroy the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful UV rays. Boycott products from companies that produce CFCs.
(21) Carpool or walk to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in the air.
(22) Eat dolphin safe tuna, or don't eat tuna at all.
(23) Buy in bulk--this saves not only on packaging that you would eventually have to dispose of, but reduces tremendously the amount of industrial waste generated to make the packaging.
(24) Buy products with recycled contents.
(25) Leave the grass clippings on the lawn, and start a backyard composting bin for yard clippings.
(26) Park your car in the shade. This reduces fuel consumption used to cool it off again.
(27) Call, write, or fax your US congressional representatives in Washington, DC (202.224.3121), and urge them to support legislation that:
- protects endangered species and their habitats - increases funding for foreign aid programs that address the conservation of biodiversity - increases the enforcement of wildlife trade laws - curtails the use of primates in inhumane experiments (28) Register to vote, and vote for candidates who support the protection of the environment, biodiversity, and endangered species. (29) Ask your local zoological garden to adopt a park in a developing tropical country and provide it with supplies for educating local people about their endangered wildlife. Only support accredited zoos (see www.aza.org). Hint: avoid roadside zoos. Volunteer as a docent or with the educational program. Discourage the keeping of primates as pets. (30) Be an eco-tourist rather than a sightseer. Be sure the tour company you choose follows the principles of ecotourism set forth by the Ecotourism Society (802.447.2121).