SCALING DOWN: Caring for Mother Earth is also good for your health
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Ah, Mother Earth. Earth Day is April 22, and this issue of 210SA is dedicated to Mother Earth (so please recycle when you're done reading, thanks). Taking care of the planet is something that everyone should care about, just as taking care of one's personal health should be.
One thing environmentalists say is that reducing energy use will help slow the depletion of Earth's resources. They recommend we unplug appliances and electronics when they're not in use and take public transportation instead of driving. How about walking or riding a bike to get from Point A to Point B? Not only are you cutting down on the amount of pollution out there, but you're also doing something excellent for your body.
Another thing we should do is cut down our wastefulness. You'll be shocked at how little trash you actually have when you recycle. In the same vein, look at the exercise equipment and good-for-you cookbooks you bought with intentions of putting them to use. Are you? If not, dust them off and get to work. Maybe you've done those exercise DVDs before, but rotate them out to keep your workouts fresh.
Buying produce from a farmers market not only supports local growers financially but also our planet, in a big way. Buying local helps reduce the pollution caused when items are transported from a big farm in Timbuktu to your grocery store shelf. Not only that, but the growers are there to tell you exactly what they used to grow those fruits and veggies. Can the kid stocking the tomatoes at H-E-B tell you if any chemicals or additives were pumped into them? Probably not. Look up when and where the farmers markets are held in your area, take your reusable shopping bags and relish the goodness you'll put into your body.
Some of you out there don't give a crap about the environment. For that matter, you might not care much about your health, either. Nobody can force you to change that attitude, but you're lying to yourself if you think these issues are not important. Just like how every vote counts in an election, every small effort made to protect our planet can and does make a difference. And every small effort made to improve your health can and will make a difference, too.
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