Friday, November 27, 2009
The holidays are here(:
Now that Thanksgiving is over, everyone is starting to shop for the people on their gift lists without breaking the budget. Why not splurge a little bit on the ones you love by not buying wrapping paper this year. Instead use newspaper to wrap up gifts or old shopping bags. Why not try an STWF reusable tote? You'll save money, and the environment. Merry Christmas, mother earth.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Going Vegetarian One Day at a Time
As many of us are looking forward to the holiday season where we will be stuffed with turkey, ham, sausage and all other kinds of delicious meat; it might be the time to consider cutting back (or completely eliminating) on meat.
How, you may ask, does cutting back on meat help the environment?
1. Forests are cut down in order to make room for all the grassland needed to support cattle;
2. and not only do those cattle take up tons of room, we need to produce more food to feed them! For every one pound of meat, at least 5 times that (5lbs.) of food was consumed.
3. Less water is needed to sustain a vegetarian diet than a diet that includes meat (although, you can help out just by reducing the amount of meat eaten).
4. Saves the environment, as cattle produce 130 times more waste than the human population which would save a lot of rivers from pollution!
5. The amount of energy used to produce and transport meat amounts to roughly the 1/3 of the U.S.'s energy consumption.
Lastly, going vegetarian is usually a healthier alternative (unless you have some sort of health condition) and it will make you feel better! If you're not ready to commit to a vegetarian lifestyle, please try to go meatless for one day a week (Fridays, anyone?) and add additional days if you begin to enjoy your vegetarian days!
Alternative sources of protein:
-Kidney beans
-Chickpeas
-Soy
-Oatmeal
-Tofu
-Peanut butter
-Yogurt
-Milk
How, you may ask, does cutting back on meat help the environment?
1. Forests are cut down in order to make room for all the grassland needed to support cattle;
2. and not only do those cattle take up tons of room, we need to produce more food to feed them! For every one pound of meat, at least 5 times that (5lbs.) of food was consumed.
3. Less water is needed to sustain a vegetarian diet than a diet that includes meat (although, you can help out just by reducing the amount of meat eaten).
4. Saves the environment, as cattle produce 130 times more waste than the human population which would save a lot of rivers from pollution!
5. The amount of energy used to produce and transport meat amounts to roughly the 1/3 of the U.S.'s energy consumption.
Lastly, going vegetarian is usually a healthier alternative (unless you have some sort of health condition) and it will make you feel better! If you're not ready to commit to a vegetarian lifestyle, please try to go meatless for one day a week (Fridays, anyone?) and add additional days if you begin to enjoy your vegetarian days!
Alternative sources of protein:
-Kidney beans
-Chickpeas
-Soy
-Oatmeal
-Tofu
-Peanut butter
-Yogurt
-Milk
Friday, November 13, 2009
Ten easy ways to save the world(:
1. While waiting for the shower to warm up, catch it in a bucket and use it to water your plants.
2. When you don't need the lights on turn them off or if you're not in a room turn off the lights.
3. By local, organic grown food such as meats, eggs, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
4. Borrow books and DVDs from the library. It saves ink and paper, and leaves your wallet full!
5. Keep your electronics for as long as possible and then recycle them or give them to a friend.
6. Hike/bike, trolley/bus/ or carpool (our motto) to school or work. It may take longer but it saves gas and fuel emissions and boosts your health!
7. Instead of being mailed bills or bank statements sign up to receive them by email.
8. Winters around the corner but don't go turning up the thermostat, bundle up instead!
9. Compost your food, its good nutrients for your plants.
10. Spread the word about saving the world(:
2. When you don't need the lights on turn them off or if you're not in a room turn off the lights.
3. By local, organic grown food such as meats, eggs, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
4. Borrow books and DVDs from the library. It saves ink and paper, and leaves your wallet full!
5. Keep your electronics for as long as possible and then recycle them or give them to a friend.
6. Hike/bike, trolley/bus/ or carpool (our motto) to school or work. It may take longer but it saves gas and fuel emissions and boosts your health!
7. Instead of being mailed bills or bank statements sign up to receive them by email.
8. Winters around the corner but don't go turning up the thermostat, bundle up instead!
9. Compost your food, its good nutrients for your plants.
10. Spread the word about saving the world(:
STWF News!
Next Friday, November 20th, STWF will hold a fundraising bake sale in front of the International Studies office (where we have sign ups each Friday morning) at lunch. We will also be selling bags, organic tee shirts, and post consumer recycled shoes (in mens' sizes 9 1/2-13). Shirts are $12, bags are $10, and shoes are $20.
Also, STWF is ordering more shirts and bags with our original design (which make great gifts). We are still open for new designs, though.
Also, STWF is ordering more shirts and bags with our original design (which make great gifts). We are still open for new designs, though.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Balloons & the Environment
Maybe you went to the Homecoming game this night, or you've been to football games and rallies and the whatnot where balloons are absolutely everywhere. They're around all the rails on the side, in those pretty-looking balloon arches... and flying off into the sky.
Let's take things back to physics here: what goes up must come down. Those balloons which become tiny dots in the sky before blinking out of view are going to eventually burst into small fragments that will spread all over our world. Releasing balloons is littering, and the dangerous effects of it can be seen in the deaths of wild, domestic, and farm animals, along with all the creatures of the sea who are unfortunate enough to think that a balloon fragment is a tasty morsel.
Maybe you've heard that latex balloons decompose at the same rate as an oak leaf; which is true. However, the decomposition of an oak leaf is approximately six months (varies under different conditions). Would you leave a piece of trash lying in the same place for six months? Would you toss your trash on the floor?
Releasing balloons into the environment, whether in small or large quantities, is harmful to the world; the world that we need to take better care of. Do your part, and be sure to keep those balloons out of the sky!
Let's take things back to physics here: what goes up must come down. Those balloons which become tiny dots in the sky before blinking out of view are going to eventually burst into small fragments that will spread all over our world. Releasing balloons is littering, and the dangerous effects of it can be seen in the deaths of wild, domestic, and farm animals, along with all the creatures of the sea who are unfortunate enough to think that a balloon fragment is a tasty morsel.
Maybe you've heard that latex balloons decompose at the same rate as an oak leaf; which is true. However, the decomposition of an oak leaf is approximately six months (varies under different conditions). Would you leave a piece of trash lying in the same place for six months? Would you toss your trash on the floor?
Releasing balloons into the environment, whether in small or large quantities, is harmful to the world; the world that we need to take better care of. Do your part, and be sure to keep those balloons out of the sky!
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