When I was little, the term “Living Green” probably hadn’t even been invented yet.
“Doing your part for the planet” meant recycling your tin cans and glass bottles, but that was about it. Composting was something only hippies did, you let the water run while you brushed your teeth and virtually everything was thrown in the trash.
Now, of course, we live in a very different world, one that is suffering from years of ignorance as to our affect on the environment. But it’s also a different world in that there is hope – hope in the form of new knowledge and technology to help us right our wrongs, and hope in the form of our children: our legacy and the future caretakers of our planet.
In honour of Earth Day and our annual Green Issue, I thought I would chat with my five-year-old niece Cassidy about the environment and what we can do to help it.
Why is recyling important?
Because it helps the planet because there’s no trash.
When you flush the toilet or use the sink, where does the water go?
It goes down the drain and into the ocean.
What do you think happens if we put things down the drain that shouldn’t go there?
Fishies can get caught with their tails in the garbage.
What is an easy thing everybody can do to help the planet?
Pick up garbage. That’s a good one.
Is it better to walk to school or drive in a car?
Walk. Because driving wastes electricity.
Not a bad start! Cassidy and her preschool class are learning about environmentally friendly practices, schools across the country are growing gardens as part of the curriculum, forest school is gaining in popularity, the concept of “zero waste” is moving from impossible dream to reality and we are realizing the importance of eating clean. Follow the green path to a healthy planet!
