JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Earth Day 2011 is an excellent opportunity to make a commitment to learning more about the environment and how you can help to protect it. The following is a list of additional possible Earth Day 2011 activities you can enjoy throughout the year. These not only will contribute to making Earth Day 2011 on Joint Base Andrews a success, but they should also keep our base looking and feeling green throughout the remainder of the year.
- Visit your library. Read up on important issues such as pollution, endangered species, water shortages, recycling and climate change can initiate new eco-friendly ideas. You can also learn about a region you've never considered before, like the Arctic, the deserts or the rain forests. Think about the issues that concern you and your family the most and consider joining a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment and save energy resources both on base and in the area where you live.
- Shop greener. Avoid items that come in lots of packaging to help green their surroundings. Supporting local growers and producers of food and products is a way to utilize goods that have reduced greenhouse gas emission production. Other ways to avoid using unnecessary items includes taking your drink container with you, avoiding disposable plates or cutlery use, recycling all the things you do use for the day, finding other uses for things that you no longer use, carrying your own cloth bags when you shop for groceries, and being sure to recycle any plastic bags for later use around the house and office.
- Get children involved. Assist them in giving their old toys and games to younger children. In this way, older children learn two lessons. The first lesson is about the importance of giving to others, and the second is about reusing and recycling instead of throwing things away. Teaching children that to those whom much is given, much is expected in return is a good way they can become more green. Adults can also do this with clothes, electrical items, and books. Contact your local community group for donation points in your area and remember: you are the primary role model for your children. Be sure to set an example you and they can be proud of.
- Ride your bike. Use your bicycle or other forms of human powered transportation to commute to work or school and to run errands. Schedule several errands at one time to reduce the number of trips you have to take. Not only does this act reduce pollution, save fuel and energy, but it's great exercise as well.
- Plant trees. This act helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean pollutants from the air and secure soils in place to prevent erosion and provide homes for a lot of biodiversity. Ask your local county extension agent about how to receive free seedlings in your area.
- Make nature crafts at school or home. Get together with your family and build a birdhouse or make a bird feeder to encourage the local bird population. These populations play an important role in every ecosystem.
- Recycle. Reuse objects that would've otherwise been thrown away. Get kids involved to create beautiful works of art. Use materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill for additional craft ideas.
- Clean up after yourself. Rid litter from our roadways, streams and parks. Many groups use the weekend of Earth Day 2011 to clear roadways, highways and neighborhood streets of litter that has accumulated since the last clean-up day. Many companies donate gloves and bags for clean-up groups and villages organize bag pickups. Once the group has collected the trash and placed the recycled bags along the road, get the community public works department to pick the bags up. Joint Base Andrews will have several volunteer clean-up teams working to keep Joint Base Andrews a great example of what can be done with a little effort, and teamwork.
- Teach others about the environment. Teachers, professionals, students, in fact anyone who cares about the environment and is willing, can provide environmental lessons for others. For example, give a speech at your local library on how to compost with worms; take a group of children down to the recycling center to show them how things are recycled; offer to teach your office colleagues how to make environmentally friendly choices at work during your lunch hour. Everyone has environmental knowledge they can share with others. Learn the facts about our environment and our limited energy resources.
Remember: At Joint Base Andrews, every day should be considered Earth Day. Anything to help our environment contributes to our Earth Day 2011mission and every day thereafter. Don't restrict yourself to just one day a year; learn about how you can make a difference to increase environmental and energy awareness and protect our fragile and finite resources. Be pro-active in your support, and put that knowledge into practice while on duty, on the road, and at home every day.
With this positive attitude in mind, servicemembers on base may find something that your office colleagues, or family might enjoy on Earth Day 2011 and in the future.
For information on Earth Day 2011 contact Stephanie Pilkington at 240-857-0460 or e-mail her at
Stephanie.pilkington@afncr.af.mil.