Everywhere you look nowadays, you see and hear people talking about going green. Politicians debate about it, newspaper and magazine articles discuss it, and even your teachers may talk about it. But what does it all mean to you and what can you do to help? Going green is all about conserving our natural resources and protecting our environment. And it might be easier than you think to make a difference. You and your family can start by making a few simple changes in your daily lifestyles. Recycling and reusing items around your house is a great way to start.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides a wealth of information to help kids learn more about the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
The Kids Be Green site offers even more ideas for getting green around the house and features many fun and interactive pages.
Finding ways to go green are also available in books:
47 Things You Can Do for the Environment by Lexi Petronis.
This book includes helpful tips on getting green at home as well as at school, on road trips, and throughout the community. You can even learn how to have a Green Christmas and how to throw a Green-style party with your friends. A helpful glossary and extensive list of Green resources will help to expand your knowledge of the subject even further.
Going Green by Patricia and David Armentrout
Learn more about the larger issues facing our environment and natural resources as the authors explore renewable and nonrenewable energy, fossil fuels and pollution, greenhouse gases, and alternative energy sources. Each chapter includes a "Fuel for Thought" section with interesting tidbits and striking images to bring these issues to life.
Some authors take a more lighthearted approach to the green movement:
Michael Reycle by Ellie Bethel
The author introduces readers to the Green-Caped Crusader known as Michael Recycle. In the story, Michael inspires the people of Abberdoo-Rimey to launch a "Be Greener Campaign" to save their town from the threat of pollution. "The noises your hear - that clunk and that thunk - it's just our friend Michael, recycling old junk!"
Leave it to PET! by Kenji Sonishi
Manga fans, do not despair. You are not left out of the green movement. Sonishi's Leave it to PET! series tells the story of Noboru, a young boy who transforms a regular old bottle into a recycled super robot named PET. Don't miss out on any of these adventures as PET and his band of recycled super hero friends confront countless threats to the environment. Soda cans and plastic labels take on a whole new form in these action-packed and bizarre stories.
Go Green today and start making a difference in your life, your local community, and the world around you. Tweens and Teens can get green this week at GMPL by learning how to make reusable shopping bags from old t-shirts. The program begins on Thursday at 11:00 am. Register here.
And don't forget about summer reading at GMPL. Only two weeks remain in the program. Perhaps you'll try something Green this week!