Last Day in the Field and What You Can Do!

During our last day in the field, we learned about an even more accurate way to measuring a tree using an instrument called a dendrometer. Check out the video below.



Later, we went into a “logged” area of the forest. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (where I am!), recently acquired this land, but before it was sold to the Smithsonian, the owner cut down specific trees to sell for their wood. However, many trees that were not cut down were severely damaged in the process. The silver lining on this cloud is that the scientists are viewing it as learning opportunity to study this kind of landscape. How long will it take the forest to grow back? What kinds of plants will start growing here?

















I am anxious to get back to school because the most important thing that I and everyone else can do to fight global warming is to educate others.

When I teach my students something and then they go home and share it with their parents and then their parents share it with their friends and so on you get what’s known as a ripple effect—a great dispersal of information. It’s already happened with recycling; so many of you told me how you didn’t recycle at home and now that we recycle at school, you do!

When we educate others about global warming, it is important to do more than just explain why things are a mess. People tend not to listen when they feel overwhelmed by bad news. We need to teach each other what can be done to make things better. Governments and corporations need to make massive changes but so does every individual person. I've learned about some things I can do differently in my everyday life to help the planet get better.

Based on recommendations by the Environmental Defense Fund, I compiled the following list of things you can do to fight global warming. By protecting our environment, we protect ourselves on this planet, as well.


10 Things You Can Do
1. RECYCLE and buy products with as little packaging as possible. Whenever possible, buy LOCAL (go to the Farmer’s Market at McCarren Park Saturday mornings, for example) and buy products made from recycled materials!

2. Wash clothes in cold or warm water, not hot. Air dry clothes whenever possible.

3. Install low-flow shower heads and toilets to use less water. Put a brick in your old toilet so the reservoir fills up less and less water is used per flush.

4. If doing dishes by hand, soaking and then rinsing dishes uses a lot less water than having the water run the entire time. If you use a dishwasher, run it only when full and don’t use heat to dry dishes—let ‘em air dry.

5. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

6. Replace standard light bulbs with more energy-efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Always turn off the lights and other electronics when you aren’t using them. Unplug anything not in use. Anything turned “off” but still plugged in is still drawing some energy—this is known as phantom energy.

7. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation whenever possible. If you drive, be considerate and share the road with bikers so more people will feel comfortable biking.

8. Say “no” to plastic bags. Bring your own bags when you shop.

9. Adjust your thermostat-lower in winter, higher in summer. Keep it on 68 degrees this winter and put on a sweater.

10. Educate others! Share these simple steps with your friends and family. We are all in this together!

Want more?

Kids
To learn more about the science of global warming and why it’s happening, check these out:
http://www.clean-air-kids.org.uk/globalwarming.html
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/difference.html

To find out how much carbon dioxide you put into our atmosphere (what’s known as
your "carbon footprint"), check these out:
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences
http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/carbon-calculator.html
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/homework_help/climate_change/index.cfm



Adults
Here’s more on what you can do:
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=820

Also take the quiz to find out your carbon footprint
www.myfootprint.org



We are all in this together! If we make changes and spread the word, it’ll be contagious—in a good way! Everything you do makes a difference.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead


Here’s to a bright future for all living things on Earth.