What are you doing to save the Earth?

2014-10-24T10:54:07-04:00

We eat, sleep, and breathe in a wild chemical soup; a planet we call the Earth. We have long done terrible things to our planet, potentially affecting our quality of life and that of future generations. There is an old Native American Proverb: "We do not own the Earth. We borrow it from our grandchildren".
What are you doing to save the Earth?

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 24 at 2014 10:57 AM

2014-10-24T10:57:19-04:00

Recycle and water conservation, teach kids to conserve resources, no waste. That is at home obviously, but at work, I tend to voice printing concerns with regard to reviews of documents prior to print. Back when we used typewriters, the correction tape was a great invention! IBM rocked! Now with computers, folks feel they have unlimited print capability and use it with no bottom it seems. Conservation of water I learned to the nth degree in Iraq in 2003. Recycling is EASY, I learned it well at Fort Hood and Fort Rucker, seems around Fort Campbell however, the communities DO NOT offer city or county recycling.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 24 at 2014 11:04 AM

2014-10-24T11:04:13-04:00

Same as CW5 Sam R. Baker, pretty much. Recycling, water/electricity conservation, minimizing trips to the extent possible, passing this along to my daughter. The great part is that most of these steps save money in the household budget as well.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Oct 24 at 2014 11:42 AM

2014-10-24T11:42:06-04:00

What have I done to the Earth? The Earth does not need me to save it. Never has and never will. I may do something so foolish that it affects my ability to remain in a region, and I may also be so foolish to remain until it as an effect on the quality of my life, or even causes the end of my life, but the Earth will go on. Humans are so vain as to think that they control the Earth, and not the other way around. Yes, we do breathe a wild chemical soup but even the ‘freshest’ air we breathe is chemical soup of Nitrogen, Oxygen and water vapors, with a bunch of trace chemicals. Thinking man can destroy or save the Earth is like saying a single microbiota can save or destroy a human being.
Do not get me wrong, I am not saying destroy the air and water around us with pollution but on the same note, do not destroy your own life trying to protect something that has been here long before we came into existence and will be here long after we, and the human species, has been forgotten.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Oct 24 at 2014 11:45 AM

2014-10-24T11:45:24-04:00

I agree pretty solidly with MSG Brad Sand on many of the things he said. I do work hard to recycle, conserve water, etc. I feel that this does not per se help the planet, but at least keeps my area cleaner and more hospitable for a longer period of time.

There are large things we can do to help the quality of life of people (ex: Stop making petroleum based plastics and switch to things such as glass for bottles and hemp for bags) but I doubt we can beat Mother Nature. If she gets mad enough at us, I'm sure we will go the way of the dinosaurs real quick.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Oct 24 at 2014 12:07 PM

2014-10-24T12:07:21-04:00

In my civilian life I work from home. My entire home office runs off of two different systems of renewable energy. I use both solar and wind power generation. The same system runs my HAM radio station.

I also use collected rain water to hydrate my vegetable garden. My garden is planted in above ground wooden planters that I built with hand tools and reclaimed pallet wood. I have two 4'x6' planters.

True story....

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 24 at 2014 12:18 PM

2014-10-24T12:18:05-04:00

Another thought, is selling kids stuff on Ebay and not placing in the landfill, not to mention all the stuff we take to Goodwill!

Response by CPT Brent Eysenbach made Oct 24 at 2014 12:19 PM

2014-10-24T12:19:08-04:00

I transitioned to working the conservation field post military. My job entails helping communities remain in compliance with Clean Water Act (CWA) rules.

At home we recycle, install energy efficient LED bulbs, compost to reduce waste from entering landfills, use cloth diapers, but local food, use a bicycle for making short trips.

We don't intentionally analyze our actions and consumption to determine if we could be more environmentally friendly. I'm sure if we did we could find even more areas to improve on.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 2:40 PM

2014-10-24T14:40:36-04:00

Well, my wife and I both drive Priuses (Prii?)

Then I go to work and burn about 40,000 gallons of jet fuel on a typical day. So...

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 2:43 PM

2014-10-24T14:43:20-04:00

I empty all the half full water bottles I find and pick up any extra trash around me at the beach.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Oct 25 at 2014 10:50 AM

2014-10-25T10:50:45-04:00

Oh yeah, one more thing I do is shave with a straight razor. A good razor and brush (and strop and sharpening stone) isn't all that cheap, but. If you compare the price of cassette blades or disposable razors to the initial cost of a straight razor and its compliments you'll find that you will easily save money within the first 6 months of use.

It shaves closer and the "badass factor" is off the scale!!

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Oct 25 at 2014 11:00 AM

2014-10-25T11:00:44-04:00

I am eating as much beef flesh that I can in order to control the overproduction of methane gas that according to some say is responsible for global climate change...less bovine = less methane which equates to climate stabilization!

Response by SGT James Hastings made Oct 25 at 2014 11:57 AM

2014-10-25T11:57:48-04:00

I recycle paper products. I used to recycle pop cans but stopped buying any.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 25 at 2014 1:25 PM

2014-10-25T13:25:38-04:00

Moving to Mars!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 2:24 PM

2014-10-25T14:24:37-04:00

OK---so I work at US EPA where we strive to protect human health and the environment--we also take the lead in energy efficient appliances, recycled materials, compost, and reduce reliance on chemicals and plastics. I reuse plastic water bottles many times--soap and water cleanse, and Zero Water filtered water back in to them. Have chlorine filter on shower---better for your hair, skin, septic tank...use select detergents only--biodegradable papers.

...some one sent note about recycling ex-spouse....not sure that counts.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 3:51 PM

2014-10-25T15:51:21-04:00

Mine is more a moral battle. But...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 3:59 PM

2014-10-25T15:59:31-04:00

Sell digital stickers and magic powers to children on their apps for insanely high prices. Once their parents are broke, they won't buy any more wasteful toys to pile up at our landfills.

Response by SPC Mickey Bennett made Oct 25 at 2014 9:51 PM

2014-10-25T21:51:20-04:00

I'm a good steward of my little corner of the earth, and unlike Al "I invented the internet is over/the debate is over" Gore, I am willing to participate in a discussion that doesn't involve the kind of fear-mongering and hysteria that the tree huggers tend to engage in!