10 Big and Little Resolutions for an
Earth-friendly New Year

By Tom Politeo

Looking for New Year’s resolutions that go beyond the same old “lose five pounds”? No doubt many of you already take an active part in helping the planet, but in case you’re at a loss, here is a short list of earth-friendly things to do—some big, some small.

1. Choose paper over plastic
Plastic litter flows down our rivers and into the ocean. The pieces, which never biodegrade, are killing dolphins, turtles, and birds. Pick up plastic litter if you see it, and if you’re really motivated, organize a beach cleanup.

2. Use your muscles
Replace as many car trips as you can with foot- or bicycle-powered ones. (This will help with that “lose five pounds” resolution, too.)

3. Walk/bike to school
Like number 2 above, only for kids. Driving children and teens to school has risen dramatically in the past 20 years. Get your kid a new pair of sneakers or a bike and helmet and let ’em fly.

4. Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle
Do you really need that SUV for occasional hauling? Considering buying a hybrid and renting SUVs as needed. You’ll save money and improve air quality.

5. Work from home
The ultimate fuel saver. With DSL and digital cable in most neighborhoods, telecommuting to work is becoming more and more practical. People are already telecommuting half way around the world, perhaps you can do it half way across the county.

6. Find a partner
Two can commute as cheaply as one, even three or four. With one person sharing a long ride, you can nearly double your fuel efficiency.

7. Visit Glacier National Park
Who says saving the environment is all work and no play? Sure, your trip will burn some fuel, but if witnessing retreating glaciers helps convince you to do your part to stop global warming, it’s a worthy trade off.

8. Adopt an open space
Find some open space near your home and explore it. Is there something special about it? Does it contain land suitable for restoring lost habitat? Could it be part of a wildlife corridor? Might it make a worthy urban park? If so, adopt it and become one if its champions. Perhaps the Sierra Club is already fighting to preserve it. If not, look at forming a group within the Club to protect it. (See Jump In below.)

9. Volunteer with the Chapter
It’s been said of Sierra Club volunteers that they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And if doing extraordinary things isn’t enough motivation, consider the social benefits—volunteers are by and large a fun group of people; you may find yourself making friends.

10. Donate to the Chapter
The Chapter is fighting hundreds of billions of dollars of proposed land development, harbor expansion, and double-decked freeway projects. We’re speaking up for sane, sustainable, and responsible development. The Chapter is outspent by developers more than 10,000 to 1. Consider making a modest quarterly pledge to the Chapter to help the fight.

Jump in
Conservation issues: See this issue for coverage of all the Chapter’s current land conservation campaigns. Contact info is listed with each description. Or you can contact the Chapter’s conservation coordinators:
Johanna Zetterberg (L.A. County), 213-387-4287, ext. 204;
and
Rachel Myers (Orange County), 213-387-4287, ext. 210,
Donations: Jack Bohlka, senior Chapter director, 213-387-4289,
General volunteering: Contact Linda Hoyer, Chapter coordinator, 213-387-4287, ext. 205, , or see the Schedule of Activities for a list of the various task forces and committees.
Communications projects: Tom Politeo, 310-547-1416, or Jack Prichett,

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