You have probably heard "Go Green" at every turn. It's literally everywhere. You've see it at the grocery store, read about it in newspapers and magazines, glanced at green messages on billboard signs, and even bought a variety of products labeled as green.

But maybe you don't quite understand it.

It's really ok not to understand it; you're not alone. Many are still wondering if it has anything to do with the Jolly Green Giant seen widely on bean cans.

But no...even though he's likable fella, "Go Green" has nothing to do with him. It's a movement to reduce the impact that we as people have on our environment. It's a movement to improve our environment for ourselves, our children, and for generations yet to come.

Going Green has to do with activities that protect, conserve and replenish our environment. In part, it includes recycling, conservation and environmental awareness.

Did you know that just by recycling you can reduce the space wasted in our landfills? Yep! But do you know WHY that is important?

Well, think about it...landfills are already over capacity, bursting at the seams. That means they're running out of space. This inevitably leads to new landfills being created, which wastes even more of our natural resources, namely land.

Space is becoming more of a commodity all the time. It's bad enough that people are building homes right next to graveyards. What happens when building starts next to or on top of garbage dumps?

Yuk! It's already happening. Do you want your kids playing in a dump?

I can tell you that some of the 'junk' and crud that is being buried in those dumps is just plain scary. Some of it is very toxic and eventually makes its way into the groundwater, water which you later drink! I'd prefer to keep that stuff out of the ground and find some other way to dispose of it...safely. I'm sure you feel the same way too.

Recycling conserves energy and saves trees.

Just think, when we recycle just one ton of paper, this is what happens:

1. seven thousand gallons of water are saved;
2. three hundred and eighty gallons of oil are save; and in terms of energy,
3. the savings are equal to the same amount of electricity it takes the average house to use over 6 months.

That's alot of savings! And from a simple act.

Here's another fact: Recycling just one aluminum can saves the same amount of energy it takes to run your television for six hours straight! Recycling a single glass bottle save enough energy to light a 100 watt bulb for as long as 4 hours. This is truly amazing.

The simple act of recycling significantly decreases our impact on the environment as a whole. It just makes sense.

Over the last 2000 years, the world has grown from less than a billion people to more than six billion people. That's a growth of about 2.5 million people each year. Just think of the amount of garbage 6 billion people can generate? Where are we going to put it all? Wouldn't it be better if we didn't generate that garbage in the first place?

Today, so much of our packaging isn't eco friendly. It doesn't decay well. And when it does, it leaves behind chemicals, carcinogens and various pollutants. And that problem doesn't appear to be going away. There was a time when bottles were essentially all glass, cartons were paper and plastic use was miniscule.

But not today.

Today garbage barges dump tons of consumer waste in the ocean, as though by doing so, it magically goes away...like they're hiding it from plain sight.

Tell that to the fishes.
I can tell you they don't like it at all.

And what do you think happens to your health when you eat fish that swim in, drink in and eat garbage? I shudder to think.

Going green means preserving a natural balance, conserving, saving the soil, the fuel, the water, and the air. It means 'healthy use' and balance.

By taking a few simple steps now, you can assure that there will still be plenty of natural resources left to enjoy ten, twenty or even a hundred years down the road.

Consider this...

When you waste water, you waste a natural resource. When you throw away items,you are filling up a natural resource. When you use chemicals on your lawn and in your garden, you damage two natural resources – water and soil.

Everything is connected. Just look at the recent articles on low levels of DRUGS that are being found in your drinking water and I think you get the point.

Over the years, much of this has been taken for granted by assuming it will always be there, as it has been for our ancestors. But we know better now. By going green now and living green, you can change that. Don't let the hypesters fool you. It really has nothing to do with carbon footprints. That is just plain bull. It has to do with unbridled pollution and the destruction of natural resources. The future begins with you.

It all begins with you!

Yes, you can do this. Every revolution starts with one person.

Join the revolution.
Go Green!