Monday, April 18, 2011

Happy Earth Day to You!

Whether you're a book nerd, athlete, musician, artist, sports fan, pop culture guru, video or online gamer, movie nut, outdoor enthusiast, or anything else, we all have one thing in common: we all live on the same planet, Earth. It doesn't matter where on Earth we call home, we're all faced with the same pressing issue every day: What are we going to do to make sure our Earth, our home, can survive for the generations to come?

It's a big question. And it can be overwhelming to think about for even the shortest of seconds. But this Earth Day, I thought I'd bring you some resources (you guessed it, books!) that can simplify this heavy question so you can spend more than a fleeting moment thinking about what you can do to be more "eco-friendly."

I spent a fair amount of time sorting through books and trying to come up with those that get you good information, a bit of entertainment, and have simplified the task of "living green" every dayBy clicking the title of each book you will be taken to sites where the book is available for purchase.

Something for Everyone:
Though the environmental issues of today are no laughing matter, I think that a little bit of humour can go a long way.  This is a great resource that provides 150 insights on living greener, and it provides humorous anecdotes and images to complement the great ideas. It's so easy to read, VERY inexpensive for 160 pages, and printed on recycled paper with sustainable soy ink. My favourite bit of advice: "Giving to Charity: When you or your family grow out of old clothes/books/furniture/boyfriends, take them to a charity." Click here for a Google Preview of the book.

Something for Teachers:
There are so many great resources out there for encouraging kids to live greener and to guide you in developing eco-friendly classrooms.  This is just one from a long list of valuable resources. I chose it primarily for its user-friendly appeal.  Each chapter covers a new environmental issue such as water, air, and farming, and is broken down into different sections: What It's All About, Global Picture, For the Classroom, School Projects, Field Trips, Human Health, and Take It Home. Though it is geared more toward elementary classrooms, any creative high school teacher can find applications for their classrooms as well.  Click here for a Google Preview of the book.

Something for Women:
Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano
A New York Times Bestseller, this book has now turned into more of a mini-franchise of books, blogs, vlogs, newsletters, and more. Endorsed by the likes of Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey, the series focuses on simple steps toward a greener life. Geared toward women, the original book Gorgeously Green provides green-living tips in areas like fitness, diet, beauty, and home maintenance.  Several other books have been added to the series, and for the whole Gorgeously Green experience you should check out the website here: http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/.

Something for Men?
Sorry guys, but in my search I wasn't able to find any resources geared specifically toward you. BUT, if you know of some, please let me know! I'd love to share them here.

Something to Do Now:
Head out this weekend to see Disney Nature's "African Cats" in theatres everywhere April 22nd. For every ticket sold during opening week, Disney will make a donation to help Save the African Savanna these wild cats call home.  By clicking here you can find more information about this and other programs Disney is running to help the "Save the Savanna" campaign.


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