At school and after school

Here are a few suggestions:

Save water

• Don't leave taps running while you're not using them.
• Take a short shower instead of a bath.
• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are fully loaded.

Save energy

• Turn lights on only when needed and turn them off when you're done to save energy.
• Avoid using cars. Walk, cycle or use public transport whenever possible.
• Organise a walking school bus. Plan a route that allows you to pick up people as you walk to school.
• Keep the outside doors and windows closed during the winter and turn down the heat if you're too warm.
• Leave your curtains open during the day to let the sun heat your house and close them in the evening to prevent heat from escaping.
• Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heater.

Avoid waste and toxics

• Think of ways to reuse things before you throw them out, like jars for food and scraps of paper for notes.
• Save leftover food instead of throwing it away.
• Buy products that use the least packaging.
• Give away clothing when you're done with it instead of throwing it away.
• Use the public library for books and magazines or give them away when you're finished with them.
• Take a backpack or cotton bag when you go shopping to avoid plastic bags.

Plant a tree

• Trees can absorb and store huge amounts of carbon dioxide and generate oxygen while purifying the air we breathe. Start the seedling in a pot indoors and plant it outside in autumn. Seedlings need a lot of care the first two years, including water, vertical support and mulch, so you will be able to see the tree grow and take its place in the cycle of nature as you care for it.

At school...

Protecting the planet can also be part of your daily life at school. Here are a few ideas for getting your friends and teachers involved in the fight to save the planet:

• Pack a garbageless lunch, take a reusable container instead.
• Before buying school supplies for the new year, take a look at what you have left over from last year.
• Start an anti-litter campaign at your school.
• Join the environmental club if there is one or start your own.
• Make environmental studies part of every subject taught in your school.
• Brainstorm environmental projects with other students and teachers. You could clean up the environment from the school yard to the river and beyond.
• Request a non-toxic environment in your school. Examine your school's cleaning supplies, lawn care and paint. Ask your environmental group to come up with a list of environmental guidelines for the school.