This post is a reply to what Nandini ji pondered over. I found this quite interesting to take up. My Green list and not-so-Green list. I gave a good thought about this and finalized on these!
Green List
* littering - a big NO. i used to litter big time in my childhood (for an year or so). One day Ms. Sumathi, our English teacher (seventh standard) spoke about being clean and keeping our surroundings neat. From the very day, I stopped littering on roads and observed the difference I made to my surroundings. I thank my teacher for guiding me in this!
* water - i do not use much water while cooking, use paper instead to clean. i use all my clothes over 2 weeks and wash them at once. so, i save significant amount of water avoiding daily washing. however, i make sure i stay hygienic.
* i walk long and short distances. these days i do not have a personal vehicle, i use public transport instead.
* i reduced using plastic significantly, i refuse taking plastic bags given by the vendor. however, i'm yet to bring that down to zero.
* i use low wattage bulbs in the house. power bills came down!
* as far as plastic cups for coffee, tea - i'm not used to those till date so i'm not contributing to the waste.
* i contribute my idle laptop time to world community grid. this helps their research to a great extent. Most of internet users leave their desktops idle for some time and this adds to a great extent. The amount of computers/laptop idle time can be used for scientific research. Contribute now!
Not-so-Green list
* recycling - even though I contribute to the paper recycling, i haven't contributed to the aluminum recycling.
* i used to wrap gifts in plastic. but not anymore as i stopped giving gifts :)) helping the needy instead.
* i should use paper more effectively.
* at times I doze off without switching the lights off. Yesterday night, after reading Nandini ji's post on green list, I slept reading a novel. Suddenly, I remembered the post and switched the lights off. Speak of enlightenment, I'm at it!! ;) I should stop wasting energy hereafter.
i have this interesting experience from my childhood to share with everyone. I hope readers can appreciate it. I along with my brother used to play cricket in the ground till sun sets and as light fades away we started our way back home. The interesting part was, whenever we observed people throwing cigarettes without butting the flame, we lit the flame off. Gradually, this became a daily routine. I'm impressed with the way we carried this out back then. However, I do not see people behaving like that these days. Sensible junta!
This new year, I hope to decrease my not-so green list and of course maintain the green list. Let us hope that this new year brings a moral, social conscience along with happiness and prosperity to all people!
