Green Eyes

By Abby Hunt
M&M TIPster

With all the talk of global warming, Earth deterioration and such, millions of people across the world have come together in an effort to "go green." The old "reduce, reuse, recycle" saying has come back in fashion, and people are striving to become more "Earth Friendly." Among these people are the faculty and students of the University of Georgia. While scavenging through Twitter for an interesting blog story, I stumbled upon the Twitter page UGA GoGreen and thought it would make a perfect Abby blog. Although the most recent post on this page was on April 26th, it's the thought that counts.
The campus has begun working on their three r's, and I actually noticed it before coming across the online testimony. In the vending machine room of TIP dorm (Myers Hall), there's a giant bottle that you can disperse your empty cans and plastic bottles. In Snelling Dining Hall, there are other receptacles for your newspapers, too. Recyclable receptacles can also be found in every other building and by all the bus stops. Since I have yet to truly explore the town of Athens, I can't really claim that the rest of the town is trying their hand at conserving, but I'd like to think that they are.
A lot of cities nowadays are instituting city-wide efforts to recycle. In my own town of Tupelo, MS, the city gave out green boxes for everyone to place their recyclables in, and they come around once or twice a week to receive them and take them off to somewhere where they can be put to another use. Many industries have moved away from their old, harmful ways and have become more Earth-friendly as well. For example, many companies that produce bottled products have begun using less plastic in their bottles. The fashion world is pressing hippie/ Earth-friendly clothing and reusable shopping bags made out of recycled material. Several cleaning product companies have begun to create their supplies using less harmful chemicals, and those help you and the earth.
There are many ways that you as an individual can help the earth. One way is to conserve your water. The world may currently be 70% water, but who’s to say it will always be that way? Let’s do little things such as turning off the faucet while we brush our teeth, taking shorter showers, and using less water to water the lawn to help our future generations and their battles against droughts and such. Another way you can help is to save energy. If you’re going somewhere a mile down the road, brave the hot southern sun and walk or ride a bike instead of driving. Watch less TV, unplug your chargers when they’re not in use, use solar-powered products, turn the lights off when you leave a room. There are so many ways to save energy that we don’t even consider until someone else points it out to us. Also, reduce the amount of trash you produce. This can be done by simply reusing and recycling your stuff. Find products that are made using less waste, energy, and water, and that combines the three previous tips into one.
Going green isn’t just a fad; it won’t fade away like Miley Cyrus or Brittney Spears’s careers. It’s here to stay, whether you like it or not. The choice is up to you – help out your greats on down the line and become Earth-friendly or continue to be too lazy to do something about it. But I say go green with all your heart.

-abby=)

Abby Hunt is an upcoming sophomore at Tupelo High School in Tupelo, MS.