Environment Week
VICTORIA - Environment Minister Barry Penner launched Environment Week 2006 (June 4 - 10) today with 10 tips to help protect the environment.
“The theme for Environment Week 2006 is ‘Taking Action for Our Environment,’” said Penner. “Government is not alone in protecting our environment - industry, business, universities and individuals all have roles to play.”
Ten things you can do to help the environment:
1. Bike to work, car pool, use mass transit, or walk.
2. When driving, keep tires well inflated and organize trips to reduce driving distances-never let your car idle.
3. Conserve water - do not leave taps running when brushing your teeth.
4. Run dishwashers, washers and dryers with full loads during low energy hours, late in the evening or early in the morning. Choose short cycles, low water levels and low heat settings whenever possible.
5. When shopping, avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers.
6. Separate and recycle your garbage - paper, plastics and bottles and compost perishable waste.
7. Use sensor lights or solar lights if you need outdoor lights on at night.
8. Use natural methods to fertilize and protect plants from pests and conserve water by covering plant beds with composted leaves or grass to help retain moisture.
9. Conserve water by cutting lawns less frequently and watering less.
10. Manage hazardous wastes such as paint and batteries by taking them to a proper disposal facility.
Environment Week coincides each year with World Environment Day (June 5), Clean Air Day (June 7) and World Oceans Day (June 8) and aims to raise public awareness of the environment and of the benefits linked to its protection. The week encourages and celebrates local community action.
“The student who cleans up litter around a school, the driver who takes used oil containers for recycling, the volunteer who helps organize stream restoration projects, the youth who organizes a stream restoration, the business owner who commits to a best practices code, and the homeowner who landscapes with native plants that don’t need much water all contribute to our goal of having British Columbia leads the world in sustainable environmental management,” Penner said.
Environment Week activities run the gamut from street rallies, bicycle parades, nature walks, and green concerts to tree planting, clean-up campaigns, essay and poster contests, round-table discussions, presentations, and much more.
“The goal of environment Week is to reinforce the importance of individual actions to protect and conserve the environment,” said Penner. “Ensuring that our communities and families thrive in a healthy environment is everyone’s responsibility.”
“The theme for Environment Week 2006 is ‘Taking Action for Our Environment,’” said Penner. “Government is not alone in protecting our environment - industry, business, universities and individuals all have roles to play.”
Ten things you can do to help the environment:
1. Bike to work, car pool, use mass transit, or walk.
2. When driving, keep tires well inflated and organize trips to reduce driving distances-never let your car idle.
3. Conserve water - do not leave taps running when brushing your teeth.
4. Run dishwashers, washers and dryers with full loads during low energy hours, late in the evening or early in the morning. Choose short cycles, low water levels and low heat settings whenever possible.
5. When shopping, avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers.
6. Separate and recycle your garbage - paper, plastics and bottles and compost perishable waste.
7. Use sensor lights or solar lights if you need outdoor lights on at night.
8. Use natural methods to fertilize and protect plants from pests and conserve water by covering plant beds with composted leaves or grass to help retain moisture.
9. Conserve water by cutting lawns less frequently and watering less.
10. Manage hazardous wastes such as paint and batteries by taking them to a proper disposal facility.
Environment Week coincides each year with World Environment Day (June 5), Clean Air Day (June 7) and World Oceans Day (June 8) and aims to raise public awareness of the environment and of the benefits linked to its protection. The week encourages and celebrates local community action.
“The student who cleans up litter around a school, the driver who takes used oil containers for recycling, the volunteer who helps organize stream restoration projects, the youth who organizes a stream restoration, the business owner who commits to a best practices code, and the homeowner who landscapes with native plants that don’t need much water all contribute to our goal of having British Columbia leads the world in sustainable environmental management,” Penner said.
Environment Week activities run the gamut from street rallies, bicycle parades, nature walks, and green concerts to tree planting, clean-up campaigns, essay and poster contests, round-table discussions, presentations, and much more.
“The goal of environment Week is to reinforce the importance of individual actions to protect and conserve the environment,” said Penner. “Ensuring that our communities and families thrive in a healthy environment is everyone’s responsibility.”