<blockquote><p>“Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystem to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (UN, 2001)</p></blockquote><p>That’s the call from our esteemed scientists. The human activity they’re talking about is ours. We’re the 5% of the population that is using 30% of the world’s resources and creating 30% of the world’s waste! With opened eyes and understanding, we can choose to NOT be the generation that brought the planet down. We can use our commitment and creativity to conserve the energy and natural resources that still remain so that our planet can regenerate abundance for our children’s future.<strong> <br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 14px; color: #196b62;">Multimedia</span></strong></p><p>EARTH BREATHING: Greenpeace.org: [<a href="/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Earth%20Breathing.wmv" onclick="window.open('/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Earth%20Breathing.wmv','','');return false;">earth breathing.wmv</a>]</p> <p>THRIST FOR WATER: Powerpoint illustrating what water means to us and our world. [<a href="/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Thirst_for_Water.PPS" onclick="window.open('/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Thirst_for_Water.PPS','','');return false;">Thirst_for_Water.PPS</a>]</p><h2>Readings</h2><p>ECOLOGICAL EXTINCTION AND EVOLUTION IN THE BRAVE NEW OCEAN: PNAS paper: PDF download [<a href="/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Water%20Conservation%20Foundation%202008.pdf" onclick="window.open('/sites/default/files/content/BTC_Water%20Conservation%20Foundation%202008.pdf','','');return false;">Water Conservation Foundation 2008.pdf</a>]</p><h2>Additional Explorations</h2><h4>Save Water</h4> <p>Research other ways to conserve water at home: <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/Water_Nov2006/page5.asp" onclick="window.open('http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/Water_Nov2006/page5.asp','','');return false;">www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters</a></p> <p>Research ways to water your lawn and garden more efficiently: <a href="http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/homegarden/lawn.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/homegarden/lawn.html','','');return false;">www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/homegarden/lawn.html</a></p> <p>Research the history of lawns and reconsider your choices: <a href="http://www.organiclawncare101.com/history.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/homegarden/lawn.html','','');return false;">www.organiclawncare101.com/history.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/HomeEnergyEfficient.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/HomeEnergyEfficient.html','','');return false;">www.lowes.com/lowes/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.energystar.gov/" onclick="window.open('http://www.energystar.gov/','','');return false;">www.energystar.gov</a></p> <h4>Save Energy</h4> <p>For information on options available in BC, contact The Vancouver Renewable Energy Cooperative (VREC): <a href="http://www.recov.org/" onclick="window.open('http://www.recov.org/','','');return false;">www.recov.org</a></p> <p>For articles on hot water and solar technologies, refer to the BC Sustainable Energy Association website: <a href="http://www.bcsea.org/learn/get-the-facts" onclick="window.open('http://www.bcsea.org/learn/get-the-facts','','');return false;">www.bcsea.org/learn/get-the-facts</a></p> <p>Learn about carbon offsets: <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_offsets.asp" onclick="window.open('http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_offsets.asp','','');return false;">www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/</a></p> <h4>Transportation</h4> <p>Or see “Getting Started”, “7 Ways To Get Around”, and “It’s Your Business” from <a href="http://www.gogreen.com/choices" onclick="window.open('http://www.gogreen.com/choices','','');return false;">www.gogreen.com/choices</a></p> <p>For suggestions on how to shrink your travel distance in your daily life, visit: <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/" onclick="window.open('http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/','','');return false;">www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/</a></p> <p>Hybrids and electric car information: <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/" onclick="window.open('http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/','','');return false;">www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Transportation/</a></p> <p>For detailed information about vehicle idling, visit the BC anti-idling campaign: <a href="http://www.idlefreebc.ca/" onclick="window.open('http://www.idlefreebc.ca/','','');return false;">www.idlefreebc.ca/</a></p>
