2008 Kids 2008 Kids Watershed ConferenceWatershed Conference

By:

Ziad Y. Mazboudi, PE, CPSWQ, CPESC

Environmental Division Manager

www.sanjuancapistrano.org

zmazboudi@sanjuancapistrano.org

WHO CAN HELP US PROTECT WHO CAN HELP US PROTECT OUR EARTH AND OUR OUR EARTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT ?ENVIRONMENT ?

WE CAN !WE CAN !

““IF WE DON’T PROTECT THE IF WE DON’T PROTECT THE EARTH,EARTH,TODAYTODAY

IT WON’T BE HERE TOMORROW !”.IT WON’T BE HERE TOMORROW !”.-Sukanya Garg-Sukanya Garg

66thth grade grade

Ryan International School, Gurgaon, IndiaRyan International School, Gurgaon, India

You are the leaders of You are the leaders of tomorrowtomorrow

Our responsibility is not just to protect the Our responsibility is not just to protect the environment for your future, but to teach you environment for your future, but to teach you how to do the same for the ones after you.how to do the same for the ones after you.

You learned this, right ?You learned this, right ?Good !Good !

You also You also learned learned what’swhat’s

And And

You You probably probably

also also learned learned

what what watershewatershe

d you d you live inlive in

This is our HOME, Let’s protect it.

So, what can a Kid do to So, what can a Kid do to help ?help ?Keep learning !Keep learning !

Your way to understand what you can Your way to understand what you can do is within reach. do is within reach.

ReadRead

Learning about the environment is Learning about the environment is very important. There are many good very important. There are many good books that will help you learn. To get books that will help you learn. To get started, ask a teacher or a librarian for started, ask a teacher or a librarian for some suggestions. some suggestions.

Use the internet. You have nowadays Use the internet. You have nowadays a lot more tools at your disposal than a lot more tools at your disposal than many before you. Take advantage of many before you. Take advantage of them.them.

Another easy one that you might Another easy one that you might hear your parents tell you all the hear your parents tell you all the timetimeSave ElectricitySave Electricity

Whenever we use electricity, we put Whenever we use electricity, we put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.you are through with them, you can help a lot.

Same goes for Same goes for Water.Water. Precious Precious Commodity, so don’t Commodity, so don’t waste itwaste it

RecycleRecycleRecycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and newspapers. When you recycle, you send less newspapers. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources, like trees, oil, and elements such as resources, like trees, oil, and elements such as aluminum.aluminum.

Start a recycling program at Start a recycling program at school, or in your classroom, school, or in your classroom,

or at home if you don’t have or at home if you don’t have one.one.

SHOP SMART – Green ShopSHOP SMART – Green Shop

You can conserve resources, save energy, and prevent waste by buying products that:

■ Are energy efficient ■ Are used or reusable ■ Are made with recycled content or are

recyclable ■ Have no packaging or reduced packaging

Learn about these products so you can help your mom and dad shop GREEN.

ENERGY STAR®ENERGY STAR®Many things, like computers, TVs, Many things, like computers, TVs, stereos, and VCRs, have special labels stereos, and VCRs, have special labels on them. Products with the ENERGY on them. Products with the ENERGY STAR® label are made to save energy. STAR® label are made to save energy. Buying products with ENERGY STAR® Buying products with ENERGY STAR® labels will help protect the labels will help protect the environment.environment.

If shopping with your parents, remind If shopping with your parents, remind them of the importance of saving them of the importance of saving energy and remind them to look for the energy and remind them to look for the

When shopping When shopping GREENGREEN – – BYOBBYOB

BYOBBYOB: Bring Your Own : Bring Your Own BagBag

Single use plastic bags Single use plastic bags fill up our landfills and fill up our landfills and end up in our creeks, end up in our creeks, at our beaches and in at our beaches and in the ocean.the ocean.

If you have to use them, If you have to use them, make sure you recycle make sure you recycle them. them.

DO NOT LITTERDO NOT LITTERIf you see someone you know littering, explain to him/her the harm that does to our environment.

Organize a cleanup event around your house with your friends. You’ll beautify your neighborhood and should feel proud of your achievement.

267 different species found 267 different species found entangled in orentangled in oringesting marine debrisingesting marine debris

Stop using Polystyrene FoamStop using Polystyrene Foam(PF)(PF)Have your own reusable mug or cup, or buy Have your own reusable mug or cup, or buy

a soda in a can or a bottle, that you can a soda in a can or a bottle, that you can recycle after done drinking.recycle after done drinking.

PF breaks down PF breaks down into small into small

pieces pieces and and ends up into ends up into the the ocean, whereocean, whereanimals mistake it animals mistake it for food. for food.

Participate in an Earth Day Participate in an Earth Day eventeventResearch on the internet for a local Research on the internet for a local

event.event.

Plant a tree. May be a fruit tree.Plant a tree. May be a fruit tree.

Pick one of your favorite fruitsPick one of your favorite fruits

And ask your parents if you canAnd ask your parents if you can

plant the tree in your yard.plant the tree in your yard.

When it will bear fruit, you’llWhen it will bear fruit, you’ll

be happy to remember that be happy to remember that

you planted it on Earth Day you planted it on Earth Day

Participate in a beach or creek Participate in a beach or creek cleanup eventcleanup event

The 24The 24thth Annual California Coastal Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, will be Saturday, Cleanup Day, will be Saturday, September 13th, 2007 from 9 AM to September 13th, 2007 from 9 AM to Noon. Noon.

Mark the date and find an event near Mark the date and find an event near you to help cleanup.you to help cleanup.

www.cleanup.orgwww.cleanup.org

Always Carry a Doggy BagAlways Carry a Doggy Bag

Well, not this kind, but when walking your dog, even this cute little one leaves surprises on the way. Well, these surprises aren’t very cute when you’re swimming with them

Unless you can potty train them,Unless you can potty train them,

always carry a doggy bag withalways carry a doggy bag with

you on your walks. you on your walks.

KEEP OUR OCEAN KEEP OUR OCEAN CLEAN AND CLEAN AND BLUEBLUE

And Surprises And Surprises FREEFREE

SMOKING CAUSES CANCER, BUT IT’S ALSO BAD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. DON’T SMOKE !

FINALLY, HAVE FUN and ENJOY FINALLY, HAVE FUN and ENJOY SAVING OUR PLANET EARTH, SAVING OUR PLANET EARTH, BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE BIT BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS .HELPS .

Thanks to:Thanks to:The Ocean Institute: The Ocean Institute: www.ocean-institute.orgwww.ocean-institute.org County of Orange: County of Orange: www.ocwatersheds.comwww.ocwatersheds.com Earth Earth Resource Foundation: Resource Foundation: www.earthresource.orgwww.earthresource.org

SWRCB: SWRCB: www.erasethewaste.comwww.erasethewaste.com

EPA: EPA: www.epa.govwww.epa.gov

City of San Juan Capistrano:City of San Juan Capistrano:www.sanjuancapistrano.orgwww.sanjuancapistrano.org