Earth Day 2011

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Make a difference this Earth Day | Eco-friendly facts vs. fiction

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, April 22, 20112 EARTH DAY

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By Ralph LeeFeature Writer

Make a difference this Earth Day Check it out: The reality is these facts aren’t recycled

This year, Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22.

Because it’s right in the heart of the spring season, when many people feel rejuvenated after a long winter, Earth Day is the ideal time for men, women and children to take that extra energy they have in the spring and channel it into eco-friendly behaviors that benefit the environment. To do just that this Earth Day, consider these tips.

Take a walk! Or a jog or a bike ride.

Men and women can help reduce air pollution by walking, jogging or riding a bike to get from place to place. W hile this might not be doa ble ac ros s t he boa rd, particularly for men and women w i t h l o n g c o m m u t e s , w h e n running errands around town on the weekends dust off your bicycle instead of gassing up the car.

If you’re taking kids to the park on the weekend, walk or bike to the park. It’s a great way to spend t ime outdoors a nd benef it t he environment at the same time. The idea is to have fun, get outdoors and enjoy nature while preserving it at the same time.

Using a bicycle instead of an automobile to run errands is one way to be more eco-friendly this Earth Day.

Recycling isn’t on most people’s minds, but it shou ld be. Vast savings of natural resources – not to mention money – could be realized if we all would do just a small bit of recycling in our daily lives. So think about doing your part. If Americans would think about recycling as much as they think about what’s going to happen on their favorite reality show, this reality we call life would be better for everybody. Here are some facts to consider:

1. What’s black and white a n d re a d a l l ove r b u t ,

unfortunately, not recycled? If every newspaper was recycled, Americans could reportedly save about 250,000,000 trees each year. What percent of American newspapers are recycled? 27 percent.

2. P u c k e r u p. M o r e t h a n 20,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses

are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil which could all be recycled. Question: How much of that tinfoil is recycled? Better question: How much of that tinfoil have you recycled? If you haven’t done your part, what makes you think anybody else has?

3. Hit the shower. A five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons

of water. A tub of water uses about 70 gallons.

4. Grab a whatchamacallit or call a plumber. A leaky faucet

that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day. About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. About 24.999 percent is used in the kitchen. The rest is used in the bedroom for those who take a glass of water to bed ... or soak their dentures.

5. Want another good reason to lose weight? The average

American will throw away 600 times their adult weight in garbage. For a 150-pound person, that’s 45 tons of trash in a lifetime.

6. We are No. 1. That’s right, but this ranking isn’t worth

b r a g g i n g a b o u t . A m e r i c a n s (comprising about 2.5 percent of the world’s population) produce more trash than any other country i n t he world, accou nt i ng for 40 percent of waste.

7. But we are gett ing better. Typical city waste in America

was recycled at a 32-percent clip in 2005, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. That’s up from 10 percent in 1980.

8. And we’re beating Greece. Overall, the United States

rec ycles about 30 percent of its waste today, double from a decade ago. Among nations in the European Union, Greece recycles a lowly 10 percent. We’re far short of Austria’s 60 percent.

9. The Great Wall of the United States. Americans discard

enough office and writing paper each year to build a wall 12 feet high from Los Angeles to New York.

10. Heck, no, we won’t foam. A mer ic a n s r ep or te d l y

throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups each year. None is recyclable. Think twice about having that second beer the next time you’re at the ballpark.

11. Ya don’t keep your oven on when you’re not using it, do

you? Turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth. That will save you four gallons of water with each brushing and save you money.

12. A nd you ca n’t eat t he wrapping. According to

reports, about $1 of every $11 U.S. consumers spend for food pays for the packaging.

13. Just what we need – another law (but this is a good one).

States with bottle deposit laws have 35 to 40 percent less litter by volume than those without a bottle law.

14. Your postal carrier’s back w i l l t ha nk you too. Tr y

electronic deliver y of monthly do c u ment s y ou get t h r ou g h the mail. The junk mail a lone A mericans receive dai ly could produce enough energ y to heat 250,000 homes.

15. That’s eight months of your life you won’t get back.

Another reason to use electronic delivery as much as you can: Americans reportedly spend eight months of their lives opening junk mail (hitting the delete button takes only seven months).

16. Come on i n ... t here’s plenty of room. Have you

thought about car pooling? Most U.S. workers drive solo. We’ve got so much room in the 140 million cars on roadways daily that everyone in Western Europe could hitch a ride.

17. Take that, sheiks. Recycling one ton of aluminum saves

37 barrels of oil.

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, April 22, 2011 EARTH DAY 3

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By Tresa Erickson Feature Writer

Green giving: Make your donations count

The home improvement bug has hit, and you’re ready to paint. Before you start, you need to clear the room. Rather than toss everything into a box, why not take the time to sort through it and clear away the clutter? The less stuff you have, the easier it will be for you to set up the room later. Since you don’t have time to have a yard sale, you’ll have to donate the items you no longer want or need. While you could just pack up the excess and drop it off at the nearest donation point, there is a better way to ensure your goods get to the people who need them.

Call around and find out where your goods would be best used. You might discover that a local church is collecting furniture for a family whose house burned dow n, a homeless shelter is collecting coats and an animal shelter is collecting blankets. You never know where your goods are needed.

When donating to larger charitable organizations, look for reputable, establ ished ones. Be wa r y of orga n i zat ions t hat sol icit for goods by phone, require you to drop off goods at an odd time or place, refuse to give you a receipt, ask for donations in cash or make some other unusual request. They might not be legitimate. Contact all organizations you are interested in donating to beforehand and find out what restrictions are in place. Some organizations are limited in what they can take, while others are not.

Get a l ist of g u idel ines f rom each organization and follow it faithfully. Before boxing up goods, inspect them carefully and make sure they are in good condition. Dispose of all hazardous items like chemicals and paint. Dispose of all banned or recalled items. Dispose of a l l broken or stained items. Clean and repair anything that you can. Wipe down that dusty old rocker and sew that loose button back on that shirt. Don’t leave it to the organization to do. They don’t have the money or the time.

W hen you are ready to donate goods, call the organization and find out their business hours. Drop off the goods during this time and make sure an attendant is on duty. Do not drop off the goods outside of

the business during off-hours. The goods could get stolen or damaged in bad weather. If you cannot arrange to drop off the goods during business hours, ask a friend to do it for you or find out if there are drop-off boxes set up around town. Getting rid of the clutter before you tackle painting is a good idea. Donating your goods is even better, as long as you take the time to do it properly.

While you could just pack up the

excess and drop it off at the nearest donation point, there is a better way to ensure

your goods get to the people who

need them.

Facts about planet EarthEnvironmentalists and regular people have been making strides to improve the quality of life on this planet. From recycling to reducing carbon emissions, there are several steps individuals have been making to benefit the Earth.

Although it is both fragile and awe-inspiring, the planet Earth has been around for centuries and is likely to endure centuries more. Here are some facts about this planet that illustrate its mystery and magnitude.

• It is the third planet from the sun.

• The Earth is 4.6 billion years old.

• 70 percent of the Earth is covered in water.

• The planet is 197 million square miles.

• Every couple of years Earth, Mars and the sun line up. It is called opposition.

• The Earth’s atmosphere is mostly oxygen and nitrogen.

• There are roughly 7 billion people living on the planet.

• The Earth’s axis has a tilt of about 23 ½ degrees. It is this tilt which causes the seasons.

• The Earth is made mostly of iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium, nickel and sulfur: 34.6% Iron, 29.5% Oxygen, 15.2% Silicon, 12.7% Magnesium, 2.4% Nickel, 1.9% Sulfur, 0.05% Titanium.

• The temperature at the Earth’s core is estimated to be between 5000 and 7000 degrees Celsius.

• The A ma zon River pours out more than 456 million cubic feet of water each minute.

• If a l l the ice covering the Antarctic and Greenland suddenly melted, oceans all over the world would rise about 215 feet, enough to cover a 21-story building.

To learn more fun facts about planet Earth, visit w w w.earthfacts.net or read the book, How Come? Planet Earth.

AT A GLANCE:

On land, it’s easy to see pollution. Look up, look down, look all around (whoa, we might be on to a hit song here). Anyway, pollution is everywhere. You don’t have to look hard or far to find it. But there’s another part of the earth that’s polluted that many don’t see – unless you live on a coast.

It’s our oceans. And make no mistake – our oceans don’t pollute themselves – even with all the fish doing their business in them. Instead, reports suggest more than 80 percent of marine pollution comes from land-based activities. Let’s take a look at some of this disgusting stuff.

What a waste

According to experts, toxic waste is the worst type of pollution to life in the sea. Basically, toxic waste is poisonous material dumped in any ocean. It gets in the ocean through landfill leaks, dumps and mines.

When toxic waste gets in the ocean, it gets in the fish in the ocean. And that fish you eat today with toxins in it could be a part of your body tomorrow. Toxins in your body can potentially lead to birth defects and damage to the central nervous system.

Chemicals such as lead are prevalent in the oceans, and lead can cause damage to the brain, kidneys and reproductive systems of humans. Another toxin in the oceans is medical waste.

Exposure to medical waste can potentially result in hepatit is or even AIDS. Vira l and bacterial diseases are also possible. Industrial production creates toxic waste that contains heav y metals. When these metals get into water, they are often fatal to marine life.

Cry over this spill

Oil spills are often cited by the general populat ion as a major cause of water pollution and that’s true. What percent of oil in the oceans is caused by spills? Twenty percent? Fifty percent? Eighty percent? Nope, “only” about 12 percent. Three times that amount comes running down our city drains and into our bodies of water.

Cruisin’ for a bruisin’

You’ve seen those pictures of people enjoying an ocean cruise. It looks great from on top of the water. What’s going on in the water is a different story. According to reports, a one-week adventure on a cruise ship creates more than a million gallons of grey water.

Grey water is wastewater on board the ship that gets dirty from soap, detergent and other “cleaners.” And where does this water go when it’s dirty and grey? Do the companies that own these ocean liners order them to

wait until they get back to port and dispose of this waste in a sanitary fashion?

No, that would cost money. So the gunk goes right in the oceans they’re traveling on – and that’s all of them. On the same cruise, another 200,000 gallons of, uh, raw sewage ends up in the ocean.

Gentlemen, shut off your engines (you ladies too) ...

By now you’re probably saying, “But I have nothing to do with toxic waste and oil in the ocean and I don’t go on cruises, so I’m not causing these problems.” And you’d be right. But did you know you can poison bodies of water when you drive your car?

The exhaust from a driven car results in acid rain. Acid rain mixes with regular rain, and when those rain clouds head over a body of water, bad things happen. Many fish pay the ultimate price – and that doesn’t mean they end up as dinner on your plate. So save a trip or two in the car each week and see if you can walk or bike to your destination.

... and put your garbage where it belongs

Anything that goes in your garbage at home may – if not properly disposed of – end up in our bodies of water. Plastics in particular – think bags and the rings that go around six-packs of beverages – often look delicious to various forms of marine life (hey, these creatures aren’t Einsteins no matter what shows like Flipper may have suggested). Once ingested, the bags block breathing passages in the animals trying to eat them and that results in death.

The plastic rings often choke the animals in a slow, agonizing death. According to studies, plastic litter causes the deaths of more than 100,000 marine creatures. And make no mistake. What goes around often comes around. Garbage strewn in the ocean often returns to shore to pollute beaches and other various vacation spots.

Water pollution everywhere

You may wonder how car ex haust and improperly disposed of garbage affect water purity in non-coastal regions. Well, besides eating fish contaminated with toxins as mentioned earlier, water pollution is a problem everywhere.

Studies have shown more than 50 percent of groundwater across t he world isn’t f it for drinking due to pollution. W hen groundwater gets polluted, it leads to nasty things like cholera, typhoid and dysentery. Eight million people worldwide die each year from polluted groundwater.

Before you toss that plastic bag, before you start up that car or boat, before you go on that cruise, think of your fine-finned friends. They’ll feel better and you’ll feel better, too.


By Ralph Lee Feature Writer

WATER:

Our seas have become a vast dumping ground

Ocean pollutants do significant damage

As much of the world grows increasingly e a r t h- c on s c iou s, o c e a n p ol lut ion continues to be one of the biggest issues concer n i ng t he env i ron ment. W h i le global warming and the ongoing debate surrounding its effects might garner the most headlines, ocean pollution remains a considerable concern for environmentalists and ocean lovers alike.

Part of the problem is the lack of under-standing as to just what is contributing to ocean pollution. Simply put, nearly ever y t hing we do has a n impact on the ocean, be it posit ive or negative. Oftentimes, we are even contributing to ocean pollution without so much as knowing how or why.

Perhaps nothing has done more harm to the ocean over the years than marine garbage disposal. While laws written to safeguard

the oceans have helped reduce ocean dumping, such laws have not banished the problem entirely. That means garbage is still finding its way into the ocean, threatening wildlife in several ways. Sadly, starvation is a common side effect of marine garbage, a result of plastic bags and even balloons lodging in the digestive systems of whales, making it impossible for the whales to digest their food as they slowly starve to death.

Oxygen starvation is another unfortunate side effect of marine garbage. When marine life gets tangled in discarded fishing nets, marine animals, including dolphins, sharks and whales, become entangled in the nets, slowly and painfully suffocating to death.

To learn more about ocean pol lut ion and what you can do to help, visit the Environmental Protection Agency website at www.epa.gov.

You know how important it is to protect and preserve Mother Earth, and now that you’ve got the recycling of paper under your belt, you’re turning your attention to the recycling of plastic. You’ve read up on the meaning of the numbers on the bottom of plastic and you know which ones your sanitation department will take.

Now all you need to do is make sure you put the appropriate items in the recycle bin, which in turn, will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the landfill, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

While the majority of the plastic collected curbside will get recycled, that doesn’t mean it won’t end up in the landfill at some point. It all depends upon the products the plastic is turned into.

Most recycled plastic is downcycled, that is, it is turned into lower and lower quality products until no longer possible. While some of these products like plastic lumber might stand the test of time and never end up in the landfill, others like textiles will not.

Just because you put plastic into the recycle bin and the sanitation department collects it does not guarantee it will stay out of the landfill, nor does it guarantee a reduction in the use of plastic. In fact, the ability to recycle plastic often leads to an increase in its

usage. When given the choice between paper or plastic products, both of which can be recycled, people will often go with the latter simply because of durability.

Some virgin resin producers capitalize on this notion and promote the recycling of plast ics in order to increase sa les. Never mind the negatives involved in the production of plastic.

In order to make most plastic products, manufacturers must rely upon the use of nonrenewable materials, in particular fossil fuels. With each plastic product made, the earth’s natural resources dwindle. Even the production of plastic from recycled matter requires the use of nonrenewable materials. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t recycle it, however. Although some nonrenewable resources will be used, recycling will get more out of the plastic and keep it out of the landfill a little longer, if not forever.

W hile recycling is a lways a good idea, reduction is key with plastic. Look for products that can be used time and again, such as detergent or shampoo bottles that can be refilled.

Look for products with very little plastic packaging, such as an individual box of tissue rather than three bundled together. When forced to buy products wrapped in

plastic, look for ones with packaging made from recycled matter or that can be recycled. Try to keep your use of plastic minimal, and when possible, support efforts for better legislation regarding the recycling efforts of manufacturers. (Metro)

A few fast facts on plastics in the waste stream

• Without plast ics, the total volume of packaging waste would increase by around 160 percent.

• Because plastics are lightweight, durable and versatile, manufacturers can minimize the material used and the waste generated by using plastic products and packaging.

• Without plastics’ resistance to corrosion, the product life of some major appliances would be reduced by nearly 40 percent. By helping them last longer, plastics keep appliances and other durable goods out of the waste stream.

• You could carry home 1,000 ounces of soda in 2 pounds of plastic packaging, but it would take 27 pounds of glass, 8 pounds of steel and 3 pounds of aluminum to do the same job.

• It takes 4.3 pounds of glass to package one gallon of milk or juice, but less than one-fourth pound of plastic to do the same job.

Some plastics can be recycled. Hundreds of quality products made with or packaged in post-consumer recycled plastic now are commercially available.

• Two soft drink bottles can make a baseball cap, when recycled into polyester fiber.

• Artificial lumber made of recycled plastic is used in sea walls, fence posts and park benches.

• Plastic bags and stretch wrap are finding their way into decking material that is unsurpassed for its durability. It does not decay or crack, resist s da mage from termites and ants and requires no protective sealants.

• Plastic packaging, which makes up less than 6 percent (by weight) of discarded products in the municipal waste stream, can be disposed of safely in landfills.

• When incinerated, plastics – with their high energy content – help the entire mix to burn more efficiently, enhancing waste-to-energy conversion and leaving less ash.

Operation Clean Sweep, an SPI initiative to ensure that spilled resin pellets do not make their way into local waterways or the ocean, is a priority for the plastics industry. The campaign’s goal is to help every plastic resin handling operation implement good housekeeping a nd pel let conta inment practices to work towards achieving zero pellet loss. More than 150 plastics industry companies have taken the OCS pledge and are instituting the program’s guidelines and environmental management principles. For more information about SPI, the plastic trades industr y association, v isit their website at www.plasticsindustry.org.

Until a few years ago, the term used to describe the change in global weather was often referred to as “global warming.” However, global warming is a misnomer, seeing that many of the environmental changes being experienced go beyond just warmer temperatures.

To rectify the situation, modifications in weather patterns and temperature are now classified as “climate change,” a broader term that encompasses many different weather-related phenomena.

Climate change is a long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time. It may be a change in weather conditions or in the frequency of severe weather events. It also takes into consideration increases or decreases in temperature.

Over the past 100 years, the temperature on the Earth has risen by 1 degree. Climate change specialists aren’t exactly sure why this is occurring, but many feel the changes have to do with people and their habits – in addition to naturally occurring events. The greenhouse effect is a major contributor.

The byproducts of life on Earth, such as burning of fossil fuels, generate greenhouse gases. These gases rise into the atmosphere and get trapped. The trapped gases form an insulation of sorts, keeping Earth’s heat from escaping and generating extra warmth.

Greenhouse gases aren’t the only contributors to climate change. There are many other factors. Variations in solar radiation, deviations in the Earth’s orbit, mountain-building and continental drift are other things that can affect the climate.

Other large contributors are behaviors that produce methane gas. Landfills, cattle, and rice paddies generate a large quantity of methane gas. Methane works like carbon dioxide in that it contributes to greenhouse gases.

Changing climate on a global scale can also be a result of other instances of the planet cloud cover, volcanic eruptions and ocean changes.

Although it can take hundreds of years for individual habits to affect the climate, there are things that individuals can do on a daily basis to reduce their impact on the climate.

Reduce reliance on fossil fuels

Using alternative power, such as solar or even nuclear power, can reduce emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases.

Insulate the home

Prevent heat or cooling loss by ensuring the home is well insulated and windows/doors aren’t drafty. This reduces energy use.

Cut down on automobile use

Walk, ride a bike or take public transportation to reduce the number of cars on the roads.

Use local goods

Purchasing items from a local retailer cuts down on the shipping and importing of foreign items, which contributes to fuel consumption.


What is climate change?

There are many factors that contribute to global climate change.

Plastics: The facts, the fiction

Information is availableGreater energy efficiency and new tech-nologies hold promise for reducing green-house gases and solving this global challenge. EPA’s website provides information on climate change for com-munities, individuals, businesses, states, localities and governments. For more ideas and information, visit www.epa.gov.

You have spent many a day raking up pine needles and pine cones, but you wouldn’t

have it any other way. You love your pine trees, despite all of the work they create.

W h i le you gener a l ly set t he pine cones aside to use f o r c o m p o s t i n g o v e r t ime, a f r iend has suggested you take a n a l t e r n a t i v e route this year and turn t hem into kindling for your fireplace. W h e n d r i e d out, pine cones ma ke g reat fire starters. Y o u m a y t r e a t t h e m w it h v a r iou s c h e m i c a l s i n o r d e r t o p r o d u c e various colored f lames. You may use table salt to create yel low f lames, salt substitute to create pu r ple f la mes, a nd a lu m to create green f lames. You may use strontium chloride or boric acid to create red flames.

To treat pine cones, soak them in a half gallon of hot water with a cup of the chosen chemical for eight hours. Remove them using tongs

and let them dry on paper towels for three days. Separate the pine cones by chemical treatment and burn them two to three at a time. Don’t burn any more than that or mix chemical treatments. It could cause a dangerous reaction.

If chemically treating pine cones does not appeal to you, you could create scented pine cone kindling.

To do this, fill a spray bottle with water and 20 drops of

c i n n a mon e s s ent i a l oil. Spray the pine

cones a nd store them in a garbage

bag for 24 hours. Remove t hem and use them

as kindling, b u r n i n g two or three

pi ne c one s a t a t i m e . Put your old pi ne cones

t o g o o d u s e t h is yea r. Tu r n

them into kindling for your fireplace. Fill a few baskets with these treated pine cones and give them to your friends as gifts.

Search online for a device that rolls five sheets of newspaper into a starter log. That is an invest -ment that could pay for itself i n s a v i n g s o n f i r e s t a r t e r s . Additional home recipes for fire starter materials can be found on the blog of forestry.com.

You’ve a lways been concerned about the environment and you do your best to protect it.

You recycle cans and newspapers, car pool when you can and pick up your trash, but with Earth Day approaching, you’d like to do more, especially at home.

While recycling, carpooling and avoiding littering are good steps to take, there are many more things you can do. Some of these include:

• R e d u c e p a p e r w a s t e . B u y e - e d i t i on s u b s c r i pt i on s of newspapers a nd maga z i nes, email whenever possible and pay your bills online. Throw old papers into a box and use the backs for scrap paper.

• Cut down on trash. Donate stuff you don’t use to charity or have a yard sale. Revamp stuff you do use and keep it.

• Recycle ever y t hing possible, i nclud i ng a lu m i nu m, paper, plastic and newspapers. Contact your local recycling center for further information.

• Conser ve water. Start ta k ing shorter showers, turning off the water when you’re brushing your teeth and irrigating the lawn only when necessary.

• Make your home energy efficient. Caulk holes on the exterior and replace weather str ipping on

doors and windows. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient ones and install a programmable thermostat on your furnace that w il l control power use while you’re away.

• Redesign your landscape to make it more environmentally friendly. Add borders and groundcover where you can to reduce mowing t ime, use mulch and organic fertilizers to eliminate the need for pesticides, and instal l an efficient irrigation system.

• Use water-based products rather than solvent-based products. Skip the sealer with a solvent base in favor of one with a water base.

• Take all hazardous materials, like paint and motor oil, to special

disposal sites. Contact your local solid waste division for details.

• Keep you r veh icle ser v iced. Have frequent tune-ups and oil changes and consider purchasing a hybrid for your next vehicle.

• U s e m a n p o w e r w h e n e v e r possible. Pull weeds and rake up leaves the old-fashioned way and leave the weed cutter and the leaf blower in the garage.

These are just 10 of the hundreds of steps you can take to protect the environment. For more ideas, conduct a search online or contact a local environmental agency.

With a little bit of work, you can give the environment a boost and protect it for years to come. Don’t delay it another day.


Tambrands is landfill free.

We are proud to live and work in Maine.

We are working to improve both

our environment and economy.”

“


Environmental overhaul on Earth Day

Learn what you can do to protect the environment and encourage your friends and family to do their part, too.


Pine cones: From compost to kindling

Plant fruit trees right outside your doorFruit trees reduce air pollution, enrich the soil, attract pollinators, and provide shelter for wildlife and shade for you and your family. Fr uit t rees genera l ly fa l l into three categories: dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard.

The smallest of the three, dwarf trees offer many benefits. They are suitable for tight spaces, easy to prune and pick, and quick to produce fruit, usually in three to five years.

Semi-dwarf t rees are medium sized, ra ng ing in height f rom 10 to 16 feet. They require extensive a n nua l pr u n i ng, but produce more fruit than dwarf trees and live longer.

Standard trees are quite large, with some growing 25 to 30 feet high.

Although they take several years to reach maturity and are harder to care for, they produce a ton of fruit fairly quickly.

Fruit trees come in hundreds of varieties, each of which has its own requirements. Apple trees, for exa mple, do best in a reas with fairly dr y soil and lots of light. Find the ones most suitable for your area and ask about their pollinating requirements.

For fruit much of the year, consider planting a number of varieties that bloom at different times. When looking for trees, take note of the size and any other features that might appeal to you, like f lowers, leaves and scents.

Keep in mind that the smaller the tree is, the less space it will require

and the easier overall it will be to manage. Look for trees with strong, straight stems, one clear, identifiable leader and high, well-balanced branches.

When planting a tree, dig a hole about 18 inches deep and loosen the soil around it with a pitchfork. Place some compost in the bottom of the hole. Set the root ball on top of the mound, spread the roots out evenly and fill the hole with soil, being careful to keep the tree as straight as possible. Add a few more inches of soil around the tree and water it thoroughly. The soil will compress when moist. Sta ke t he tree to ensure it grows straight.

Just think. With the proper care, your fruit trees will f lourish and you will have plenty of fruit to eat throughout much of the year.

The most polluted places are not necessarily those that produce the most carbon emissions. The top five carbon polluters include: China, the United States, European Union, India, and Russia. Rather, these polluted areas are those that have high levels of toxic contaminants in the ground, water and air. Here are the top five polluted places on Earth (data was accumulated prior to the natural disasters that struck Japan in early 2011).

1. Chernobyl, Ukraine

2. Dzerzhinsk, Russia

3. Haina, Dominican Republic

4. Kabwe, Zambia

5. La Oroya, Peru

Maine is a beautiful state with outdoor recreat ion and travel oppor t u n it ies for ecotou r ists in ever y reg ion. Hi k ing, bird w atch i ng , a nd k ay a k i ng a re all examples of ecotourist activities t hat attract v isitors to Ma ine every year.

Tourists enjoy v isit ing remote pl ac e s b e c au s e t he y a r e s o untouched, and to keep areas like these in pristine condition, t he movement of ecotou r ism ha s evolved. Tr ips center i ng on ecotourism are designed to minimize impact on the host area.

Some ecotourism organizations are better than others, so if you are going this route, you need to do your homework and f ind out which organizations are solid. This will ensure you put valuable dollars into the local economy and make minimal impact on the environment.

After you have selected a good organization and planned your tr ip it inerar y, you need to do your part to be a well-informed ecotourist. You should research the culture and customs of the area beforehand and bring the right clothing.

Once at your destination, you should respect residents and their customs. Dress as they do, follow their etiquette and observe their customs. Don’t take pictures of residents without their permission.

Watch your use of resources while in the area. Chances are they will be in limited supply, so use only what is absolutely neces-sary. Stay at smaller inns when given the choice because they w i l l use fewer resources than larger establishments.

Drink and eat only what you need. Conserve energy where possible. Don’t hunt or harvest endangered animals or plants, or allow anyone in your group to do so.

Be careful when camping. Use designated sites and follow the same principles as you do when camping at home. Bring clean clothing and gear, which are free of invasive organisms that could affect the environment Stay on ma rked t ra i ls, watch w i ld l i fe from afar and dispose of human waste properly.

Finally, leave the site as you found it. Pack out everything you brought in and remove any litter you come across from other parties. While v isit ing the area, do your best to support the local economy. This is one of the main purposes of ecotourism, so give back when you can.

Take local transportation, hire local guides and use local inns, restaurants and markets. This will put money back into the economy a nd pr e v ent r e s ident s f r om taking up destructive practices to make their living. Finally, do not contribute to any destructive practices you see, l ike buy ing products made from endangered animals and plants.

Being a good ecotour ist isn’t d i f f ic u lt . It ju st t a kes some preparation and di l igence. Do your best to keep the area you visit pristine and make as little impact on it as possible. For more information about ecotourism in Maine, visit www.maine.gov.


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By Tresa EricksonFeature Writer

TRAVEL:

Be a good ecotourist

Some of the most pristine places on earth are the least industrialized and the most visited.

Most polluted U.S. cities

The United States is not immune to heavily polluted cities. Here’s a list of the top 10 cities polluted by long-term particle pollution, according to a report, “State of the Air 2010.”

1. Phoenix, AZ

2. Bakersfield, CA

3. Los Angeles, CA

4. Visalia, CA

5. Pittsburgh, PA

6. Fresno, CA

7. Birmingham, AL

8. Hanford, CA

9. Cincinnati, OH

10. St. Louis, MO

Worldwide pollution

Tell EPA: Close toxic air pollution loophole from coal-fired power plants

The cleanup of toxic air pollution from power plants is long overdue. The nation's coal-fired power plants emit 386,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants each year leading to a range of adverse health effects, including premature death.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc y is cu r rent ly accept ing comments on new standards that will clean up this toxic power plant air pollution. The American Lung Association report Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants documents the range of hazardous air pollutants emitted from power plants and the urgent

need to clean them up. Arsenic, lead, for ma ldehyde, hyd rogen chloride, mercur y, and diox ins are just some of the 84 toxics coming out of these plants.

The EPA should close the “toxic loophole” that has allowed coal burning power plants to operate without any federal limits on emissions of these dangerous pollutants. The new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for Power Plants that the EPA has proposed are based on the pollution reductions already achieved by the cleanest and best-performing power plants and facilities in the country, making the standards achievable and realistic.

W hen the proposal is f inalized, these standards for cleanup will save lives, protect the health of millions of Americans and finally bring about an action that is 20 years overdue. Send in your comments today at www.lungusa.org.


TD Bank, N.A. | ‘USGBC®’ and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council® and is used with permission.

Green is in our Nature.

TD Bank is committed to environmental responsibility.

TD Bank is the largest US-based bank to go carbon neutral and the first company to have a North American, closed-loop recycling system which diverts 1,500 metric tons of paper from landfills to the production of recycled paper. In addition, we purchase renewable energy credits for 100 percent of the electricity used by our operations from Maine to Florida.

TD Bank is committed to building environmentally-friendly buildings, and this year, we are building the first “net-zero energy” bank location in the US in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. To learn more about these and our other green initiatives, visit www.tdbank.com/green.

Earth Day 2011

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Transcript of Earth Day 2011