Youth Venture

Whether your Venture is focused on literacy, homelessness, Darfur, or volunteerism, taking steps to ensure your work is not harming the environment is one more way you can ensure a healthy planet for years to come. Simple steps make a big difference when it comes to being a steward of the environment. Keep these simple examples in mind as you and your team work on your Venture:

Reduce, reuse, and recycle:

Following the “3 Rs” cuts down on waste and production emissions, as well as helps us all simplify our lives. Emailing out your agendas instead of printing them reduces the resources used for paper production. Reusing theater sets helps save construction materials from landfills or incinerators. Recycling your plastic, aluminum, paper and other materials also cuts down on the drain on our environment.

Walk, bike, take public transportation, or carpool:

Cutting down on drive time also cuts carbon dioxide emissions, which have been linked to asthma, lung cancer, and global warming. Besides, walking and biking are great ways to stay in shape—and taking public transportation or carpooling are fun ways to pass the time quickly with friends as you travel.

Serve locally grown, organic food:

Foods grown locally haven’t been shipped across the country in trucks or trains that can give off harmful emissions. Organic foods protect farm workers from dangerous pesticides and chemicals. Taking a field trip to the local farmer’s market can also be a great team builder.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

For more tips on how to integrate support of the environment into your Venture, check out these websites:

• http://www.myfootprint.org/
• www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/
• www.energyaction.net/main/index.php
• http://truecosttour.org
• www.treehugger.com/
• www.earth911.org
• www.reduce.org
• www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
• www.enviroliteracy.org
• www.iisd.org
• www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/
• www.un.org/esa/sustdev/
• http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ResourceCenterTool...

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