Changing the world begins with one person.  That person is me.  That person is you.  That person is each and everyone of us.  We all make a difference.  As we become more mindful, we learn to go where we need to be and do what we need to do without harming anyone or anything (ahimsa).

The time has now come for us to be generous and to do our little bit for our ailing planet so that she may heal its wounds.  We are so many and we all live in the same home.  Let us learn to love, protect and care for it properly, for it is the only home that we will ever have.

We are not helpless; and if we want to, there is a lot that we can do. Many individuals, groups, organizations and communities are already seriously committed to changing the world.  It should be a moral and ethical duty for each and every one of us to be caretakers of God’s creation in every possible way and to develop a “greener” vision of the world for the children of the future.  Compassion and action walk hand in hand.  So let us be “practicing the good heart” (Lama Zopa Rinpoche) so that happiness may
flow in our lives and into that of others.

Each month, in this section, we will suggest simple ways to change our lifestyle to sustain a healthy planet.  It is our hope that you will find them helpful too.

• Eat Kindly

Join many others in celebrating World Vegan Day on November 1, 2006. 
http://www.worldveganday.org.uk/

• Degradable and Biodegradable Technologies

(use products that will help sustain a healthy planet)
Plastic waste is very harmful to the environment and very expensive to dispose of. Plastic waste (bags and food cartons) often ends up in landfill sites or in street litter bins. Burning of plastic waste releases toxic gases into the atmosphere. One solution to the problem is to use biodegradable packaging that breaks down naturally and is eco-friendly.  Together with recycling as a means of disposal, this can help reduce the millions of tonnes of plastic waste that pile up every year. RPC Bebo UK ,Bristol is the latest to launch such packaging in Europe. The company has produced its packaging from biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), a corn-based polymer. 

http://www.packtalk.com/news/rpp/rpp156.html
http://www.biobags.co.uk/
http://www.degradable.net/
http://www.co-op.co.uk/

• Reuse versus Recycle

Reuse – the goods are used again (clothes, household items, books, etc.)
Recycling – the goods are transformed into something new.  Visit the following website to find out how paper cups are made into pencils. http://www.remarkable.co.uk/

Reusing rather than recycling saves landfill space, saves energy, provides job and training opportunities, and generates income for charities and good causes.  Reused items are very useful for many members of the community (schools, groups, individuals, etc.).

“Freecycling” means to give away an item instead of throwing it away.  This way we are not adding to the problems of overflowing landfills. http://www.freecycle.org/

“rag-and-bone” is the modern, economical and effortless way to give a new home to unwanted, but still usable, large household items. Everything listed here is free-of-charge when you collect it. www.rag-and-bones.co.uk

• Recycling Old Yoga Mats

Give a new lease of life to your old yoga mat by donating it to a local animal home/shelter for use as animal bedding.

Support National Tree Planting Week:

Trees are the lungs of our planet.  Visit this website http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/to find out about forthcoming events, walks, songs, storytelling and tree dressing which will mark the start of the tree planting season.

Switch to Renewable Energy
The type of energy you choose has an enormous impact on the environment. http://www.nef.org.uk