R-E-C-Y-C-L-E : Recycle

Chances are if you own a television, radio, computer, read newspapers or have access to any type of technology capable of linking you to the outside world than you’ve heard the term “going green”. Maybe you recycle, maybe you pollute, maybe you’ve never heard about environmentalism or reducing your carbon footprint - and if you say yes to that last part I think maybe you’re a liar – but the truth is that environmentalism is one of the fastest growing and most popular social movements in today’s world.

Now, I’m not a hardcore environmentalist (actually, I hardly ever recycle) but I have to admire anyone’s effort to improve our planet. After all, leading an environmentally friendly life is costly, from buying organic foods, clothing, energy efficient cars etc. and generally inconvenient – these companies will tell you all about that.

From my perspective the way we look at environmental conservation today has changed drastically now that we have so many new technologies. Growing up everyone always tapped their foot and said, “save some for the fishes” to the water hog at the fountain. Today it’s a little different. We tell people to buy reusable bottles and recyclable products. We tell them to vote for environmentally active politicians. Our generation is involved in green projects across the globe, we care about conserving our planet’s natural resources, finding new energy sources and bringing basic human needs to third world populations. Environmental activism is endorsed by celebrities, political figures, radicals and everyday young people like ourselves.

So, why is going green so popular? MTV has launched its new Switch campaign “MTV Networks International's Global Climate Change Campaign. [Where they look] for the best ideas and innovations that can help reinvent how we live in ways that are cool for us and the planet” and colleges across the country are competing to be among the top green campuses. I think that our generation is particularly concerned with going green because we want a safe and secure future and preserving our environment is one step along the path to that future. Also, helping to save our environment is something that we can have a direct hand in right now. Many of us aren’t old enough yet to have considerable influence in the political arena and raising awareness through other outlets – particularly new technologies like social networks – comes natural to us “digital natives”. We’re able to utilize modes of communication that we’re familiar with to generate awareness among our age group like never before.

Just by doing a quick Google search you can find droves of eco-friendly places in the Tallahassee area. The Double Tree Hotel has a 2 Green Eco-Leaf rating (out of five leaves – a good start), New Leaf Market provides organic and natural products and foods to its shoppers, and Red Eye Coffee, which carries only fair trade coffee, are just a few.

Here’s a few simple ways to “go green” – 29 to be exact.

http://www.squidoo.com/agreenlife