Reduce Reuse Recycle

January 10, 2011 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

When it comes to helping the Australian environment, the good news is that there is a simple and easy way that you can help. Following the reduce, reuse, and recycle pattern, you can effectively help make Australia a better place for generations to come.

While these three words are simple to read and say, when it comes to following them it’s usually another story entirely for most Aussies. Because of that, here is a way to make sure that these three words become more than just words.

Why a Greener Australia?

Before we get to the ways we can make Australia better when it comes to the environment, we first need to look at why this is important. Without biological diversity, all of Australia becomes less useful. Problems with salinisation may become a problem. Also, loss of farmable land for other reasons is possible as well. As the world becomes more populated, it is crucial that Australia maintains the ability to feed Aussies as well as a percentage of the world’s population elsewhere.

What is the Easiest Method?

Now that you can see why a green Australia is so important, we can take a quick look at the ways we can achieve this.

Reduce – The first and most important step we can all take as Aussies is to reduce the amount of materials we consume and throw away on a daily basis.
Reuse – To help reduce what is thrown away, try to reuse as much as possible. Shy away from materials that aren’t reused in some way.
Recycle – Along with reusing things, it is important to recycle as much as possible. This is a personal decision that everyone must make – that recycling is important and will be done on a weekly basis.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for Australia’s Future

This may sound like it is too simple to work, but that is part of the brilliance of the plan to make Australia a greener place. It is simple, but if enough of us work together and do our part, Australia has a good chance of repairing some of the damage we have done to the environment over the last few hundred years. This may not be important to you now, but if you value Australia for future generations, reduce, reuse, recycle should be a way of life for you. Not only that, you should be spreading word about this system to everyone you know, letting them in on why it’s so important for everyone in Australia.

How do you reduce, reuse, and recycle?

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, recycle, reduce, reuse

Land degradation in Australia

September 13, 2010 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

If you are one of the few remaining Aussies who think the whole “environmental thing” is blown out of proportion, you need to listen up. Land degradation is a serious issue facing people all over Australia. You may not be able to control all of the causes of land degradation in Australia, but you can surely see the effects. Once you do, you will be scrambling to join the rest of us who are desperately looking for a solution.

Causes of Land Degradation in Australia

This is the most simple part of land degradation issues in Australia. From clear cutting to farming the land incorrectly over the years robbing the soil of nutrients there are many things happening outside the cities of Australia that are having an effect on the rest of the island. Corporate cattle farms that practice over-grazing are another serious cause of damage to the land in our country. There are other causes as well, but this is enough to give you an idea of how bad the problem really is.

Effects of Land Degradation in Australia

To see the effects of land degradation in our great country, you only have to look around. Soil erosion is quickly becoming a problem all over. Soil salinisation is also creeping up here and there in Australia, making our land infertile. Other soil problems can crop up as well. And once we lose our native food supply, we are really going to start to be in trouble in this country. Hopefully people will begin to realise this before the effects become even worse and more noticeable.

Solutions for Land Degradation in Australia

Once you step back and look at the big picture, you can see the cause and effect relationship of how we have been doing things in this country over the last hundred or so years. The hardest part of dealing with land degradation in Australia is going to be coming up with a solution. Stopping all of our industry isn’t an option at this time, so other methods will need to be put into place to ensure that our great land stays great well into this next century. Erosion control measures must be put into place around the country to stop the damage before it is too late. Also, steps need to be put into place to stop soil salinisation from spreading to irrigated farmland in Australia.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, land degradation, salinisation

100 Ways to a Sustainable Table

August 27, 2010 by Andrea Leave a Comment

Massage Therapy Schools has an interesting new blog post about how to go greener in the kitchen: 100 Ways You Can Have a More Sustainable Table.

Here are some of my favourites from that list:

Choose local
Go organic
Eat less meat
Eat seasonal foods
Plant a garden
Clean with non-toxic materials
Check out farmers markets
Bring your own bags
Look for heirloom varieties
Use fewer paper towels (I suck at this!)
Start a compost pile

What do you think about their list? Can following their ideas make a difference?

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, sustainable

Living Greener

August 16, 2010 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

When it comes to the environment and living green to protect it, Australia may not have been in the forefront of nations helping solve environmental problems. That said, as the 21st century continues, more and more Aussies are experiencing a "greening" of the mind and soul. This is resulting in a widespread movement to make Australia a safer and more beautiful place to live.

Be Informed about Australian Environmental Problems

Just as any other place on the planet, Australia is facing many environmental problems. Unlike other areas of the planet, Australia has one force that can help – the Aussie people. While we may not have been too interested in "living green" in the past, doing so is becoming more and more important. The first thing you should do if you want Australia to continue to be wonderful is to educate yourself about the problems facing our country. Learning about the environmental problems isn’t enough, however.

Take Action about the Environment

After finding out what is happening to the Australian environment, it is time to take action and do something to help protect it. Here are just a few things you can do to live greener in Australia.

Reduce – The first step is using less. If you have a smaller "carbon footprint" you have less of a negative impact on the planet.
Reuse – Instead of using disposable items, work things into your life that can be reused. Grocery bags for example.
Recycle – If you must use some items, make sure they are recyclable and that you take the steps necessary for them to be recycled.

These three simple steps are just the beginning. Once you have mastered these on your own, it is time to take your message aboard.

Helping Others Live Green

When it comes to Australia, we are known as a people who are independent and yet at the same time, we like to help each other. Perhaps this is because of where our country is situated in the world – isolated as it is – but whatever the reason, when it comes to living green this needs to be true. Aussies need to learn to help teach others in our country how to live green. There’s a good way and a bad way to do this. Luckily, you’ll find the right balance and be able to positively spread the message about living greener for the benefit of Australia and the planet as a whole.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, green, living green

Sustainable Agriculture

July 19, 2010 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

If Australians are interested in being able to feed the population, looking into sustainable forms of agriculture in Australia is going to become more and more important. While it is relatively simple in the modern world to farm almost anywhere on the planet, if care isn’t given when setting up agriculture – especially in a place like Australia – you can begin to have big problems. Before you know it, the land may be unable to provide even the basic foods needed by the people.

Sustainability of Agriculture in the Past

One only needs to look around the world to see civilizations that flourished then dissipated when the land was “used up” or over farmed over many years. Soil, if not taken care of correctly, can lose its nutrients and become unusable for crops. When this happens, people have had to pack up and move on to another spot. Over the years, a little became known about the problem and people tried not to overwork the land. Gradually, however, after the Industrial Age, more and more people forgot how important it is to take care of the land they farmed. For this reason, sustainable agriculture is once again becoming a big issue all over the world as well as in Australia.

Sustainable Agriculture in the Future

When thinking about sustainable agriculture in Australia in the future, you must remember that our country also produces food for millions people in other parts of the world. If agriculture in Australia is not sustainable, we not only have problems at home, we also let down people all over the world who depend on our food supply. This is just one of the reasons it is becoming more and more important for the government of Australia and the farmers as well.

Problems for Sustainable Agriculture in Australia

When it comes to making agriculture sustainable in Australia, there are some major areas that need work.

Loss of Biodiversity – The lack of a biologically diversity in Australia will become a bigger and bigger problem if not kept in check.
Dry land Salinity – The addition of too much salt to the soil can make it unusable. This is becoming a large problem in Australia.
Pets and Weeds – People bringing in plants and animals from other places in the world can disrupt the balance in Australia.

These are just a few of the problems that are facing Australia today.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, sustainable

Land salinisation | Australia’s #1 environmental problem?

June 14, 2010 by Guest Author 2 Comments

Say what you will about salt when you’re talking about food, but when it comes to the land, salinisation is quickly becoming a problem in Australia. Some would go as far as to say that it is the number one issue in Australia, at least where the environment is concerned. If you talk to Australian farmers very often, you know the term dry land salinity is one that is hated. The reality of it is taken seriously, however. In fact, the "white death" is something that keeps some farmers awake at night.

What is Soil Salinisation?

While you may not have heard this phrase before if you’re not a farmer or somehow else connected to the land, as we roll into the 21st century, it is something that may come up more often. Basically, it refers to high levels of salt in the land. There are two main types studied – dry land salinity (which occurs on land that isn’t used for farming) and irrigated land salinity which is. Australia is known for having salt in the earth, but usually it’s deep down in pockets that don’t effect plant growth. With the ecosystem changing, the salt is becoming a problem in more and more areas around Australia.

What Can be Done About Irrigated Land Salinity?

The number one thing being done currently is the monitoring of salt levels in the soil all over Australia. While this can help with taking action occasionally, sometimes because of the rapid misuse of the environment, soil salinisation spreads quickly before anything can be done about it. When that happens, Australia loses more farm land. Even in the modern world, as isolated as Australia is, it is important that we have our own stable source of food. Planting trees and watching out for soil erosion is one of the best ways to make sure soil salinisation doesn’t become too big of a problem in Australia.

Is the White Death a Problem in Australia?

Calling soil salinisation the "white death" may be over stating matters if you talk to some people, but this might be people you find in the cities. If you travel to the countryside in Australia, you will find that irrigated land salinity is a serious problem that is taken seriously by farmers all over. It’s not too late to make sure this does not become the number one environmental problem in Australia in the 21st century.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, land salinity, salinisation

Toxic Algal Blooms

May 17, 2010 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

When it comes to the rivers in Australia, toxic algal bloom is becoming a widespread problem. If something isn’t done soon, the entire landscape of Australia could change (in a negative way), affecting generations to come. For this reason, it is crucial for all Australians to do something about the problem. Before that can happen, however, you need to know a little more about algal blooms.

What is a toxic algal bloom?

Cyanobacteria – better known as blue-green algae – appears naturally in fresh water. The problems come when conditions are correct to let them "bloom" – growing at accelerated rates which cause them to quickly become a problem. As the cells die, they consume oxygen, making it difficult if not impossible for other forms of life to live in the water. As you might imagine, this can be a huge problem for the fresh water rivers in Australia.

Marine algal blooms – These are algal blooms that appear in saltwater.
Freshwater algal blooms – As the name implies, these outbreaks of algae occur in freshwater lakes and rivers throughout Australia.

What Causes a Toxic Algal Bloom?

There are a few basic things to consider when talking about the problems of algal blooms and how they form. The conditions have to be right, but unfortunately more and more, the way Australia takes care of the environment (or doesn’t) is making these conditions common.

Phosphorus and Nitrogen – Run-off from parks and gardens, household detergents as well as from factories and sewerage add these nutrients to waterways.
Muddy Water – The turbidity or muddiness of water plays a large role in algal bloom becoming a problem.
Lots of Light – Without protection from other plants, direct sunlight on the water plays a part in algae being produced.
Warmth – In addition to light and muddy water, the other thing needed is warmth, which is becoming more and more of a problem across Australia.

Help With Toxic Algal Blooms in Australia

If you are thinking about how you can help – good. There are many things being done to help the problem of toxic algal blooms in Australia. For one, you can reduce or eliminate the fertilisers you use in the garden. Secondly, reduce your use of cleaning products and detergents which include harmful ingredients. Thirdly, encourage your local council or MP about reducing run-off. What else do you think can be done to reduce this problem?

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: algal bloom, Environment, toxic

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

April 17, 2010 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

In Australia and all over the rest of the world, 2010 is the year of international biodiversity as set forth by the United Nations. The goal is to get more people – including us Aussies – into caring and actually doing something about the environment. For too many years (even in the first decade of the 21st century) mankind has turned a blind eye to the natural world, forgetting perhaps how important a role the planet plays in our survival as a species. In Australia – as the rest of the world over – there will be many events planned for 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity.

Why 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity?

While the planet may have benefited from this being employed sooner, 2010 is the start of a new decade and is a new chance for Australians to take control of our environment in a beneficial instead of negative way. Unlike many other species, human beings have the ability to step back and take proactive steps to help save the environment before it is too late. Humans are responsible for the accelerated loss of diversity on the planet, so it is up to us to help stop and even repair the damage already done. The time to act is now.

How can you help?

There are many things you can do to help the environment during the International Year of Biodiversity.

Learn – The first step is to find out more information about the problem and what you can do to help fix the environment.
Speak – Next, it is time to speak out and share the wealth of knowledge you have gained. Talking to normal people and politicians is helpful to spread the word.
Act – The next thing you should do is take action. There are many things you can do no matter where in Australia you live or what you do for a living.

Biodiversity is important to Australia

Why should you get involved? Biodiversity is vital to the Aussie way of life. While we are separated from the rest of the planet by oceans, the unique biodiversity that Australia now has is in peril. The time to act is now. As 2010 continues, see what you can do to take part in the International Year of Biodiversity. You won’t be disappointed.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: biodiversity, Environment

Cleaner Production in Australia

April 14, 2010 by Guest Author 1 Comment

When it comes to the environment, Australia may not have been very conscious of the long term effects of urbanisation, but more and more, it’s becoming evident that the ecosystem is of vital importance for the Australian way of life. While there isn’t too much that can be done about pollution that has already gone into the air and harmed the planet, there is something that can (and should) be done about slowing down the release of toxins into the air above our island.

How Did We Get Here?

Make no mistake about it. The people of Australia know how to make a dollar and build a business. The problem is that over the years, as the Industrial Age fell into full gear, profit and greed overcame common sense when it came to the environment. Why worry about future ecological problems when there is profit to be had today was the motto for too many years in Australia. As a result, the land is crying out for change. The skies and the very air we breathe is not as healthy as it once was. And for what? Because people think that they must pollute to keep costs low and profits high?

Is Green Profit Possible?

While the profits may not be as high by those companies that utilise green technologies and methods, there is a very good chance that they will outlast companies that don’t employ such methods. In Australia and all over the world, people are standing up and saying enough is enough. The time for cleaner production is now. Some companies are listening and as a result, they’re not only polluting less, they’re gaining the support of consumers all over Australia. Making a profit while being nice to the environment isn’t an impossibility.

Why Australia Needs Cleaner Production

Engineering a cleaner environment in Australia is crucial for many reasons. From protecting the air we breathe and the food we eat to just being responsible citizens of the planet Earth, doing the right thing and cleaning up production waste in Australia should be on the top of everyone’s to do list. Change isn’t going to happen overnight, but if we all pitch-in and work together, we can show the world the Aussie spirit at work as we clean up the continent we call home. If Australia wants to thrive in the 21st century, cleaner production is a necessity.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Environment, production

Earth Hour 2010

April 12, 2010 by Andrea Leave a Comment

Earth Hour 2010 has been and gone. I must admit, I was on holiday at the time and completely forgot about it so didn’t participate. However, I like to think I do my best to reduce my energy consumption on a day to day basis as well as making an effort to be as eco friendly as possible. I’m by no means perfect, but I do what I can.

So what about you? Did you participate in Earth Hour? Do you think it’s a waste of time as some other bloggers seem to think?

This Saturday marks the annual Earth Hour event, a largely meaningless piece of slacktivism where people pretend that one hour of environmental posing by switching off lights is more important than long-term behavioural change. Ignore the candle crusade and do something over the weekend that will have a more permanent environmental impact.

I don’t agree with what Angus at LIfehacker had to say. To me, Earth Hour is about getting people to think about how their actions affect the environment and how if we all make little changes, we can see improvements on a global level. What do you think?

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: eco friendly, Environment