MNN - Mother Nature Network

Lose 10 pounds. Stop swearing. Quit smoking. These classic new year's resolutions are all well and good, but we were curious to find out what some of our favorite greenies are pledging to do for the environment this year. We ask, "What's your eco new year's resolution?"

 

"While my professional goal is to double the number of LEED-rated green schools that will be built [in 2007], on a personal note, I plan to get every member of my extended family to switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. There must be thousands of lightbulbs among us, and together we will reduce energy use, carbon generation and our electric bills."

 

"Enough with changing lightbulbs, important as that is. My new year's resolution is to try, as best I can, to help build the political movement that we need if we're going to get anything done about global warming in this country. This is a movement that demands that Congress take uncompromising and tough steps to slash our carbon emissions now."

 

"I resolve to promote organic food and alternative fuels so that they are as commonplace as the pot and biodiesel are on Willie Nelson's bus!"

 

"In 2007, I'm going to spend more time in nature, meditating on the relationship of humanity to nature as it's now being studied by scientists. That is, according to scientists, we and planet Earth are part of a 'coupled human-environment system.' We don't just live on the Earth. We're of the Earth. In some ways, we are the Earth. So, clearly, the actions we take affect the animal, vegetable and mineral world around us ... which in turn affect us right back. This is a big part of what we at Earth & Sky call the 'human world.'"

 

"Stop celebrating November 7, 2006 and do whatever I can to continue the momentum on November 4, 2008."

 

"I pledge to become an educated consumer. Because everything we buy and use has an environmental impact through its manufacture, its use, and how it's disposed of, it is essential that we all become conscious consumers." To educate yourself, click here.

 

"I rededicate myself to eating something wild every day, avoiding foods with disposable packaging, and spending time with my hands and feet in the soil growing more of the food I eat."

 

"Cutting the amount of driving that I have to do in half by walking my kids to school."

 

This article originally appeared in Plenty in January 2007. The story was added to MNN.com in December 2009.

 

Copyright Environ Press 2007