How Green are you?

The answer I can give to this question is: I used to be quite green, but not anymore.

It's not that I don't care about such an important thing as looking after the planet, but it's just that I don't find the time in my busy agenda.

Certainly, I could do much better in this area of my life, because whatever you need to know about saving the planet is available in the net, television, magazines, newspapers, etc. So, it's not a matter of lack of information, if you decide to start getting conscious about this important issue right now, you will just need a click to get a lot of tips to save the planet. It's that easy.


When I was a university student I used to recycle. I had different bins for different kinds of garbage. Every Wednesday morning, around 10, the recycling truck visited my neighborhood and I waited for it with the garbage I had collected during the week. Sometimes I woke up late and missed the truck, so I had to wait until the following week. It was terrible, because I didn't have enough space in my small apartment for 2 weeks' garbage, but I was so green that I happily coped with it.

About transportation, I always try to use my legs if I can, but in general, I use transantiago to go to work.
I don't have a bike, but if I had one, I don't think I would use it as a means of transport, because I would sweat a lot. I have to go to different places on the same day for my classes and sometimes the distances between one place and the other are too long. It wouldn't be nice to start a new class sweating as if I had just come from the gym.

I have never thought about joining an eco-organization, the topic of the environment is important for me but not that much. My time is reduced and I prefer to devote my free time to other activities like my band or going to the gym.

The only thing I do related to organizations is support the cause of "Red por la Defensa de la Precordillera". This is an organization that defends "El Panul", an endangered forest in La Florida. (If you want more information visit the official link http://redprecordillera.cl/wp/). I help this organization by promoting its cause whenever I can, facebook diffusion, going on "caminatas al Panul", etc

You can also have a look at this article in "El Ciudadano" about why this forest is considered endangered.
http://www.elciudadano.cl/2011/12/22/45884/proyecto-inmobiliario-amenaza-el-ultimo-bosque-nativo-de-santiago/

As I said before, useful information for this noble cause is available for everybody in the net and in the media. However, this is only at an individual level, and that is the problem. Looking after the planet should be part of the government's agenda.

For example, the State should be aware of the importance of saving natural resources, protecting the environment and other things such as recycling. National information campaigns are a good idea, just like the ones the government normally launches with issues related to prevention in public health. Representatives should also legislate in a more environmentally friendly way.

Writing this post about being green, I have come to the conclusion that I would love to do something for the planet again. It's the government's duty, but it's also a personal challenge.
Continuing recycling would be a good starting point for me, like I did in the past.

I guess I will add "doing something for the planet: start recycling" to my new year's resolutions list, why not?




Now, my dear students it's your time to tell me how green you are. Include the following points in your post:

- Where do people learn about enviromentally friendly practices?
- Have you incorported recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?

Number of words: 250 - 280
Don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.