Environmental Awareness

We endeavour to reduce the overall impact on our environment through education by promoting conscious awareness of sustainable production and consumption of goods.

When speaking with our students, one tool that has been especially useful is the short video called "The Story of Stuff". This video seems to hit home with the grade-school level and, by using simple, straightforward language, discusses the underside of our production and consumption patterns, and calls us together to create a more sustainable world. (see also "The Story of Stuff" on our "Links/Web Site Resources" page)

Annie Leonard has done it again!  While Climate Talks in Copenhagen debate 350 ppm, (visit 350.org) carbon emissions from the Alberta Tar Sands, ecological debt and "1.5 to Survive", Annie speaks about the pros and cons of the proposed "Cap and Trade" legislation in a her frank, no-nonsense manner.  There is much discussion about her new video, so check it out:  "The Story of Cap and Trade". 

Additionally, You Tube is full of videos about this new legislation.  Check some out

Another web site that helps underscore the severity of overuse of natural resources is the Global Footprint Network. From their web site:

 "Humanity now requires the equivalent of 1.4 planets to support our lifestyles. The result is that our supply of natural resources -- like trees and fish -- continues to shrink, while our waste, primarily carbon dioxide, accumulates."

Similar to the IRS calculating "Tax Freedom Day", the Global Footprint Network calculates our Ecological Debt Day, or more commonly called "Earth Overshoot Day", thus establishing a worrisome milestone each year: the approximate day humanity will have used all the resources nature will generate in a given year. In 2008, September 23 was pinpointed as the Overshoot day. For  2009, September 25 is calculated as the day when humanity begins living beyond its ecological means.  Check out the link to the right for additional information.

Recently, Willow Moon Herbals has partnered with Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Council and several local businesses to collect used toner cartridges, ink jet cartridges and cell phones. In a very short time, we have collected 100+ items and recycled them with The Funding Factory Recycling Program - thereby reducing the toxic impact to our landfills. You can watch our progress with this new endeavour on the dynamic tiles on the right-hand panel of our web site.

We are also working with local Environmental Committees to establish continuing environmental awareness programs in our community ~ and will post more information about these projects shortly.