Nature isn't just out there in some park or zoo. The environment of planet Earth is our life support system, often referred to as Spaceship Earth. The living organisms of planet Earth provide our air, food, and water just like a spaceship does. Ecologists have discovered that life on earth is organized into a WEB. Each species relies on all of the others, including us. Even the ones that we don't like, such as mosquitos and vultures, have their place. When we pollute the water, cause extinctions, etc., we damage or destroy sections of the web, and that will eventually cause our life support system --planet Earth's ecosystem--to fall apart. You could also compare it to a game of pick-up-sticks. The first few sticks you remove may only cause a little damage. Then you remove one too many, and it all comes tumbling down. You just never know which stick will do it. We all need to learn about Ecology and become environmentalists. Saving endangered animals is a good deed, but this is also about saving ourselves.

(See Environmental Philosophy, Environmental Health, and the science of Ecology for more information.)

The environmental movement has done a very good job of drawing attention to environmental problems, but we need to focus more on the solutions if we really want to change things. Warnings about the serious environmental dangers to planet Earth scare you, but often don't include information about what you can do about it. Yet, there are many ways you can make a difference. You can, and should, join at least some of the environmental groups listed above, and you can make your voice heard at the ballot box. (See the politics section.) Both of these are very important, but there are other ways--just as important--that you can make your voice heard every day, and that is what the Green Living section is about.

Every decision is like a vote, and every day you make decisions. You can vote with your feet--by taking actions that help the environment. You can also vote with your wallet at the cash register. What you buy/do is as important as what you don't.

Unfortunately, people often hesitate to make good environmental choices because they think it will take too much time, cost too much money, or mean giving up things they like--one television ad even compares it to giving up chocolate! These are myths. Or, in other words, you can still have your chocolate if you buy the organic kind. And take my word for it--it tastes much better!

A more environmentally friendly life is actually a better, happier life. (For more information, see the essay on this website's main page.) It can even be cheaper if you make informed choices. (Also see the Money page.) Remember the 80/20 rule. You get 80% of the benefit from the first 20% of effort.

The links and books below will help you find environmentally friendly products, get the best value from them, and pick your priorities. Together, we the people of planet earth have enormous power. We just need to learn how to use it.

Conventional farming techniques are a major problem. They destroy topsoil, and the pesticides used are dangerous to humans, as well as other animals. Meanwhile, pesticides won't work for long on the pests they are supposed to kill. This is because there are always a few who are resistant and survive spraying. Pest species are pests because they reproduce quickly--quicker than the predator species that keep them in check--so the survivors go on to spawn new generations that are increasingly more resistant, and even eventually immune to the poisons, and can do even more damage because there are fewer predators around to eliminate them as well. Pesticide manufacturers respond by making newer, stronger pesticides, but the bugs become immune again, getting stronger and stronger each time. Before long humans won't be able to farm this way anymore, anyway. (Did you know that all farming was organic before World War II? There were no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.) That's why the changeover to organic food, produced sustainably without pesticides, is very important.

(When something is SUSTAINABLE, it means you can keep doing it for long periods of time without causing permanent damage. For example, if you deplete the soil, you will eventually not be able to grow enough food to feed yourself.)

Here you will find information about sustainable, organic farming, finding local organic food, and growing your own garden.