It's Earth Day!

More than one billion people on Earth celebrate today 40 years of inspiring awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.

Founded on April 22, 1970 as an environmental teach-in by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day is now celebrated by more than 190 countries on Earth.

This year's Earth Day coincides with the World People's Conference on Climate Change held in Bolivia and the International Year of Biodiversity.

As our share in making this Earth clean and healthy today and tomorrow, here are some tips I compiled from the net that will make a big difference.

• Recyle the bottles of the bottled water that you bought
• Try replacing old incandescent bulbs to the energy saver CFL's (compact flourescent bulbs)
• Turn off the water while brushing the teeth or shaving
• A compost pile is very helpful in your backyard
• Use microwave to cook food or reheat leftovers
• Use the shower instead of filling the tub
• Wash only full loads when using the dishwasher or the washing machine
• Use a broom not a hose when cleaning the decks, sidewalks and porches
• Try to use the public transport system
• Start walking or use a bike when going to short distances
• Always remember that every time we ride a car, we add up to the air pollution
• Insulate your homes, windows and water pipes
• Leaks must always be repaired
• Use containers to collect rain water and use it to flush the toilet or water the plants
• Join in community recyling activities and programs
• Plant trees
• Avoid using plastic bags
• Make it a point to use eco-friendly products such as recycled paper and rechargeable batteries

If we all do our share in protecting our Earth, I believe that we could build a better place for us and for the future generations.

The Earth Day stamp shown in today's post was released in China on April 22, 2005.