ONE HOUR AT A TIME?

Is one hour for the Earth enough?

When Japan was shaken to its core (literally) by that devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and wiped out (literally, again) by the resulting tsunami, the entire world was once again reminded of just who is in charge, which happens to be nature. We are all reminded of how important the environment is, and global warming, and climate change, and its effects on our lives, and all those other environment-related things that we tend to forget once we see things we consider as really important (even though they are truly not) …

Maybe this is what the Earth Hour is really for: a one-hour opportunity for the concerned citizens every last Saturday of March to not only send a message to the rest of the world that they support the efforts to protect the environment, but also push for everyone to take all the necessary steps to save Mother Earth.

The Earth Hour seems a good thing. After all, anything related to the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the environment nowadays will generate a lot of publicity and support because obviously, the survival of our species is at stake. An hour without light provided by light bulbs and fluorescent lamps will save the participants 1-2% of their average March/April electric bills. And these days, every single watt of electricity counts. And aside from the new environmental campaigns to be started in celebration of the Earth hour, the celebrities, businessmen, politicians, and other public figures can even use this as a chance to promote themselves and their projects to the audiences and make more dough. Everybody and everything involved wins, right?

NO. The Earth Hour is a bad thing.

The objectives and goals of a majority of the organizers and the participants are good. However, how can you be sure that all of them are really serious about supporting the green cause? Although (as I mentioned) theoretically this is a win-win situation for all sides involved, let us not forget that the main concern of the Earth hour event is for the environment, not personal gain. Any movement will fail if the heart and mind of a lot of its members are not in the game. In such a delicate and complicated issue like environment protection, unity is necessary for the best solution possible to be generated and implemented. With various factors such as commerce, agriculture, and the economy, that would be an understatement.

The one thing that alarms me with the Earth hour, however, is that it seems to lack intensity or strength; it seems compromised. Surely some of the supporters of this event only limit themselves to only one hour in only one day of the year to wholeheartedly save electricity (or at least, usable energy). And they only limit themselves to turning off the lights. This is just like a guy promising to give his girlfriend the world … and he only gives her a hug on their anniversary. Nice thought, but lacking in execution and effort.

Bottomline is, if you really are willing to save electricity, why limit yourself to just your light bulbs and fluorescent and incandescent lamps for only an hour per day per year? Why not bring it to another level and do it for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, every single year from tonight until the end of your time? Why not intentionally save electricity (and some of those hard-to-find dough) by using your television, radio, refrigerator, blender, iron, electric stove, rice cooker, cellphone chargers, and all of those electric gizmos you possess? Why not spend some time with family and friends instead of spending 8 hours of your day in front of the computer or TV, watching shows that won’t do you any good? Why not play sports in public courts near your area instead of playing NBA 2K11? Why not use your own hands to do the laundry instead of relying too much on that washing machine of yours?

If we have the power to step on the moon, annihilate cities with an atomic bomb, and make guys like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga huge pop/cultural icons (even though they certainly do not deserve it), why cannot we maximize our efforts in helping the planet? We can turn the Earth Hour into a second Earth Day (the International Mother Earth Day is April 22). Even better, we should turn the Earth Hour into a daily habit of Earth Day.

The Earth Hour is a bad thing … but for our first step, it is not that bad.

END OF THE WORLD?

Has 2012 come 21 months and 10 days early?

The Earth-shaking, mind-trembling, life-altering (8.9 to 9.1)-magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan to its core was simply both a demonstration of the truepower of nature and a reminder of just how everything changes ... in 15 minutes or less.

If you saw those videos revealing a massive tsunami sweeping (or wiping out) all those homes and towers 5 miles inland with all sorts of debris created from the things it destroyed along the way ...

If you saw those videos unveiling the explosion of the nuclear power plants, along with an amazing yet frightening view of the bursts of flame, chemicals, and smoke into the air ...

If you saw the images of the poor Japanese adults and children, faces struck with shock, fear, and doubt, bodies showing signs of physical and emotional trauma, wondering if there is still any kind of future for them ...

And that's not all. The power of the earthquake moved Japan by 8 feet and shifted the Earth's axis by a few centimeters. Both measurements do not seem huge to make a difference, but since we are "microspecies" compared to the planet, it sure does. Even the emotistical beings will finally notice the quick passing of days, since the Earth now spins faster. Weather patterns will also slowly but surely deviate from its current state. It could lead to Antarctica facing the Sun more directly than usual, which could lead to a quicker melting of polar ice caps already trigerred by global warming. It could lead to the winds blowing in a different direction, affecting the templates of seasons, two or four.

The lesson we can learn from this is that anything can happen in the bink of an eye.

For now, all we can do is pray and hope for the best.

I still have faith that 2013 is still waiting for us ...

THE TRUE POWER OF THE PEOPLE

What does this iconic moment mean
to the current Filipino?

It has been 25 years since the Filipinos made their mark in recent memory. It has been 25 years since the power of the people took down one of the most controversial leaders in modern history. It has been 25 years since the First EDSA People Power Revolution.

The world saw the fall of a mighty overlord and the rise of a simple housewife to take care of the country as it inevitably went through a transition period. Filled with hope and promise, Filipinos and even the rest of the world expected that the Philippines will finally return to its former status as one of the leading Asian economic powers, circa 1965.

So what has happened since that fateful day?

Well, there have been a lot of developments in the country, but I will give you this: the most interesting fact is that 25 years since EDSA I, a Cojuangco Aquino is still heading the country. President Noynoy Aquino, just like what his mother Cory promised, and at least did during her time, vowed that he will lead us to the straight road to prosperity. On one hand, the fact that we are under basically the same type of leader for 25 years may symbolize that the Philippines has not moved on from its expectations to become a better nation for its citizens from 1986. On the other hand, both Cojuangco Aquinos are keeping their promises and showing that they really are serious about alleviating the country of its problems.

I will not explain in detail what is the big deal about this fact. This is where your personal analyses come in to play. After all, should not EDSA I have opened our eyes?

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT ...

RIP Angelo Reyes (1945-2011)

I have a minor problem.

As you may know, last February 8, former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General, former Defense Secretary, former Interior and Local Government Secretary, former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, and former Energy Secretary Angelo Tomas Reyes (as a result of the police investigation) killed himself by placing a bullet in his heart, dramatically falling down into the grave of his mother. He was given full military honors and was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Suddenly, a man facing graft charges and being suspected as a  "corrupt crony" of ex-President Gloria Arroyo became some sort of a hero and sympathetic figure. The man will even have a film dedicated to his life, directed by none other than National Artist Carlo J. Caparas.

With all due respect, ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME?

I cannot deny his accomplishments as a soldier, politician, and statesman, serving his country for 45 years. I respect that. If you do not believe that, then you need to read the first part of this article again. I also cannot deny that he has been a good father, husband, and friend to probably everyone that knew him. And despite the allegations that he received a mind-boggling P50-million send-off after his retirement (what's even worse is that this practice was revealed to be a decades-old military tradition), everyone is innocent unless proven guilty. 

But I do not see how the common man would feel sympathetic to Mr. Reyes, much less give him respect as a person. How could you respect some man who killed himself? Instead of facing his problems, he chose to end it himself. Not alluding to anything, but Mr. Reyes is indeed innocent, why did he choose not to answer the questions, clarify doubts, and reveal the truth (and nothing but the truth) to his countrymen? 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, honor is defined as the "good name or public esteem" and "a showing of usually merited respect". Mr. Caparas stated that the reason behind his plans on making a film on Mr. Reyes is because the latter's death is a consequence of his last chance to save his honor. Really? Taking away your own life is NEVER good reputation. So if say, a man in the future faces a difficult challenge, in some degree similar to what Mr. Reyes went through, and he reads about what happened weeks ago, he will choose to go to the tomb of his parents, and kill himself, we will consider it as a good move? I am sure that there are other ways to defend your honor, such as having the strength to face them and revealing the truth. For a man who supposedly was one of the smartest students of his batch, Mr. Reyes probably did not realize that.

Some people would claim he "sacrificed" himself for his family, who (if the charges were true) would have inevitably benefited from those P50 million. Uh, once again with all due respect, Mr. Reyes should have realized that the career he is going to enter is never an easy and smooth ride to his goals. A career in the military or the government in the Philippines has been synonymous with corruption and fair-weather brotherhood for who-knows-how-long. Enter both and you will have twice the headache. Mr. Reyes should have known that at some point, his dumbest of critics will include his family in an effort to bring him down. He should have been more prepared and made his family realize how difficult life would be for them because of his profession. He probably did. However, he handled what turned out to be his last crisis the wrong way. The bottomline is, Mr. Reyes killed himself. 

With all due respect, too bad Mr. Reyes died. He probably knew something. He could have helped inch our country one step closer to finally breaking down these walls that will show to us what is truly going on with the authorities. Or maybe he really is innocent. Either way, he just became the latest "victim" in our struggle for the truth.

Mr. Caparas, I would think twice about spending money on that movie if I were you.

President Noynoy Aquino, thank you for keeping one of your promises from the campaign.   

RIP Angelo Reyes (1945-2011)

     

TEN OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF A PILIPINO

As of now, a lot of us have already
forgotten what these men and women
died for. 

1)      You reveal the truth ... and an unintentional desire to get killed.

Do you hear voices crying? Do you see heroes dying? Do you taste blood that's drying? Do you feel tension rising? From media men and journalists to activists, government officials, and seemingly every single honest-to-goodness man, corrupt individuals and their henchmen simply do not want what's right to be done to keep their dirty little secrets, and their benefits, for themselves. 

This is what happens when you care
more about money than anything else ...
including your very own life.

2)      You confuse a driving lane for a racing circuit.

Just about any day of the year, anywhere in the country, road accidents just cannot take a break. Careless, reckless bus, jeepney, and taxi drivers drive at the speed of light and beat the red lights to earn as much money as they can. The result? Falling off cliffs, hitting-and-running innocent pedestrians, and losing any humanity in them, whether they are aware of it or not.

 



Think these congressmen cheered for
the next President because they really
wanted to?



3)      You change your allegiance as frequently as you change your clothes.

 Just six months ago, Person A was allied with a higher official Person B. But with Person B losing popularity, Person A shifts his alliance to Person C in the upcoming elections just to stay in power. Along with losing any kind of loyalty is the loss of principles and values by which every government official should follow. Power truly determines the true character of a person.

  



As long as you do not go overboard
and try to marry your idols,
everything will be fine.



4)      You treat those who appear on TV like gods and goddesses.

Imagine you being in a mall, eating a delicious burger with your boyfriend while strolling around the shops and establishments around you. Suddenly, you see your favorite male teen star, all alone. You leave your boyfriend in the dust, rioting among other fangirls just to even get a touch of his white skin. Really? What is this, the procession of the Black Nazarene? This, I simply do not understand. It's not like whatever you touch turns to gold.



Nice one. I hope that hand is as good
as you using your own hands in
your work.

5)      You spend your time leaving your fate to the luck of the draw instead of earning the credits yourself.

Gambling, at least in the Philippines, is (sort of) disliked by a majority of the populace. And yet when the stakes are high in the 6/49 Lotto, Bingo, jueteng, OTB, or any other luck-based game, everyone just cannot resist the urge to spend part of their hard-earned cash for a low chance of receiving thousands or millions of pesos or any luxury item. Also, how many times have you seen four men in their office breaks or simply sitting on a street corner drinking alcohol while playing Pusoy Dos with a hundred pesos at stake? Instead of wasting time and money on high-stakes, low-reward contests, we should work as hard and as wise as we can.

With all due respect, I hope everyone
of them has a good future at hand.

6)      You plant twelve seeds which you can never grow into tall trees.

Common belief amongst the poorer Filipinos is that the more kids you have, the richer you will be when you grow old. Thing is, long-term planning is always the better option than short-term pleasure. If you cannot provide your ten-plus children with proper food, education, shelter, and every other form of support in their early years, chances are they will end up just like you. And the more people in the country, the more problems they bring. Translation? Overpopulation.



Remember this? You disrupted business
in that area, broke a lot of rules ... and
somehow get freed earlier than you
deserve. There sure is a better way to
express your opinion ... SENATOR.



7)      You simply cannot tell the difference between right and wrong and do not know the difference between right and wrong.

This is how the justice system works in the Philippines: you do not commit a crime, get arrested for misjudgment, wait 5 years on trial, sentenced to life imprisonment, spend 30-plus years behind bars, then the court finds out you are innocent, and released while serving a sentence you did not deserve. Another scenario: you commit a crime, get arrested, wait 5 years on trial, pay the judge a hundred thousand pesos, "found" not guilty despite strong evidences, and roam freely while ignoring your conscience. Which one seems more wrong? 

Instead of making something that is not
clearly ours our "own", why don't we
show the world what is truly our own?

8)      You copy anything the others do, and do not make a good impression on others.

We lack so much pride in our national identity that instead of being original, we copy pretty much anything the other countries make. We make our own versions of Korean soap operas. We scramble all over the malls searching for that newly-released iTouch because your friends have one. Heck, we even translate bad words from the other countries. Why? 



It would be nice if you look up to
someone as a role model. Just not this
guy. Please.



9)   You dream at day and live at night.



"Mamaya na yan", "Tinatamad ako, eh", "Kayang-kaya yan". Whether it be optimism or pure laziness, our inability to finish the job quickly and in great quality is while we have all the time in the world is one of the reasons why our country is struggling economically. And when there are only a few hours left before the deadliest deadline, that is when we only exert our efforts (not even our best efforts). Look at where we are right now.







A fellow Pilipino won a lot of titles.
Is that the only time you will say you're
proud to be Pinoy? Sure ...

10)      You either desperately search or do not care at all for a national identity.

We have a national anthem, national hero, and national flag. Sounds reasonable. But when you begin to have a "Pambansang Kamao", "Pambansang Bading" (who seems to be the most popular gay at the moment), o "Pambansang Laro" (which is a rip-ff of 20 Questions), we have a problem. When we hear someone won a modeling contest and you say, "I'm proud to be Pinoy", we have a bigger problem. Is this what being a Pilipino is all about?  

ANO? PILIPINO KA BA TALAGA?

TEN IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF A PILIPINO

University Athletic Association of the
Philippines? Really?

1)      You often assume that only citizens in Metro Manila count as Filipinos, whether you are aware of it or not.

I think we all know that Metro Manila is the center of, and the busiest place in the Philippines, but what about Cebu? Davao? CDO? Baguio? Those places are always left behind in terms of development, and the rest of the country is so underdeveloped ...





Everyone prefers Nike or any other
imported shoe over local ones
nowadays.

2)      You always prefer anything made from the other countries instead of anything made from the Philippines.

Whether it be clothes, shoes, movies, TV shows, bags, food products, beauty products, and even our everyday language, we always have the feeling that whatever we are or have sucks compared to everybody else's. 

Excuse me, I hope you're not forgetting

the reason why you are wearing that

uniform in this area ...

3)      You spend more time, money, and energy on your cellphones, DOTA heroes, and Facebook accounts instead of schoolwork and office matters.

You have to wonder if Filipinos nowadays are really so devoted to technology that they would trade their entire lives for a day of unlimited call-and-text to everyone they ever met ...

 

Hey, the tune is so catchy, and I love
the color orange. I should vote him!

4)      You base your electoral vote on the surname, gimmick, campaign color, hand gesture, endorsers, and campaign jingles of candidates instead of their reputations and abilities.

Does the phrase "Vote Wisely" or "Maging matalino sa pagboto" even appeal to the voters? Because if not, then it is probably best if we have Charter Change ...

 

Too familiar? Should we blame every
single leader that we ourselves chose?

5)      You blame the government for every miserable thing in your life, no matter who is in power.

And the sad irony is, we are the ones who placed these people, who chose the other people, into their current positions. Shouldn't we blame ourselves then? Because if we did not, we are all hypocrites. 





Nice outfit. I hope the term
actually means something
very important.

6)      You try to create your very own dictionary by creating and adding the “cool” factor to slang terms such as jologs, chuva chenes, and jejemon.

I do not know if it is boredom or the feeling of inferiority that makes these people create these terms, but I am sure that whatever they are trying to accomplish, these are not really doing any good for the reputation of our country. 

 

  

  

Is this the best you can do? Is this
even what you really wanted?

7)      You consider careers that would give you lots of money and abuse instead of those that would help the development of your country.

"Eto kasi yung uso ngayon eh. Saka malaki ang kita ng pera". Are we willing to sell basically our lives for big paychecks, immense homesickness, and occasional abuse from foreigners (frequently, for others)? No wonder that Hong Kong reporter called the Philippines "a nation of servants".

 

Are we talking about the same God
here? If so, why is everyone claiming
to be the chosen messenger of God?

8)      You are either a land lord, drug lord, gambling lord, crime lord, political lord, or a religious lord.

Basically, whether we want to admit it or not, our country is run and influenced by a handful of individuals. Some are good influences, some are bad influences, and some are simply horrible human beings. Hey, the world would be boring if everyone was the same, right? Still, that doesn't mean we have to pretend or be bad ...

Sigh ... I hope you finally learn that
your lives still mean more than
anything ...

9)      You will rather stay behind with your material possessions instead of saving your lives when natural disasters are quickly approaching.

I do not understand why. Is it because a lot of Filipinos are so poor or so pessimistic about their chances to move out of poverty that they would rather go down with their properties than come out of a landslide or volcanic eruption broke but alive?  

Does this still mean something to you?

10)   You simply care about yourself instead of yourself, your fellow Filipinos, and your country, the Philippines.

I guess a lot of students/professionals want to have fun now with their friends rather than have fun now with their friends and do the best they can at their workplaces not only to improve themselves, but their country as well. Remember, great things start from small beginnings.

ANO? PILIPINO KA BA? 

  







NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION

To the government of the Philippines: Throughout 2010, signs of the effects of global warming were very evident, if not super obvious. There were the water shortages, the severe droughts, the lack of storms that entered the Philippine area of responsibility, and the landslides and flashfloods despite light rainfall, among others. Entering 2011, we were greeted by the freezing of crops in Northern Luzon and the unusual chill at 7 in the morning. And then there were the martyrs who have to needlessly sacrifice their lives to protect the forests in Mindanao.

Sir, Ma'am, do we need to wait for more people to be homeless, more lives to be lost, more hearts to be broken? Do we, the people, have to doubt if this is truly a government of the people, by the people, and for the people? Do we have to wait for another ONDOY-and-PEPENG 1-2 combination to deal a fatal blow to the Filipino morale?

I am sure the job of taking care of everything concerning your area is tough, and you are human beings just like we are, but since you ran for those offices you currently hold (or get appointed by these people), we expect you to perform your duties to the best of your abilities (with minimal errors in judgment), give solutions to the most critical and urgent of problems affecting your jurisdictions, and pave way for the development and progress of the programs being implemented and to be implemented. Of course, this includes the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the environment. PLEASE SUPPORT THE GREEN MOVEMENT. PLEASE.

To the businessmen: Money makes the world go round. It does not make up what it is made of, though.

Despite my lack of deep knowledge in economics and management, I am sure there is a way to balance economic advancement with environmental protection. I believe so; I am an Environmental Science student. Almost all of you spend a lot of time whining, b*tching, and moaning about how you are going to fall in debt or earn less money to sustain your lives, while all the time you may never have thought about the long-term effects of an environmental crisis on both your businesses and your very own lives. Trust me, there is still a way, if not many ways, to live comfortably within the confinements of today's highly advanced society and not sacrifice the numerous resources surrounding us.

Just imagine this. Let's say you are the owner of the largest chain of malls in the world. You dream of expanding your establishment to knock out competition and fill your bank accounts with millions of dollars. Thing is, think of all the ingredients you will need to make your recipe the most appetizing to your target customers - tons of electricity and fuel per day to keep your machineries running and your shoppers chilling; mountains of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, wheat, and other grocery items to build your gigantic supermarket; towers of parking lots for the vehicles of your visitors to rest on. And the products of all of these? Piles of every single kind of waste you can think of. Tremendous pollution filling the outside, and on occasion, the inside. All of these things will accumulate and within 15 years, natural catastrophes will come back to haunt you.

I appreciate the effort being made by some of the big names of the business sector to help the GREEN cause. Biodegradable plastic bags, more efficient operations of the establishments, sponsorships of planting of new trees and cleaning up of rivers, and so much more. Thing is, this is not enough. Too much of anything is never good, but this time, in a country where basically the rich have a bigger say in how things work around the nation, we need your cooperation. We need our guarantee. We need your hand.

To the professionals: Since you are (theoretically) experts in your chosen fields and received special training in your desired expertise, you should know at least around 75% of the basics and advanced things related to your profession, including the environmental aspect of your jobs. Whether you are an environmental scientist yourself, or a award-winning, world-class actor, you know you can use your profession in some way to take part in helping save the environment.

It might sound weird, but what can an actor use his profession to save the environment? It doesn't sound weird at all. It is like asking "Why should we learn Calculus in high school?" The answer: there is more to life than what meets the eye.

We all know what an environmental scientist can do to help the GREEN movement: be an environmental scientist. Go on a trip, observe phenomenon, record and analyze data, make conclusions, report to the concerned agencies for discussion on the implications of the findings. But the actor? Well, he can use his fame to rally support for the cause. Make a commercial about this environment-friendly item or straight-to-the-point promote the GREEN movement. Maybe even make an environment-related movie that serves as both a warning and an inspiration to the viewers to join the campaign. If Filipinos rely on celebrity endorsers instead of platforms as their basis for voting, why not do the same for the environment?

To the religious leaders: Just like the celebrities, you too can help spread the word ... and love for the environment. Seeing as nature is God's creation (just like we all are), He would try to protect it at all costs. So should you. Helping the cause personally will not be bad. Occasional mentions in sermons will not be bad, either. Even better, you can lead us to pray not only for the saving of the environment, but also for the best on everything (as long as it is morally good and reasonable).

(This especially goes to the Catholic Church) Please support the Reproductive Health Bill. It does not legalize abortion at all. It does not require everyone to use artificial methods of family planning. It does not try to change morality to the liking of the authors of the bill. Why would the government push through a bill that would massively affect the country in a negative way? If that was the case, then every single administration might have resigned before they can serve their full terms. Besides, if you really are pro-life, why are you only emphasizing the salavation of the lives of the unborn babies? Why not also think about the lives of those who are already living on Earth and the effects of adding more pieces to the puzzle in the long-term? The puzzle board can only carry so many pieces; similarly, the Earth has a carrying capacity. Too many people already are poor and living in conditions a few of the non-poor citizens could possibly survive. If there are even more Filipinos to accomodate to, wouldn't it make the situation even worse? The more people, the more we exhaust our resources, the faster waste accumulates, the shorter our life spans could be. In short? We all lose.

To the hardworking common man: You might be wondering, what is all of this to you?

Let's cut to the chase and look at it this way. So what if the higher-ups have part of the say in what goes on in this country? So what if you (possibly) earn only minimum wage? So what if you just pack shirts into boxes in a factory or clean the streets of Metro Manila? So what if you live in a small house? So what if you (possibly) did not finish college? So what if you (possibly) failed to lure your goddess-like crush into being your girlfriend? SO WHAT?

You can still do something to help the GREEN movement. Great things start in small beginnings, so to speak. Save electricity, for the energy resources. Turn off your faucets, for the water resources. Throw your waste the right way, for the land you step on. Check your cars (if you have any), for the air you will breathe.

Most importantly, let your voice be heard. Remember, without your vote, the authorities would not have either the people to truly serve or (hurts to say, but) the fools to steal money from. Without your patronage, these businessmen would not have any businessesin the first place. Without your needs, the professionals would just stay in their farms yielding crops or in their households mopping floors. Without your presence, the religious leaders would not have any reason to believe that God exists.

So what if you are just a hardworking common man? YOU CAN DO something about it.

To the students: Someday, we will be the authorities. Some will be the professionals. Some will be the businessmen. Others will be the religious leaders. Others will work as hard as they can. Again, no matter what you want to pursue, we can do something about it.

We have the advantage of history. We can look at the past natural events and use this knowledge as to how to better prepare for future occurences. We have the advantage of technology. We can utilize all these machines ad equipment to take better care of the environment. We have the advantage of manpower. There is just so many of us, we can work together and accomplish every good thing we want to do, especially saving the environment.

We can start by practicing, and eventually doing, simple activities that can help the GREEN cause. Less TV, more fun with family. Less time in front of computers, more time with loved ones. Less excess water used for baths, more water to drink. Hey, we can even do all of these with the help of our families and friends. That would be more fun, right? Every little thing you do will affect the environment in some way. So why don't we start somewhere? THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

To me: With all of these blabbering about how everyone around me should improve their pro-environment personas, I hope I can do the same thing.

2011: New Year, New Beginning, New Hope ... for the environment and, in the end, for the world.