[linz06]

I am with you all, I know something has to change. I try to be as environmentally-conscious as possible, but even I could improve.

The biggest thing we do is we recycle everything! The only thing we don't do is compost, but it's been on my mind. My family has always recycled bottles, but now I also recycle cardboard, paper, tin cans, plastic containers, everything. I have spent some time in the last few years in Mexico and it is really hard for me to throw things in the trash, because (at least the area where we stayed) there was no recycling. In NYC with my friends a few years ago, we walked for blocks and blocks holding our empty water bottles because we couldn't find a recycle bin. We have a few people contracted at my company right now from the USA and Mexico and while I was on vacation for a month, our recycle bin disappeared from our department. Paper was piling up on my desk so I found another in the administration area and brought it back. I was working late one night when the cleaners came by to empty garbage cans and I noticed all of these workers have just been throwing stacks and stacks of paper in the garbage just because the bin wasn't there! I know it's just a little part in the big picture but it bothers me! It is so easy to do.

I try to buy as many products as possible that are made in Canada, and I try to use natural products whenever possible.

Jim, I had no idea about palm oil! I am going to look into that. Thanks so much for the information!

As for cars and pollution, I think it's going to change in a big way. A few of our city buses now run on bio-diesel, made from canola oil, and canola is abundant around here! When we were in Europe recently, I watched a show where a guy is making his own bio-diesel and many London taxis are now using it.

More and more companies are now offering hybrid vehicles, and even electric cars. Chevrolet has the Volt, and I'm sure others will be following. My fiance and I carpool to work but it would be nice to have something more efficient and better for the environment, so we've been looking at our options.