2008 Watershed Kids Conference

2008 Kids Watershed Conference By: Ziad Y. Mazboudi , PE, CPSWQ, CPESC Environmental Division Manager www.sanjuancapistrano.org [email_address]

WHO CAN HELP US PROTECT OUR EARTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT ?

WE CAN !

“ IF WE DON’T PROTECT THE EARTH, TODAY IT WON’T BE HERE TOMORROW !”. -Sukanya Garg 6 th grade

Ryan International School, Gurgaon, India

You are the leaders of tomorrow

Our responsibility is not just to protect the environment for your future, but to teach you how to do the same for the ones after you.

You learned this, right ? Good !

You also learned what’s

And

You probably also learned what watershed you live in

This is our HOME, Let’s protect it.

So, what can a Kid do to help ?

Keep learning !

Your way to understand what you can do is within reach.

Read

Learning about the environment is very important. There are many good books that will help you learn. To get started, ask a teacher or a librarian for some suggestions.

Use the internet. You have nowadays a lot more tools at your disposal than many before you. Take advantage of them.

Another easy one that you might hear your parents tell you all the time

Save Electricity

Whenever we use electricity, we put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.

Same goes for

Water. Precious

Commodity, so don’t

waste it

Recycle

Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and newspapers. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources, like trees, oil, and elements such as aluminum. Start a recycling program at school, or in your classroom,

or at home if you don’t have one.

SHOP SMART – Green Shop

You can conserve resources, save energy, and prevent waste by buying products that:

■ Are energy efficient

■ Are used or reusable

■ Are made with recycled content or are recyclable

■ Have no packaging or reduced packaging

Learn about these products so you can help your mom and dad shop GREEN.

ENERGY STAR®

Many things, like computers, TVs, stereos, and VCRs, have special labels on them. Products with the ENERGY STAR® label are made to save energy. Buying products with ENERGY STAR® labels will help protect the environment.

If shopping with your parents, remind them of the importance of saving energy and remind them to look for the

When shopping GREEN – BYOB

BYOB : Bring Your Own Bag

Single use plastic bags fill up our landfills and end up in our creeks, at our beaches and in the ocean.

If you have to use them, make sure you recycle them.

DO NOT LITTER If you see someone you know littering, explain to him/her the harm that does to our environment. Organize a cleanup event around your house with your friends. You’ll beautify your neighborhood and should feel proud of your achievement.

267 different species found entangled in or ingesting marine debris

Stop using Polystyrene Foam (PF)

Have your own reusable mug or cup, or buy a soda in a can or a bottle, that you can recycle after done drinking.

PF breaks down into small pieces and ends up into the ocean, where animals mistake it for food.

Participate in an Earth Day event

Research on the internet for a local event.

Plant a tree. May be a fruit tree.

Pick one of your favorite fruits

And ask your parents if you can

plant the tree in your yard.

When it will bear fruit, you’ll

be happy to remember that

you planted it on Earth Day 

Participate in a beach or creek cleanup event

The 24 th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, will be Saturday, September 13th, 2007 from 9 AM to Noon.

Mark the date and find an event near you to help cleanup.

www.cleanup.org

Always Carry a Doggy Bag Well, not this kind, but when walking your dog, even this cute little one leaves surprises on the way. Well, these surprises aren’t very cute when you’re swimming with them 