Every Earth Day we ask ourselves, “What can we do to save the Earth?” Recycle more? Drive more fuel-efficient cars? There are plenty of options for students and others alike to give back to the planet we need to protect. Here is some advice from Slater staff members on going green this Earth Day and how they give back.

Piper Kull (Editor-In-Chief):

​​Personally, I try to eat as little meat as possible, and I am also a big recycler and upcycler. I think it’s really important to shop secondhand and try and fix broken things when you can. So much goes to waste when it’s really still actually useful or could be useful to others.

Ian Thompson (Staff Contributor):

Here's two important things we can all do — help our local communities and be politically active. 

We just had our Slate Highway Cleanup, and each of us should be doing things like that more often. Cleaning up our local areas is a small act on the grand scale, but we all have the capacity to pick up a few pieces of garbage here and there. It's a great opportunity to volunteer and improve your surroundings. StewardSHIP week is the next two weeks, so I'd encourage people to check the calendar and come out to as many events as you can. https://www.ship.edu/about/sustainability/stewardship_week/ 

Those are small acts, but we each have the potential to make a bigger impact through our votes. Climate change is a big threat, as are other environmental problems. We need politicians and leaders who accept the science and will do what's necessary to keep our planet livable.

Allyson Ritchey (Asst. Multimedia Director):

Be more cognizant of your single use plastic consumption. Take your own water bottle or metal straw (or even reusable cutlery) with you rather than plastic water bottles, straws and spoons and stuff. I know plastic is kind of unavoidable, but being aware and trying to cut out excess use is better than not doing anything at all. Shop secondhand and mend what you already have. Support local parks, get outside, hammock, camp, hike, bike or even just sit in nature. 

Lydia Rose (Staff Contributor):

I try to use as little plastic as I can. I’m very big on recycling. At the Starbucks on campus, we put our leftover coffee grounds into a compost bin for the Green League. I carry around a reusable water bottle and use glass/metal straws as well.

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