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What You Can Do About Climate Change Right Now
"Sustainability" and "climate change" have been buzzwords as of late and there's a big reason why. With reports like the recently released "Existential climate-related security risk: A scenario approach," the facts are abundantly clear: we need to do more about climate change. According to the report, by 2050 the world is on par for an existential crisis, where human existence may be threatened by a variety of lethal scenarios that could devastate billions. Even though seven out of ten Americans believe that climate change is happening, two-thirds of Americans rarely talk about climate change or vote in the representatives to fix it. There is an established need for change, people just don't know how to change it.
But it turns out, your carbon footprint is key, and changing it is easier than you think. Because let's face it, the Earth is in danger and it is the only Earth we have; and if we don't change things individually, and as a country, we won't have one by the time 2050 comes about. So, how can you help?
Calculate your carbon footprint and follow the steps below to reduce yours.
1. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
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The enzyme in cold water detergents are designed to clean better in cold water. Doing two loads laundry weekly in cold water instead of hot or warm water can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
2. Don’t Buy “Fast Fashion”
Buying fast fashion—also known as inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers—is something we all fall victim to. Whether it is the sale happening at H&M or just the desire to have current clothing styles at a lower price, we have all been guilty of buying a fast fashion item or two. And we have also pled guilty to effortlessly throwing them away.
The average American discards about 80 pounds of clothing each year, and 85 percent of that gets dumped into landfills. Then, those cheap, fast fashion items are quickly dumped in landfills where they produce methane as they decompose. In order to lessen your carbon footprint, spend a little extra on quality clothing that will last.
3. Leave the Dryer, Hang a Clothing Line
The traditional method of line-drying your clothing is much better for the environment. According to studies, one dryer load uses five times more electricity than washing by line-drying your clothes. By doing this, you can save one-third of your carbon footprint.
4. Eat Local
If possible, try to eat local, in-season produce. Buying locally helps to reduce the carbon footprint created by shipping foods from elsewhere. Basically, the closer it is grown to you, the better.
5. Use Reusable Bags
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Disposable shopping bags are everywhere. Particularly in your cabinet, hoarding away until you need a trash bag, shopping bag, shower cap, or whatever else you use these plastic bags for. Yeah, I know about that plastic bag cabinet and as much as I hate to say it—it has to go. Never to return, again.
Why?
Well, because it takes a plastic bag 15 to 1,000 years to break down, depending on the environment. And as it waits to break down, its photodegradation allows it to release toxic particles into the air from exposure to the sun or various lights. To save the plastic bag the terrible feeling of drifting through the wind, and you the terrible feeling of leaving it out there: invest in reusable bags. Most of these bags are lightweight, machine washable, and high durable for years and years of use.
6. Buy Energy Star Products
When you're shopping for appliances, lighting, electronics, or anything that will take energy, look for Energy Star products, which are certified to be more energy efficient.
7. Buy Less & Buy Recycled
Buy less stuff and you'll have less waste. Also, buy used or recycled items whenever possible. Nowadays, brands are getting creative by using recyclables as the basis of their sustainable initiatives. Girlfriend Collective, Everlane, Ethique, and Adidas are a few that come to mind but do your research.
8. Drive Less, Bike More
When you can, drive less. Walk, take public transportation, carpool with colleagues and friends, Uberpool, or even ride your bike. This does not only reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it also lessens traffic congestion and the idling of engines that accompanies it.
9. Check Your Tires
By keeping your tires inflated properly, you'll increase your fuel efficiency by three percent, and ensuring that your car is properly maintained can increase it by four percent. Also, if it is unnecessary, remove extra weight from your car.
10. Upgrade Your Navigation System
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We all want to find the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. So, use this to your advantage. Instead of wasting time in traffic and wasting gas, update your GPS system. You'll save gas and the planet by just choosing the best route.
11. Complete Everything at Once
Instead of running in and out of the house throughout the week, complete everything at once. Pick a day out of the week to get your groceries, gas, get your nails done, and any other last minute errands you have to run. Your day might be longer, but you'll save greenhouse gases by doing so. And you will have more time in your day to do something else.
12. Cruise and Avoid Braking
If you must drive, on short trips avoid braking unnecessarily and acceleration. Studies have found that aggressive driving can result in 40 percent more fuel consumption than consistent, calm drivers. If you're driving on long trips, turn on cruise control, which can save you some gas.
13. Unplug Your Devices
It's just that—unplug your devices when you leave the house. If unplugging each and every device sounds tedious, buy a power strip so that you can turn off all your electronics at the same time with a flip of the switch.
14. Conserve Water
Did you know the average American uses 17.2 gallons of water during an 8.2-minute shower? Reducing your water usage is essential. Therefore, take shorter showers, avoid dish and body soaps that have toxins, turn off the water while you brush your teeth and in while you wash and condition your hair, or even host or join a local community clean up.
15. Recycle
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If possible: Recycle. Recycle. Recycle. Recycling reduces the amount of waste in landfills and incinerators, conserves natural resources, increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials, prevents pollution, and saves energy.
Recycling is the easiest thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. It's as easy as throwing your item away in a blue or green bin.
16. Ditch the Plastic Water Bottles
This goes without saying, but plastic water bottles are convenient, yes but the devil, also yes. Especially when it comes to our planet. As we mentioned in tip #5, it takes up to 1,000 years for plastic bags to decompose. That fact stands true for plastic water bottles too. Currently, US landfills are filled with over 2 million tons of empty water bottles. Drinking water is vital to human life but so is reducing the amount of plastic we consume. Some substitutes for plastic water bottles include Boxed Water, JUST Water, and VOSS (specifically their glass bottle). You can also buy reusable water bottles like Lifefactory Glass Bottle, Hydro Flask, and Cayman Insulated Water Bottle.
17. Say "No" to Plastic Straws
Plastic straws have long since been a problem for the environment, similarly to the reason plastic bags and plastic waters can be. Due to them not being able to biodegrade, they often end up hurting the environment and can float in oceans as microplastics, poisoning animals in the process. Some cities are already starting to ban the use of straws like Seattle, LA (at least in their restaurants), and New York City will follow suit by 2020. If you want to find some plastic straw alternatives check out "Here are 7 alternatives to plastic straws".
Bonus: Stop Eating (or Eat Less) Meat
I know, I know. I can see you rolling your eyes and swiping left away from this suggestion. But hear me out: I'm not asking you to go Vegan—which is an option, if that's your kind of thing—but I am asking that you consider your regular consumption of livestock.
Livestock—meat and dairy—is responsible for 14.5 percent of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from feed production and processing and the methane that beef and sheep belch out. And the more they are consumed, the more they will be produced. Long story short: eat less meat. Every day you forgo meat and dairy, you can reduce your carbon footprint by eight pounds, which is 2,920 pounds a year.
So, instead of eating meat all day, every day, try to incorporate Meatless Mondays and/or No Fish Fridays to change the way you consume meat.
Featured image by Getty Images
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Taysha Robinson is a writer and high school English teacher, based in metro-Atlanta. A self described philomath, you can find her reading books and articles of every genre, attending educational conferences, and hiking wherever the terrain will allow.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."