What environmental issue would you like to learn more about?

[Tammy]

I'm going to do a short environmental training session for our small group of employees next week. I'm using the company credit card to buy everyone a reusable shopping bag and presenting a short power point show on the overuse of plastic bags. I've been searching around for other ideas and wondered what you'd like to know more about? Looking for someting not too in depth since time is an issue (I'll have about 30-40 minutes total). Any ideas??

[blisstwins]

shade grown cocoa and conserving the rainforest:http://www.yachanagourmet.com/cocoa_conservations.htm
Could put shade grown chocolate in those bags

Also Palm Oil awareness. As petroleum prices go up many companies are substituting this and it is devastating on the environment--should avoid products using it:
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/mg19826582.900-tropical-forests-axed-in-favour-of-palm-oil.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/apr/04/energy.indonesia
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/09/forests.food

Good lucks. Sounds great.

[almostmom]

A few simple things that come to mind are recycling - letting people know how easy it is. Not buying things in small packages, because it creates much more waste - using tupperware instead of those packages or sandwich bags. If you live in an area where people have yards, or gardens, you could look into composting. We have a compost pile in our yard - it's simple, just dig a hole and, plop your produce waste, coffee grinds, egg shells, in there, and cover it with more soil. It leads to great compost for the garden the following year, and cuts down on our trash immensely. It's also fun for the kids to see all the worms in there. I'd also touch on buying local food, and how that cuts down on travel expense and waste, usually has less chemicals, and supports local agriculture which in turn preserves land.
Also, you could talk about reuasable water bottles, such as Kleen Kanteen, instead of buying bottled water, which is unneccesary.

Just a few ideas! Have fun!

[elizabethkott]

Since you're already going the reusable shopping bag route, why not also look into the Seventh Generation garbage bags, the effects of plastics that are in landfills, stuff like that - that can also tie in to Liz's great suggestion of Kleen Kanteen.

[ThreeofUs]

I like Liz and Liz's suggestions, and have only one thing to add.

Be careful what you tell folks about shopping bags - paper or plastic. Unfortunately, there are plusses and minuses on both sides. A short/easy discussion of energy use to generate as well as disposal problems is needed to help people understand the real issues.

The real message is that the best thing to do for the environment is to re-use (just about everything). As people brought up to consume and discard, this is a very difficult lesson to take to heart.

[Happy 2B mommy]

Our church had a "Small changes/ Big Impact" presentation by one of the youth groups. They had a list of small, simple changes that one can do to help the enviroment. Some of the things suggested that might tie into the workplace:

Using reusable bags, lunch boxes, sandwhich containers and water containers
Carpooling/ public transportation/walking (even part way) or biking to work
Only filling your gastank 1/2 to 3/4 full when you fill up (less weight)
Taking the stairs instead of elevator
Lobbying your employer to raise the temp before A/C kicks in, Lowering temp before heat in winter.
Double-side printing on paper
Lowering the brightness of your computer monitor