“FYI: For Your Information,” New Era, July 1991, 40–44
FYI:
For Your Information
Okay, New Era readers, it’s time to start talking earth sense. Heavenly Father has blessed us with this beautiful planet, and it’s up to us to take good care of it. We all share a responsibility for this green earth, yet sometimes we forget that and abuse its resources. How can you help keep your environment safe and help ensure a decent place for your future children to live? Here are a few suggestions.
Planet Pleasing
by Lisa A. Johnson
Easy Things You Can Do
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Walk on. Or carpool, or use public transportation. It’s cool to save fuel. Don’t have your parents drive you everywhere, or take the car to visit a friend down the street.
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Bag waste. You can reuse the plastic bags you get at the supermarket. Some stores even take a couple of cents off your grocery bill for reusing your bag. And if you’re doing a lot of shopping in different stores, don’t get a bag from each. Put your purchases in one bag (preferably a reusable one).
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Battle burger blight. Be careful when eating fast food. Do you take more napkins, straws, and ketchup packages than you need, then throw the rest away? Try to take only what you’ll use.
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Don’t plunder the playgrounds. When you’re involved in recreational activities, try to leave the campsites, picnic spots, etc. cleaner than you found them. If you use snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, etc., make sure you do it in designated areas and that you don’t hurt any plants, wildlife, property, or eardrums.
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Sack the pack. Buy products with minimal packaging. Cardboard and foam refuse put a real strain on the environment.
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Write away. If the products you like have too much packaging, or if they contain ingredients that are harmful to the environment, write to the companies and express your concern (see sample letter).
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Rap about wrapping. Try to get your family not to throw away plastic wrap, freezer bags, and foil. Reuse them or just use resealable containers.
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Be careful with cups. Don’t always use paper cups and toss them—that goes for plates, too. It’s better to use the real thing and wash the dishes.
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Patrol that paper. Use recycled paper at school, at home, at work, whenever you can.
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Reuse refuse. Help your family to sort your garbage—put paper in one place, plastics in another, glass in another, and cans somewhere else. Then take them to the recycling center. About 40 percent of your garbage is recyclable.
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Mop-up mail. Write to the people who litter your box with unrequested junk mail and ask them to stop. If 100,000 people did this, we could save about 150,000 trees per year.
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Make T.P.ing taboo. Sure, it’s fun to decorate someone’s lawn with toilet paper, but it’s not the most ecologically sound way to play a joke. Nor is spraying shaving cream around. Think of something else.
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Turn out the lights! Not only will it make your parents happy by keeping the utility bills low, but it will save power, which can eventually lead to less acid rain, air pollution, and nuclear waste.
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Wash wisely. Okay, maybe your best jeans are dirty and you need to wear them in an hour, but it’s a tremendous waste of water and energy to wash and dry just one piece of clothing at a time. Wait till you have a full load, or see if your brothers and sisters might have some things that need to be washed along with yours.
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Put plastic in your tank. Your toilet tank, that is. You can save up to 40 percent of the water your toilet uses by putting a “displacement device,” like a plastic bottle filled with water and a few rocks, in the tank. Be careful that it doesn’t interfere with the flushing mechanism, and that it doesn’t displace too much water for an effective flush. But get your parents’ permission first.
Snip Those Rings!
Those plastic rings that hold sixpacks of pop together are an environmental nightmare, no matter where you live. They’re virtually invisible under water, so marine life can’t avoid them. Baby animals can get them caught around their necks and suffocate as they grow. And birds can get them caught around their beaks and starve, or around their necks and get caught on something stationary, never to get free. So after you use them, snip each ring so that it can’t catch on anything. And if you see any discarded anywhere, pick them up and do the same thing to them. Unsnipped plastic can be lethal.
Letters Work
If you’re concerned about the amount of packaging used in one of your favorite products or think that it might be environmentally harmful, let the manufacturers know! A short, well-written letter can have a lot of influence. You might try saying something like:
Greetings!
I’m writing to let you know that I love your product, but I’m very concerned about its effect on the environment. Isn’t there some way you can package (or produce) it in a more ecologically sound way?
Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely,
R. Stewart Shipp
Precycling
It’s more difficult to recycle plastic than just about anything else, so it’s wise to cut down on its use. Here are a few suggestions for precycling plastics before they have to be recycled.
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Buy eggs in cardboard, rather than Styrofoam containers.
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Use washable mugs rather than plastic cups.
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Buy things in recycled cardboard packages rather than in plastic ones.
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Ask that your fast food not be served to you in Styrofoam containers.
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Avoid disposable plastic containers altogether, especially squeezable ones. They’re made out of layered plastic that is particularly nonbiodegradable.
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Instead of putting plastic wrap around everything, try wax paper or reusable containers.
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Talk your parents into buying in bulk. It’s cheaper and uses less packaging.
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If you can’t get around buying things in plastic containers, make sure you reuse the containers.
Gee … Try a Tree
Never underestimate the worth of a tree. In fact, try planting some, and take care of the ones around you. It’s one of the most ecologically minded things you can do, for these simple reasons. People require oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Trees give off oxygen and require carbon dioxide. It’s estimated that a tree consumes about 13 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, reducing the greenhouse effect. Trees also provide shade and evaporative cooling—they can cool the surrounding air temperature by ten degrees, reducing the need for air conditioning. Unfortunately, for every tree planted in most areas, four are chopped down. In forested areas, those numbers are even worse. So do everyone a favor—plant a tree.
What’s the Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is what keeps our planet warm. Natural gases in the atmosphere form a sort of blanket over the earth’s surface that lets sunlight in and prevents heat from escaping (like the glass in a greenhouse). There’s a problem, however, when we add too many gases to that natural blanket. Then lifegiving sunlight is blocked out (as you’ve seen on a smoggy day), and temperatures can rise to ecologically harmful levels. How do we add gases? By burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas; by using aerosol cans; and by filling landfills, which release gases into the air as the garbage degrades. We can’t cut those activities out altogether, but we can be more careful about how we do them.
Believers in Belize
The young women in the Belize City Branch, Honduras Sand Pedro Sula Mission, received national recognition for their special Earth Day project. The mayor of Belize city attended their tree planting ceremony, during which they planted a mayflower tree behind their meetinghouse. It was featured on the front page of the Belize Times.
Belize is a Central American country bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. It has been independent since 1981 and has six LDS branches with about 800 members. In Mayan times, about one million people lived there. Today the population is about 200,000, and Church membership is growing.
What a Kick
There are many people in central California who have heard of Amy Phillips, the high school soccer player who earned the right to represent her state on a TEAMS USA tour that took a select group of players to Europe for training and competition.
Amy, a member of the Santa Maria Second Ward, Santa Maria California Stake, has served in various positions in the presidencies of her Young Women classes, is active in student government, and is a member of several clubs. She recently received her Young Women Recognition medallion.
Thanks, Friends
Not long ago, Jeff Pugh was driving across state to attend a session of Especially for Youth. He never made it. He was involved in a serious car accident and woke
“The first moments I remember of the whole ordeal were about a week and a half after it happened. There were unfamiliar faces in my room. I got to know these faces very well. They were the youth of the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Second Ward. The young women brought me sweets to eat. The young men came and talked to me, and one time helped push me in my wheelchair outside for a conversation.
“I am writing so that the Tulsa Second Ward youth can be recognized for their unselfish love and their Christlike example. They helped a scared and confused young man feel their love. This happening helped build my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and helped me realize there really are people out there like the ones you hear about in Sunday School stories. Thanks.”
Doing All She Can
“Well-rounded” is a good word for Trisa Andrews, of the Rock Springs Fourth Ward, Rock Springs Wyoming Stake. Trisa was first runner-up in the state Young Woman of the Year Pageant, and won the creative and performing arts category by performing a vocal and violin medley.
Trisa serves as the Sunday School pianist, as a genealogy extractor, and attends seminary. She’s an athlete, too, and has taken all-state honors in tennis. At school she gets outstanding grades, sings and accompanies choirs, and was crowned Winter Ball queen.
Age Doesn’t Matter Here
Melissa Ann Muse, a Mia Maid in the Windcrest First Ward, San Antonio Texas East Stake, may only be 14, but she’s already done pretty well for herself. She was president of her middle school, and editor of the school paper, captain and top rebounder of her basketball team, and winner of a number of awards for school spirit and citizenship.
Melissa also loves to play the piano and dance. She was selected to perform with Ballet West in their San Antonio presentation of the Nutcracker.
He Never Runs Down
Eric Victor, a priest in the Buhl Second Ward, Filer Idaho Stake, ran to a first-place victory in the regional junior Olympic TAC Cross-country competition. This win earned him a chance to compete in the national meet, where he took ninth out of 200 runners.
But Eric doesn’t run away from responsibilities outside of track. He is seminary class president, an Eagle Scout, and an honor student. He also runs at least four miles a day.
Into the Family
At 14, Chris Stone of the Clarksville ward, Hopkinsville Kentucky Stake, knows how important the family is and spends much of his spare time helping strengthen the families of those around him. Chris is an assistant librarian for the ward family history library. He loves helping the patrons and has offered to transcribe some Indian records of Latin text. He also serves as assistant nursery leader for Relief Society.
Add being active in his Scout troop and serving as president of his teachers quorum, and you’ve got one service-oriented guy.
Playing Polo
Water polo can be a truly grueling sport, but not for Michael Benjamin Farr, a priest in the Santa Clara First Ward, Eugene Oregon Santa Clara Stake. Ben was named First Team All State and team MVP for his play at the two-meter position. He’s also on his school’s swim team.
When Ben’s not in the water, you can find him taking advanced placement classes, in early-morning seminary, or serving as secretary in his priests quorum. You could say he makes quite a splash.
That’s Her Business
Was it a church project or a school project? Allison Steiner, a Laurel in the Rosepine Second Ward, Alexandria Louisiana Stake, got credit for both, proving that she’s a good manager and worthy of her title of Louisiana’s Miss Future Business Leader of America.
At the state conference, Allison won first place for a community service project she chaired. It involved showing support for the families of servicemen stationed overseas at Christmas. She helped the families tape messages for their loved ones, and entertained the children. Allison also planned the event as a Young Women Value project focusing on “Good Works.”
Mission for a Day
One of the most eagerly anticipated activities for the youth of the Oakton Virginia Stake is their yearly missionary day. On that day, they each pair up with an adult, many times a parent, and go tracting locally. This year, several baptisms resulted.
But it doesn’t just happen overnight—a lot of preparation is required. The youth fast and have special talks with their stake president. They’re also expected to be familiar with the missionary discussions. But most important of all, the participants are asked to set up appointments with their non-LDS friends and acquaintances.
In addition to baptisms, the day inspires stronger testimonies and stronger commitment to missionary work. “I learned a lot,” said Jamie Decker, 16, of the Franklin Ward. “It has really helped me realize that I do want to go on a mission.
Talk about Smart
Steven Ray Horton of the Weatherford Ward, Ft. Worth Texas Stake, got the highest grade point average ever achieved at his school. The valedictorian took weighted honors courses that allowed him higher than the usual perfect 4.0. Steve was the only member of the Church in his graduating class. He lettered in track and was on student council. He’s also an Eagle Scout, and drove 44 miles each school day to attend seminary, where he serves as seminary president. During the summer, Steve developed two businesses that help him save money for his mission.
Caring for Their Community
When it comes to community service projects, the young men and women from the Reno Nevada North Stake are always willing to pitch in. They recently helped on two separate projects and are making quite a name for LDS youth among local community leaders.
One project involved participation in Reno’s annual “Adopt a Park Day.” The LDS youth selected Idlewild Park, the city’s largest, and spent the day painting picnic tables, varnishing bleachers, weeding, picking up trash, sweeping parking lots, and spreading sand on the playground.
The other project involved the stake Young Women. They spent a day helping the Committee to Aid Abused Women, and the children of those women. They made toys for the children and provided a party for them. They also collected items needed by the mothers, such as blankets, dishes, and clothing.
Photography by Jed Clark
California’s cool kicker Amy Phillips played soccer in Europe.
A Virginia stake missionary activity teamed up mother and daughter Marie and Rebecca Johnson as companions for a day.