When G-d told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply,” such bidding was immediately followed with “and replenish the earth.”
Whether or not you believe that the men (could they have been women?) who wrote Genesis were divinely inspired, you will have to agree that they were at least very prescient, foreseeing the day when the land would be overflowing, not with milk and honey, but with discarded plastics, electronic gadgets, tin cans, and other forms of rubbish.
Today, I think we can communicate to G-d, relative to the command of being fruitful and multiplying, “mission accomplished.” Most people would say we have actually overdone it.
But what about the command to replenish the earth? This one, I think, requires us to do a little bit more to assure that our children, and their children, will inherit an earth worth inheriting – one with bountiful natural resources.
Fortunately, conservation and natural preservation need not require grand and expensive actions and projects. For example, a flick of a finger – turning off a light switch – can, en mass, make a huge difference for future generations.
In addition to turning off lights when leaving a room, here is a list of the things we can do to help replenish the earth:
- Change your incandescent bulbs to fluorescent lamps. Up front, fluorescent lamps may be more expensive than incandescent bulbs but in the long run they can save you as much as 30% on your electric bills. This is because they use 75% less power than incandescent bulbs, and can last up to ten times longer!
- Walking, bicycling, and riding in car pools are definitely better than driving to work, but if you have to drive be sure that your car is in top condition, and avoid driving aggressively. In addition, keeping your tires properly inflated can save a lot on gas. Avoiding jackrabbit starts and speeding can likewise keep you from the gas pumps a little longer.
- When washing dishes or clothes, be sure the dishwasher or washing machine is full before running; this will help you to save water. Line drying your clothes will also help you save on power bills. It also has the added bonus of keeping your clothes from shrinking and fading.
- Most of us do not bother unplugging our appliances’ electric cords when they are not in use. This is especially true if the appliance is big, like a huge TV set, and the outlet is right behind it. But if you really want to save on electric bills, take the trouble to unplug all idle electric appliances.
- Plastic water bottles are a convenient way to have a drink anywhere at any time you please. While the water is good for your health, the container is not good for the environment. It is manufactured from petroleum-based products and it has to be transported from the plant to the market, which uses fuel. Filtering your own water and pouring it into reusable water containers is a far better, not to mention cheaper, alternative.
- Bring you own canvass tote bag when going to the supermarket. This will result in less plastic bags going to the landfill. You can also bring your own leftover containers when eating in restaurants that offer jumbo servings that you can’t finish in one sitting; further, use such containers when getting take-out.
- Buying used products can also help. New products require power to create and to transport. If you can do with pre-owned items, you minimize your carbon footprint.
- Do not take a bath. Take a shower instead. On average, a bath can take 30 – 50 gallons of water, while a four-minute shower will use only 20! If you use a low-flow showerhead, this can be further reduced to 10 gallons.
You probably will not be able to replenish the earth on your own, but if you keep on doing these simple tips and spreading the word to your friends and neighbors, we may still be able to say to G-d “mission accomplished.”
 |