schmied©2009 all rights reserved	A Present for the Environment

Background: People all around the world give presents to others they care for, especially during the end of year holidays. Gift giving is a positive and uplifting celebration of life for everyone involved.

It seems fair to say we all understand the need to take care of our environment, but impacts to our environment are often neglected during gift giving times. This often comes about when we consider what we want without thinking about the positive and negative long term impacts on the environment a gift can have. The materials and energy used to make, pack, ship, wrap, and eventually dispose of gifts can present hazards to the health of our environment. Also, Americans throw away 25% more waste during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than during any other month in the year. I think you'll all agree that it is in our best interests to have a healthy, sustainable environment, so…

.............this year I'd like to ask each of you to research, consult with your family, and choose a present (that you actually commit to do) to give to our environment to help create a more sustainable New Year for everyone.

This can be a gift of your time to an environmentally friendly cause, a long term action that will result in a more sustainable environment, a gift of something that will conserve resources in the long term, or anything reasonable along these lines.....

Like any really good present, your gift doesn't have to be big, just something you do that will be meaningful and have a lasting, positive impact on the environment.

The goal is to do something that will be positive and uplifting. If you are stuck for ideas I'd suggest you do a search on "Going Green" or "Ways to save the Environment" to get some starter ideas.

There are Two Parts to this assignment: the Proposal and the actual Present.

Please read through all of the instructions and then follow the formats for each part.

Part One - My Proposed Present for the Environment

a. My present to the environment for this year is … (describe your proposed action or present)

b. Discussion: (5 sentences minimum) I selected this present because …… explain how giving this present to the environment will help create a more healthy and sustainable environment.

c. Action: Tell when you are giving your present to the environment. Date must be by the end of March.

Part Two is to be submitted upon completion of Part One

Part Two - My Present for the Environment -

a. My present to the environment for this year was … (specifically describe your actual action or present)

b. Tell: (5 sentences minimum) Tell how you did what you proposed to do and how it created a more healthy and sustainable environment. Also describe how you felt about doing this project.

c. Show: Include either a photo of your present, a copy of a detailed receipt, both with a full signature from your parent certifying your positive efforts for the environment.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF US!

(signed) MOTHER EARTH

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© 2009 John Schmied all rights reserved