NEWS photo Cindy Goodman THESE TWO girls give each other a helping hand while taking a stroll in John Lawson Park in West Vancouver. Book helps protect the environment BEING AN environmentalist does not necessarily mean chaining yourself to a tree, or lying in the path of a bulldozer. Nor do you have to throw yourself between a whaling ship and a humpback. But if you want to make a dif- ference, a new book called Protec- ting The Environment —- What One Person Can Do offers some valuable insights. “This book illustrates what an individual can do without having to join an environmental group, or becoming politically active,”’ says Valentin Schaefer, one of the authors and an instructor at ~ Douglas College. *sNot everyone is interested in protecting the environment. People have their own lives. But if people are interested as individuals, this book can help them.”’ The book was co-authored by Douglas College students Heidi Anderson and Cathy Schofield, college instructor Adrienne Peacock, and Schaefer. A Challenge '89 grant allowed the project to go ahead, and the book will be made available to the gen- eral public. According to Schaefer, the book summarizes the environmental mess created by the human race since the Industrial Revolution. The message is clear — we don’t have to stop using energy and resources, but we do need to be prudent in our consumption. A. section on solid waste management talks about the three “*Rs’”? — reducing, recycling and reusing potential waste. Paint thinners, for example, can be recycled. Coat hangers can be returned to the drycleaner. “*The book is loaded with prac- tical suggestions like these that don't require major lifestyle changes,”’ says Schaefer. ‘*We en- courage people to start with what they're doing now, take that as the baseline, and see what else you can to do to help the environment.’’ The book gives pointers on how to deal with hazardous chemical wastes, including household chem- icals, pesticides and _ fertilizers. Highly toxic household cleaners can often be replaced by combina- tions of water and vinegar, baking soda or lemon juice. Tips are also given on how to reduce air pollution. Carbon monoxide emissions from automobiles account for 60 per cent of air pollution in urban areas. You can help protect the environment, according to Schaefer, by leaving your car at home and biking to the store. ‘‘It saves you money and keeps you fit.” Schaefer says the book is also useful to people who don’t mind making major lifestyle changes. Some of the suggestions, such as keeping your car tuned and your furnace well-serviced, will cost money. “We suggest these things, but you shouldn't feel guilty if you don't do them,’’ says Schaefer. “What people don’t need from the environmental movement is a sense of inadequacy or guilt. It just turns them off, or paralyses them. We've provided this information, but we don’t want to preach radi- cal changes in lifestyle or guilt.’’ Schaefer hopes the book will be used as a resource guide. ‘‘The probiem with material that’s been out so far is that on specific issues they give just a few suggestions at a time, typically about recycling, or how to start your own compost, or how to cut down on toxic wastes,’ he says. “I thought it wouJd be good to have one com- prehensive guide, so that people would not have to rely on one little brochure they happen to pick up.”” The environment has a tremen- dous capacity to deal with pollu- tion, says Schaefer, but it dues have a limit. “Exceeding the limit leads to the death of the planet, or the collapse of the ecosystem,’ he says. ‘‘It’s too late to save the planet once it’s dying. And we can see that i! + decline is about to happen. The scale is so vast that to turn it around is almost impossible. So we have to start working now.” One quote in the book sums up the dangers of continual abuse of the environment. ‘‘It’s the top of the ninth inning, and the human race is up to bat. We've been hit- ting Mother Nature hard, but nature always bats last.” 27 - Friday, December 8, 1989 - North Shore News SCRATCH AND SAVE SALE We have extended our store hours this weekend so that you can take advantage of our “Scratch and Save” sale prior to Christmas. Additional cards will be available in the store. STORE HOURS: SAT. DEC. 9 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. SUN. DEC. 10th 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. , sa a genuine JEEP SKI RACK VANCOUVER ieee JEEP EAGLE LTD. A577 Main St. at Terminal, Vanc. f = Next to McDonald's oe o— 8636 687-JEEP _ Wares. Pave: