Agriculture - Buy organic food for your baby

White Desert, Egypt

Studies have shown that human exposure to pesticides can cause neurological disturbances, increase the frequency of certain cancers, damage the immune system and reduce male fertility. Pesticides degrade soil and contaminate drinking water, leading to significant clean-up costs. These chemicals also kill non-targeted insects and affect all organisms higher up in the food chain. A conventional farmer might use as many as 450 different authorised pesticides, whereas an organic farmer might use just 7 natural pesticides, and only then in a controlled way.
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If 'going organic' for the whole family looks like a daunting project, at least give priority to feeding organic foods to babies and young children. The average child has 4 times more exposure than an adult to at least 10 widely used cancer-causing pesticides. Pesticides can increase susceptibility to certain cancers by breaking down the immune system's resistance to cancer cells. Infants and children are among those at greatest risk.
www.soilassociation.org/

Waste - When you eat out, eat in

Scorpian Fish, Thailand

In the space of about 30 years the volume of waste generated by household packaging has risen by 5 times, and by as much as 50 times in the case of certain materials such as plastic. During the 1970s, the appearance of containers made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) allowed the manufacture of 'disposable' items, to be thrown out after a single use. The trend towards the use of such items has intensified, and is now closely connected to the recent fashion among consumers for eating on the move.
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At work, when taking your lunch hour, avoid buying take-away meals, which produce large quantities of waste, especially non-recyclable plastic. Take the time to sit down and enjoy your food on the premises.

Lifestyle - Lobby your MP about the environment - make your feelings known

Mount Fitz Roy, Argentina

If you feel that your local authority should adopt the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard for new buildings and use more renewable energy, if your think that energy is used wastefully in public buildings and street lighting, or if you disagree with your area's transport and development plans, make your feelings known.
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Lobby your MP to make him (or her) listen to your environmental concerns and urge them to take decisions that fit with sustainable development. The democratic process needs input from the people, and remember, your elected officials represent you!

Chemicals - Wash your windows with vinegar

Bacteria, Kamchatka, Russia

Most of the world's pollution comes from the developed countries, which produce more than 95% of dangerous pollution. However, in these countries the regulations governing the disposal of dangerous industrial waste have become so strict and involve so much expense that companies have turned to developing countries to take their waste. And industry is not the only area in which chemical products proliferate.
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Most window cleaning fluids contain synthetic compounds that are harmful to rivers. Replace them with a bucket of water, to which you have added a few spoonfuls of vinegar. Apply this with a cloth or newspaper, rather than with a paper towel.

Biodiversity - Leave protected plants and animals alone

Albatross, Roaring Forties, off the coast of South Africa

Every hour, more than 2 species of plant or animal disappear from the earth. In the space of just a century, more than 100 species of mammal and 150 bird species have been wiped out for good.
The chief causes of biodiversity loss are the destruction of natural habitats, the introduction of foreign species and the excessive exploitation of species. Some especially threatened species are now protected: whales, turtles, rhinoceroses, tigers, pandas and orchids are among the best known. However, there are thousands of other less well known but equally significant species.
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When you visit wild places, do not destroy or remove protected plant or animal species.
Instead, find out more about them and discover how you can contribute to their protection and restoration.

Agriculture - Buy traditional varieties of fruit and vegetables

Cranberries, United States

In its headlong rush for profitability, the agricultural industry has favoured the most productive and disease-resistant types of produce at the expense of many native varieties of fruit and vegetables that are regarded as less desirable. It has been established that around 80% of tomato and 92% of lettuce varieties have been lost. Some of these, neglected for decades, survive only in special conservation facilities.
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Standardisation is gaining ground at the expense of biological diversity. Think about varying your choice of fruit and vegetables; try different types and rediscover traditional varieties. Local farms often revive seek stock and sometimes develop their own delicious types of produce based on historical varieties

Transport - Try an electric bike

Uzon caldera, Kamchatka, Russia

Preserving the quality of the air around us is vital to life and our well-being. Air pollution kills 3 times as many people as road accidents. It causes respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis) and is responsible for 3 million deaths worldwide every year.
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Why not try an electric bicycle. It is an attractive alternative to the car for short journeys. The electric motor saves your legs by halving the effort needed to pedal, and it includes a removable, easily rechargeable battery. However, most importantly, it emits no pollution and is silent, and you can leave the cars behind in a traffic jam.