(NC)—Kids are the eco-heroes of tomorrow. By supporting their efforts today we can help them inspire future change across Canada. Celebrate Earth day by learning about how you can protect the planet and do something to help. Here are five easy resolutions you can make to get started.

1. Recycle Materials for Art : Items like egg cartons, cereal boxes and old newspapers (for paper Mache) are great to keep for your craft projects at home or school. And ask your parents to buy earth-friendly craft glues and paints, too.

2. Start a Green Project: Come up with a fun green idea such as starting a garden or recycling program at school, planting trees or cleaning up your local park, and get your friends, teachers and family involved. If you are between the ages of 6–13 years old, submit your idea to the Sunlight Green Clean Kids: Green Grants Program by writing a short essay on your unique idea to make the environment a better place. Sunlight is offering up to $1,500 to get your project started. More information can be found online at www.sunlightgreencleankids.ca.

3. Organize a Swap: Recycle your old toys and clothes—while getting a bunch of cool new stuff—by organizing a swap at your home, school or community centre where everyone can trade their used items. Set simple rules for the swap such as how many toys each person should bring and how to deal with more than one person choosing the same item.

4. Bike to School: Ask your parents if you can bike or walk to school (as long as it’s safe) a few days a week instead of taking the bus or having them drive you.

5. Teach Your Parents to Recycle: Teach your parents how important it is to recycle by learning about the types of materials that can be put in the recycle box. Label small cans and tubs to collect glass, cardboard, paper and tin items, and ensure the right material goes in the right box. Also look for products that can be recycled on your weekly grocery shop with mom and dad.

www.newscanada.com

That’s right! Earth day has been rescheduled and relocated. That is, if you’re in Edmonton, and it’s 2009.

Come down to enjoy eco happy family activities, entertainment and a swath of green businesses and non-profits that want to help you green your home and your life.

Raising Spaces will be there with all stock marked down as low as it can go for our Summer Stock Sell-off Sale. You could walk away with some pretty unreal deals!

Edmonton’s Earth Day in September event will take place today, Saturday September 19th, between 12pm and 6pm at Adventure (104st and 85 Avenue) and McIntyre Parks (104st and 83rd). Today’s forecast? 25 above! See you there!

By Deborah Merriam of ecoDomestica reDesign

SCOOPED limited-edition pendant lamp, 1/20, colour: Spring, of discarded laundry detergent scoops, photographed without flash

I’m excited to have recently added handmade pendant lamps created from upcycled materials to my portfolio. (Most materials are “downcycled”, degrading in quality and value, as they are recycled into new products – an oft-cited example of downcycling is the recycling of paper fibres from cardboard into office paper into toilet paper. “Upcycling” is the opposite of this, creating an object of beauty and increased value from a material that would otherwise be discarded.) Read the rest of this entry »

How often do you pause to practice gratitude for the planet? Thanks to Earth Day, it’ll be at least once a year.

And what ’s to celebrate? Everything, of course! From the air you breathe and the water you drink to the food you eat and the clothes you wear.

Everything we need and use comes from the Earth. Think about your favorite things like wine, chocolate, fresh sheets, sunny afternoons, and give thanks to the plants, animals, elements, and ecosystems that make it all possible. Read the rest of this entry »