Modern celebrities and enterprises have gone out of their ways to make a difference for the environment. It is time we do our part too.

Flip through the past month’s magazines and I am sure that you would have noticed the similar themes focused on the ailing Earth. MSN.com added “Green” to its list of regular columns. Movies and documentaries revolving around pollution, global warming and greenhouse effects sprung up over the years. Celebrities jumped on the green bandwagon, endorsing eco-friendly organisations to create awareness for the green movement. However, all of these are not a fad; they are here to stay.

Notable celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton, are strong advocates of the green movement. The former released a documentary, “The 11th Hour,” in March, which looks at the current state of global environmental issues. This was the second most publicised environmental documentary, following the unforgettable one by the former United States vice-president, Al Gore, “The Inconvenient Truth.”.

The constant media attention has made many of us aware of the dangers of rising sea levels, increase in temperature and our over-reliance on diminishing fossil fuels. Along with the attention, it has also brought us knowledge that everyone can make a difference – big or small, it is still of significance.

One of the things that we can do is to reduce our energy consumption. Many big establishments such as hotels have adopted energy conservation as part of meeting their corporate social responsibility. Not only do they do their part for the community, they also incur smaller utility bills!

The commitment from hotels ranges from simply putting up a reminder in the toilets to reuse your towels to laudable movements such as using organic bed sheets and other environmentally friendly furnishings. Hotel Triton and Fairmount Hotel are two of the leading hotels with their environmentally friendly practices.

Hotel Triton uses only environmentally friendly cleaning products, has unique in-room designer recycling bins to encourage guest to participate in recycling, and implemented and audit low flow water systems to reduce water wastage amongst other practices. Fairmount Hotel is a leader in addressing green issues with its highly acclaimed Green Partnership Guide, a manual for companies to go “green”. Fairmount also has programs dedicated to saving endangered wildlife such as Beluga whales, sea turtles and grizzly bears.
The number of such environmentally friendly hotels has risen because many travellers are now demanding it. It is a result of the awareness that was created and the knowledge instilled in people that give rise to the popularity of green hotels.

Essentially, the green movement is connected like a chain. Awareness of the global environmental issues allows us to make wiser choices when it comes to making a purchase. As consumers, we drive up demand for environmentally friendly products, as we are aware of the difference we can make by purchasing carefully. This results in more establishments going the extra mile to be green. As a result, everything from clothes to furniture to groceries has in some degree become more “green”.

Why not shop at www.ecoist.com, which uses materials made from old candy wrappers and discarded food packaging for their vibrant bags? U2 front man Bono, another noted environmentalist, designs fashionable clothes with his wife. He uses 100 per cent environmentally friendly production and sells his goods at www.edunonline.com. IKEA not only sells beautiful furniture that is also affordable, it also strives to minimise its damage to the environment by recycling.

Buying organic produce is more than just about being concerned with your health, but also the environment. These foods are grown without conventional pesticides or artificial fertilizers, which are harmful to the soil and water, Instead, farmers introduce natural predators to keep pests at bay. This increases the cost of farming, which explains why organic produce costs more. However, the reduced pollution makes it definitely worth the added financial burden.

In the past, information was not as readily available and campaigns for going green not as strong, so the generations before us may not have been as well informed. They did not see the need to purchase eco-friendly products, reduce their use of water or make an effort to recycle.

We have no excuse for not caring about our planet. It is essentially our fault, as we are responsible for doing the most damage to Earth. We know how fragile Earth is due to our over-extortion of its natural resources, use of non-biodegradable materials and excessive pollution of the environment.

List of things that I do to reduce my impact on Earth:

• Being in a sports team means there are many water bottles and aluminium can drinks around the training area. Collect the bottles and cans and put them into recycle bins instead of just throwing it into rubbish bins.
• Purchase two big bottles of 100 Plus instead of six small bottles or even more cans.
• This reduces the amount of plastics and aluminium used and is also more cost-efficient.
• If you must use the air conditioner, set it at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
• Never let the tap run while you shower. It is a waste of precious water!
• Buy organic and eco-friendly products, such as from The Body Shop.
• Switch off the main electrical board if you are going overseas.
• Bring your own grocery bag for shopping instead of using the plastic bags. NTUC FairPrice gives you a 10-cent rebate for purchases above $12.
• Don’t waste paper. Use both sides and then recycle them.
• Make your first car a hybrid, like what celebrities Sophia Bush, Cameron Diaz and Stella McCartney have done.
• Quit smoking. Not only will it benefit your health and those of others around you, it also reduces air pollution.
• Most importantly, tell your friends to care for the environment!