Earth Protect Blog

My name is Christen, I am 16 and live in the US. Now I’m no special teenager. I go to school, try to get good grades, shop, hang out with friends, and secretly dream about prince charming saving me.

So my Grandma and Uncle started this thing called Earth Protect “yeah, yeah I know “save the planet right ok. (just go away so I can call my friends)” … then again “hey christen you remember Earth Protect right?” “Oh that earth thing yeah i remember”… few weeks later “Christen did you join Earth Protect yet?” “k uncle you don’t get it. It’s great that you are trying to “save the environment” but I'm JUST A TEENAGER! WHAT CAN I DO?”

Yes, I know all of you teenagers think the same thing. The environment …ok…boring…hhmm. .the environment… I want to help…but I’m just a teen… well you might not be able to fix all of the global issues but you would be surprise what you can do! And that’s how my story started.   ….. When I first learned about Earth Protect I thought it was a great idea. I have never heard of such an idea that can make a difference and be spread world-wide. So I joined the site, looked at some videos then it hit me. I’m 16…What can I do to help out our planet? Parents always tell us to throw away trash and not harm animals and plants but does it really make a difference? So here I am with a great idea but how do I make it an action? (let me give you a hint if Your EXCITED then They will be EXCITED!)

GET THE WORD OUT
The first thing I thought to do was get the word out. Did you know that the environment makes good DINNER CONVERSATIONS! You can tell your FAMILY about what you know and what you want to know, and your thoughts and ideas on our planet. Well, ok, so my family now knows about Earth Protect but what about my FRIENDS? Friends it’s a little bit harder. At first they all laughed, but when I started saying “help save the earth”. How many times do you hear people say that? Then I started to talk about issues that I thought they would be interested in and got them to at least listen to me. Getting my friends INVOLVED was key to hooking them on to this global idea. (I will get to that part later.) So you have your friends and your families, what about letting your SCHOOL know? This is why you need your friends’ help. (I will list ideas on how to do that later on) if you really feel special or up to a challenge take on your COMMUNITY. (once again ideas will me posted later) Ok I figured out what I want to do and let people know. Now I need to take action and make it happen.

JUST DO IT

HOOK THEM IN
Friends: Personally, I thought it was hardest to get my friends to listen and take me seriously about Earth Protect and the environment. I read a lot of info online first so if they asked questions I could answer them and not look dippy. Finding out what they like (animals, activities, ect.) is good because then you can make them relate to the earth in some way. Think of fun things to do altogether as a friend group that would help.

School: So there are about 2,100 kids in my school; how do I let them know what’s up. I know not all 2,100 kids are going to rush home and join the sight and want to “Save the planet” but if a few kids listen and get stoked about it then that will be cool enough. It all starts with YOU! I first started to spread the word though friends and teachers. Talk to some of your teachers just for like 2 mins. after class. You would be surprised how much your grumpy old history teacher listens to you about this subject. (just make sure you know what you are saying before you start talking!!!)  You can also join clubs or even start them! You can even talk to your principals about making changes as a school or just for ideas. VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS work great or the SCHOOL NEWS PAPER! Make it fun for the students and staff. (your excited…they are excited)

Community: Now this one is the hard one. I personally am still working on the school one. But I have some ideas. You can make flyers about Earth Protect. If they know of the site, at least they can think about it themselves, “how to “save the planet”. Write a wicked article for the town/city newspaper. Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t get in, just keep trying or send it to schools. Be the screaming annoying teenager that no one can ignore. (in a good sense though) in other words make them listen some how. The more you spread the word to companies, schools, stores, shops, coffee shops, etc. the more attention it gets!

TAKE ACTION
This is the fun part. So the list of “What can a teenager do to save the environment?”

1. Just getting the word out helps!

• Make a COOL VIDEO with friends and post it! (I have a few up and I had lots of fun making it. Just making the video made me have to talk to lots of people about Earth Protect and the environment)
• Make fun FLYERS
• Have a MOVIE NIGHT with friends and watch a fun movie about the environment or animals that will get them thinking

2. Get your school to plant a TREE!

3. Buy REUSABLE BAGS from the grocery store. You can use the bags for many things or you could always bring them back the next time you go shopping to reuse them. Plastic bags go to the land fill and take a very long time to disincarnate. Then birds eat them and poof bye bye birdie

4. Get PAPER BAGS from the grocery store. If reusable is to hard, at least save a bird

5. Lift a RIDE with friends/ BIKE WALK (exercise never hurts)

6. There is always PICK up TRASH

7. Throw away trash IN THE TRASH CAN. And punch your FRIENDS when they don’t throw away their trash in the trash can. But try not to punch random people, when you see them litter (just clean it up for them. Stupid people!)

8. Turn OFF LIGHTS when you’re not in the room. Small things DO help!

9. Turn OFF COMPUTERS

10. Trade LIGHT BULBS to different wattage!

11. Find organizations in your community (online) to help the environment

12. I personally have never done a beach cleanup (don’t have a beach) but you could do that

13. Go to the park, walk a dog, pick up trash, swing on swings

14. RECYCLE (always good!)

15. Organize events (at school, with friends) and think of a way to make a difference.) raise money for a green organization

16. BUY products off the Earth Protect site. Money will go to keeping Earth Protect running and give some money to the people who work without pay so hard to make it happen! (I personally know that they worked so hard to make this idea happen and reality and put so much time, work and Money into it and don’t get much money back) (plus some of the stuff on the sight is cool. I have some shirts and sweatshirts off the site and I don’t look like a hippie.)

17. STAY POSITIVE AND HAVE FUN!!!!

In all, I am a 16 year old girl who IS making a difference in our world. I have big hopes, dreams and ideas. But if you put in a little time and work it is WAY worth it! I’m still working on the ideas myself. Those are all my thoughts and I have not completed my mission yet. Who knows if I work hard enough I could be in papers, get a scholarship, a great job, I could travel the world all while helping out the Earth! So I told you some ideas to get you stated. I’m stoked and would love to hear your ideas thoughts and stories on how you changed the world….. one teenager at a time! And that is how my story is progressing….