EcoLiving Ideas

By Katie Carroll on Jan 9, 2012

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Good ol’ Kris Kringle did his magic again 'last' year and brought me all that could fit under the tree. But not everything I wished for was so fitting. Instead, during this time of reflection and hope for a happier new year, I’m going for the big stuff – intangibles. Let’s see how well 2012 will top 2011 if these come true..

1. (Magically obtaining) Jedi Mind Trick Powers. Now come on, I promise to use these powers with all of the wisdom Obi-Wan Kenobi would! But think of all the good we could do to the empire … er, country, if I could “remind” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar we actually like the Delaware Water Gap without power lines. Oh hey, Congress, can I “encourage” you to not rush the President into a decision about the Keystone XL pipeline? Perhaps, Spectra, you would like to “reconsider” the gas pipeline heading towards the West Village? The Force is in nature, after all.

2. (Fearlessly gathering) Celebrity. We’ve got Leo on the NRDC Board of Trustees, while Ruffalo fights fracking and Hugh Jackman champions fair trade coffee. Calling all celebs! How are you going to help Mother Earth in 2012?

3. (Ecstatically not worrying) about Uranium Mining at the Grand Canyon! President Obama and his administration are set to ban new uranium mining around the Grand Canyon for the next 20 years. One wish is almost fulfilled!

4. (Eventually snagging) A Baby-Sitting Job at The White House. Malia, Sasha and I will have a great time playing dress-up, going for ice-cream and staying up late. Then I’ll casually slide into conversation the fate of the human race and planet Earth, if we continue to pollute the planet at the rate that we are currently going. Maybe if Obama, the dad, started thinking more about how environmental policy decisions affect his daughters' health and future, stricter rules and laws could be set...here's to hoping.

5. (Happily purchasing) America the Beautiful Pass. This is the ultimate, awesome thing to get in the new year. For $80: entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as

well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. What better way to recommit yourself constantly to the environment than by experiencing the wonders of nature as often as you can? Then when you hit 62, all of this glory is only $10.

6). (Hopefully encouraging) you all to become more active. This would be a dream come true, if the public simply got more involved and voiced their concerns about the health of our planet, and not just our healthcare plans.

Happy 2012 everyone!

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