Green zine - a mini-magazine covering ecological and conservational news and topics

Ranger Rick, Dec, 1996

UNHEAP THE HOLIDAYS

Ever noticed how trash piles up during the holiday season? In the month of December, we heap up about 25 percent more waste than usual. Yuck!

This year, why not give a gift to the Earth and call a "War on Waste"? Here are some tips to help keep trash cans empty and energy use down.

When you can, buy gifts with little or no packaging, or buy things packaged in recyclable materials.

Know any adults who need help choosing gifts? Tell them about "environmentally friendly" things such as compact fluorescent lights and water-saving shower- heads. And when it comes to toys, it's best to get toys that last--rather than ones that break by mid-January. Also, how about using rechargeable batteries in your new power toys or walk-around radio?

Wrap your gifts in recycled paper or newspaper comics. You can also put gifts in hand-decorated paper bags.

Sending fragile gifts through the mail? Rather than packing them in plastic foam peanuts, use crumpled newspaper. And if you get a package stuffed with foam peanuts, don't throw them away. Use them again, or give them to someone who can. (Often, businesses such as Mail Boxes Etc. can reuse them.)

Happy trash-free holidays!

FRIENDS OF THE FUTURE

Dozens of kids at St. Francis of Assisi School in Louisville, Kentucky, are working for a bright future. How?

These kids organize kids' enviro conferences. They share info with kids in other countries. And they've even written a couple of books about ways to help the environment.

The kids are part of a group called Friends of the Future. The group has cleaned up creeks and organized a storm drain project to help keep pollution from getting into rivers (see photo at left). They've also been studying everything about the water in their community. Where does it come from? Who decides about water use and cleanup? And more.

With all this info, the kids then get involved in community projects. And they keep reaching out to help other kids learn about what they can do too--in places as far away as Nicaragua, a country in Central America.

Keep up the good work, Friends of the Future!

SMILE IF YOU'RE CLEAN!

Earlier this year, a computerized sign was put up in Denver, Colorado, where Interstate 25 crosses Speer Boulevard. What's so special about that?

The sign is hooked up to a machine in a manhole in the road. When a car passes by, the machine takes a quick measurement of the amount of pollution coming out of the car's tailpipe.

When the pollution is low, the sign flashes a big happy face. But when it's high--watch out! The sign flashes a big red frown. (See photos below.) So, Denver drivers, if you see a frowning face, go get your car fixed. You'll pol- lute less and get better gas mileage too!

Want to find out if your town or city could put up a sign like this? You need to contact your local government pollution agency. And to find out more about the sign, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Don Stedman; Chemistry Dept.; University of Denver; Denver, CO 80208.

PLANET'S RICHEST PARK?

This good news is for the birds! Bolivia, a country in South America, has a big, new national park, called Madidi.

What does Madidi National Park have to do with birds? The park--almost as big as the state of New Jersey--may have the largest number of species (kinds) of birds of any protected area in the world. Scientists say more than 1000 dif- ferent species may live in the park's forests and grasslands!

MORE INFO

Ladybugs (pages 4-10). Do you like ladybugs and other insects? Then you may want to visit the Web site of The Young Entomological Society. http://insects.um mz.lsa.umich.edu/yes/yes.html

You'll find photos and info about beetles, butterflies, and much more. And here's a way to download insect photos for school projects! Enter: http://www.vt.edu: 10021/forestry/wildlife/stein/insects.html

Outdoor Exploring

A neat new kids' book came out this year. It's called Natural Treasures Field Guide for Kids by Elizabeth Biesiot, published by the Denver Museum of Natural History and Roberts Rinehart Publishers. The book has four parts: spring, sum- mer, fall, and winter. Each part shows natural clues you may find that tell you about animals living nearby or passing through.

Penguins (pages 18-26). Search for penguin on the Web, and you'll find out how many sports teams have this name. You'll also find The Penguin Page--with maps, photos, and info about real penguins! http://www.vni.net/~kwelch/penguin.shtml

Birdfeeding (pages 42-47). Want to help scientists by watching birds at your feeder? For information, ask an adult to write to:

Project FeederWatch, Dept. RR

159 Sapsucker Woods Road

Ithaca, NY 14850

Telephone: 800-843-BIRD

Or send e-mail to:

birdeducation@cornell.edu

(There's a $15 annual fee to take part in the project.)