We’ve all heard of Blood Diamonds…right? Well now we have to be aware of Blood Ivory.

Majestic animals are being hunted and killed for their ivory. Killing for profit. So what’s new? Not much. But we can’t let ourselves become immune by desensitization. The Battle for the Elephants gives these beautiful beasts a voice.

Poaching is creating a dramatic effect on the elephant population in Africa. Humans are harmful in lots of ways but merely encroaching on the elephants territory is not the biggest concern. People are poaching the tusks for the valuable ivory. It’s a crying shame in Tanzania. The animals are being brutalized for their tusks.

It would be similar to people being brutalized for their skin. If you take this commodity away from the living, breathing creatures, they’ll die. People can’t live without their skin and elephants can’t survive without their tusks. It’s horrible.

So, what can we do about it?

Awareness is the beginning. And, maybe think twice before buying anything with ivory in it.

St. Paddy’s Day is just around the corner. Here are a few ways you can go green and celebrate.

1) Plant some Irish Bells in your yard.
2) Add some green food coloring to mashed potatoes for dinner
3) Eat spinach and broccoli today – it’s good for you and it’s green

What ways can you think of to go Green and celebrate at the same time?

We all have some old stuff sitting around that we could use to make something new and cool. All it takes is thinking outside the . . . norm.

Well the Green Queen’s hubby saw some pallets sitting on the side of the road just waiting to be thrown out. We hate seeing materials bound for the landfill.

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Here’s how to go green without feeling BLUE on the 4th!

Use “real” plates, linen napkins and glasses – no throw aways. Keep your party out of the landfill.

We can party and protect the planet at the same time. Simply BLB – yep, buy local beef

And produce and fruit – not just on the 4th but whenever you can.

And how about a light show instead of “fire”works?

Have you ever seen Disney’s Fantasia – why not host a neighborhood party by playing the movie out on your garage door and invite the neighborhood kids over to watch it in the yard. It can turn into a sleepover, faux camping, with everyone laying out on a sleeping bag – at least during the movie.

And, who can watch a movie or have any fun without popcorn? How ’bout red, white and blue popcorn balls to munch on during the show?

Or, if you don’t want to go to all that trouble, serve baggies of red-white-and blue M-n-Ms.

But whatever you do – have a safe, healthy and happy 4th!

We all want to make a difference, to have an impact on the world and hopefully leave something behind…but maybe we should think small(er).

Instead of trying to come up with some great BIG idea to make a difference, the Green Queen says think small. If we all do a little, it will do a lot. And, there are a lot of little things we can do that will make a BIG difference. Like:

1) Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Get your toothbrush wet and the paste but then reach up and turn off the water while you scrub those bicuspids. There’s no use in letting the water run…that’s just wasteful.
2) Turn off the water while you lather your legs. If you are going to take the time to shave your legs, lather up but make sure the water is turned off while you do it. There’s no benefit to having the water running while you’re lathering.
3) When you’re sudsing up in the shower, turn off the water. You can work up better suds if you get the soap wet and then rub-a-dub-dub without any excess water.

These three little things might sound silly but it will save water and the planet at the same time.

It’s the little things in life that make the most difference. Remember…the things that make an impression on you–they might not be BIG things but they stick with you. It’s the same with being sustainable. If you make a small effort to change the things you do everyday, it will make a BIG difference in the end.

So, think SMALL and it will make a BIG difference. And, the Green Queen hopes you have a funtabulous weekend trying to think of ways you can use a little less water.