How you can help to save the Earth

Did you know that the Earth’s climate is changing?

Harry the Hominid, Maropeng’s spokeshominid, says this is because the Earth’s temperature is rising day by day due to something called global warming.

He explains that the Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called the atmosphere.

“These gases all help to keep the earth warm by trapping some of the heat from the sun close to the Earth. Without it, it would be too cold to live on Earth.”

These gasses ensure that all animals, plants and of course humans, can live happily on Earth. But because of some of our human activities, too many gases are collecting in the atmosphere and trapping heat on the surface of the Earth.

“This is what causes global warming and the result is climate change, with a number of nasty effects on Earth such as big storms and hurricanes, heat waves, bad droughts and massive floods,” says Harry.

So all in all global warming is not a good thing and it threatens our way of life. That’s why we need to understand how our own activities cause these gases to be produced.

“For example the exhaust fumes from vehicles are greenhouse gases too. Gas, coal, wood and electricity all burn fuel that causes smoke and gases too.”

So what can we do to help the Earth? Harry offers the following tips:

• Whenever you can, walk instead of travelling by car. You also can share a ride with someone else or use public transport.

• Eat less meat and chicken as the animals we eat also produce a lot of methane gas when they digest the feed they eat.

• Use less electricity by switching off the lights and appliances you’re not using.

• Use your own shopping bags, not plastic ones, as greenhouse gases form while plastic bags are made.

• Use less paper, as lots of gases also are produced in the paper-making process.