4 . What’s Really Green?

Most of us are aware that we must take care of the environment, and the majority of us take steps to save energy. and reduce waste and pollution. But recently, some “green truths” have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false.     1    

Paper shopping bags are better than plastic ones.

Plastic bags cause litter and are a danger to wild animals, which mistake them for food. It takes hundreds of years for plastic to break down, but much less time for paper. Because of this, people think paper bags are the better environmental choice.

However, making a paper bag uses four times as much energy as making a plastic bag and up to three times the amount of water.     2     In fact, both kinds of bags are bad for the environment. So, take a reusable bag with you when you go shopping.

    3    

It seems like common sense: eating local food should be better for the environment, because it does not need to be transported long distances and kept cold during transport.     4     It is the production of food, not its transport, that uses most of the energy and produces most of the greenhouse gases. In some cases, local food might have used more energy and produced more greenhouse gases than food grown a long way away, even taking into account its transport.

It’s better to take a shower than a bath.

    5     If you spend more than eight minutes in a shower, you’ll use as much water as in a bath—about 50 litres of water. Therefore, the key is to keep your shower time as short as possible.

Environmental awareness is now part of daily life. But it’s worth checking common ideas and opinions to see what’s really green.

5 . I took a job as a receptionist for a vet almost five decades ago. As an animal lover, I accepted the position on the condition that I wouldn’t have to assist with any wounded animals.

I could not bear to see any creature in pain. At the end of my first week, we were closing the office for the day when a young man ran up to us holding a severely injured Doberman puppy in his arms and begging us to save its life.

The four-month-old puppy had been hit by a car. The vet and I ran back into the operating room. The only place the skin was still attached to this poor little animal’s body was around one shoulder. The vet worked tirelessly for what seemed like hours, stitching it back together again. That was the easy part. The puppy had broken multiple bones, including its spine. If it survived the next few days, we were quite sure it would never walk again.

That day forever changed my life. The veterinarian trusted me a lot and I became his assistant in all things medical. One of my first jobs was to give that Doberman puppy daily physical therapy (治疗). I remember moving its tiny legs to try to keep its muscles from withering. Weeks went by until one day, I felt this little fighter push back ever so slightly. And it continued to push back till it could finally use its legs.

One year later, I walked into the clinic’s crowded waiting room and called the name of the next client. Suddenly, a huge Doberman who had been standing quietly with its owner on the opposite side of the room broke loose and bolted (脱缰) toward me. I found myself pinned against the wall with this magnificent dog standing on its hind legs, its front paws on my shoulders, washing my face with abundant and joyful kisses!

I still tear up in amazement at the display of love and gratitude the dog had for me that day all those years ago. Since retirement, I’ve volunteered at a no-kill animal shelter. In all the time that has passed and all the experiences I have had, I have never met such a grateful dog.

6 . The human race shares this planet with millions of other species and forms of life. In recognizing that It is always important to remember that our rapid rise of the urban civilization has unavoidably impacted the planet and life on it.

In the long run, however, the civilization risks destroying well balanced ecosystems. which could potentially have serious results for humanity itself. As such we must eventually find a balance between development and nature which can maintain the ecology, beauty and harmony of the earth.

The word “harmony” is an important concept in China. Chinese society and culture are built on the idea that relationships between people should be harmonious, which means avoiding conflict, highlighting a common good and balancing uncontrollable desires with the needs of society as a whole. However, this idea does not just apply to people, it also applies to our relationships with the world and nature. Never has this been more meaningful than the view of how China handles its rapid development, which has lastingly changed the country's landscape and created new challenges regarding nature and the environment.

Actually, over the past few years China has been working hard to protect biodiversity and has drawn "red lines" for ecological protection. established a national par's system, and under taken major projects for biodiversity protection.

One example of China's success in this area is in its reversing of the decrease of its giant panda population to the point that it is no longer endangered. This effort included creating a giant panda national park in 2016 and doubling the number of births. Pandas have become “a global symbol of conservation success”—something in which China has played a key part.

Likewise, China is also taking its efforts overseas. It recently announced a $232 million fund to promote biodiversity protection in developing countries. The effort is a part of its “community of shared future for mankind”, meaning that we share one world, one planet and one future, and so we human beings must work together. Now it is the time to act.

7 . “How many of us as children have stared up at a church-like top of a giant tree and climbed it in wonder, which is a rally special part of our lives?” asks Bill Laurance, a tropical ecologist at James Cook University. “The leaves of big trees in forests are spreading out in all directions. We’re faced with organisms that have evolved for long periods of ecological stability.”

“There’s a lot to discuss on the issue,” says David Lindenmayer, a conservation ecologist at the Australian National University. “Climate change will mean that, in some forests, big trees won’t reach the same sizes they used to.” The effects of climate change, including long droughts, more invasive species and so on increase the simple physical challenges that big trees face in pulling water from their roots to their leaves and withstanding windstorms.

Lindenmayer and Laurance define “large, old trees” as the largest five percent mature trees within a species. The flexible definition means that in some forests, the large, old trees might be only 20 meters tall and 100 years old.

These large, old trees control the surrounding plant communities, affect water and nutrient distribution, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. “They’re really the breadbaskets of the forest,” says Laurance. “This is a very environmentally and ecologically important group of organisms, and they need special care and handling.” Determining the distribution and habitat requirements for large, old trees in the landscape is the first step towards ensuring their survival, “We have to ensure that what we’re thinking is long-term, to match the way these trees have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years,” says Laurance. “It’s going to be a real challenge to keep some places where there is still wildlife and the big church-like trees that we all really care about.”

9 . I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.

I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.

I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor(固定) it in a tree.

The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.

Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.

A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.