On the Eve of Earth Day, I have a Challenge for You! (52 weeks to a better bank account by going green)

We know the press is all over Earth Day.
How could they miss it?

In the last three decades environmentalism has gone from a loonie leftie concept to mainstream common sense...and rightly so.

Long before recycling became the norm my ma used to take her empty containers to the health food store and re-use the plastic bins, rather than buy a new tub. She was raised on an Irish farm, which is the equivalent of saying that nothing went to waste...how could it with eight children to feed, not including the livestock. (I was also stunned to learn that the store owner at the now-closed St. Clair and Bathurst health food store actually remembered my ma, 20 years later, and recognized me after I spent only five minutes in the store looling for spelt spread...now THAT'S a community relationship!).

Still, my ma instilled in my brother and I a respect for the planet and a respect for the dollar.

Now a new book by money-guru David Bach is out and it professes to appeal to the green capitalist in all of us.

Only half way through (and it's an easy, easy read) and I believe the man might be on to something.

Not that it is revolutionary or new...but it can and does appeal to EVERYONE...not just the environmentalist.

It's a way of respecting our resources, while respecting our earnings...of course...it's right up my alley...because it's underlying message is about responsibility.

Saying this, Mr. Bach has not done all his homework (for example, tip #5 suggests switching to bio-diesel. The problem with this is corn-based ethanol, which is what most of North American bio-diesel is made from, is extremely harmful to the environment...not the fuel itself but the production, shipment and destruction the increasing corn crops are having on the planet, the food supply and the irrigation systems in North America...more on that later). He does, however, provide some good, solid options.

In the next 52 weeks, I will share one option a week....one good option that I glean from either Bach's book or from other tried, tested and true experts. It will be a chance for us to either adopt, change or remove an expensive and wasteful practice from our life and a chance to slowly integrate cost-saving measures that make us more responsible for the rest of our lives.

That first option will start tomorrow on Earth Day.

The rest of the time, I will continue to offer insights and opinions on all matters affecting responsible living: from green initiatives, sad human rights situations, addictions and tools and examples of responsible living in the world today.

And if you have a tip, insight or suggestion, share it...we could all use a little humility by learning to listen.