Suggestions for your Club's Environmental Minute. 

It is suggested that at least one meeting each month a member gives an Environmental Minute talk including suggestions for service. Below is an idea. 

Service doing a Staycation

As I watch all my friends traveling all over the globe, posting great picture on Facebook and Instagram, I keep thinking about the carbon footprint of flying. I read that air travel accounts for about 2.5 percent of all global carbon dioxide  emissions.  Carbon dioxide is Earth's most important greenhouse gas: a gas that absorbs and radiates heat. Unlike oxygen or nitrogen (which makes up most of our atmosphere), greenhouse gases absorb heat radiating from the Earth's surface and re-release it in all directions—including back toward Earth's surface. Yikes!  This summer has been miserably hot.     A series of climate records on temperature, ocean heat, and Antarctic sea ice have alarmed some scientists who say their speed and timing is unprecedented.We have all suffered.

   Here is one way to calculate your carbon footprint from https://flightfree.org/flight-emissions-calculator

    As a Rotarian wanting to make a difference in the world with Service above Self, it got me thinking about a Staycation and that a Staycation could be service for the environment - Rotary’s newest area of focus.   So what exactly is a Staycation?   A vacation spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. As with vacations, staycations vary greatly based on your interests, location, budget, and time. For example, your staycation may be going to a local film festival, camping for a weekend, or taking a day off work and enjoying an at-home spa day. Before embarking on your at-home getaway, do yourself a favor and spruce up your home. Clean your house or hire someone to do it for you. That way, you’ll feel as though you’re chilling in a luxe boutique hotel. A staycation can be anything from simply taking a break from your busy life and relaxing at home to filling your day with activities that you wouldn’t normally do in your hometown or city. Whatever it may be, make your staycation feel special by stepping outside of your normal routine and trying something that excites you. Go to a spa, local art museums, parks, order food delivered, choose vacation movies, make sure you have books to read, prepare to have special foods for a breakfast basket including champagne.

  Finally, keep track of what you spend compared to what a flying vacation would cost and then consider making a donation to The Rotary Foundation.  That’s a real feel good vacation of Service above Self!

To see an interesting video click on the link below.

feedbackloopsclimate.com