Paper or Plastic. Arghh! Sure, paper is biodegradable, but, the trees cut down, and the general pollution required to make a paper bag is not negligible. Why don’t they make paper bags out of something like hemp, or some other pulpy crop, rather than trees? I think it is about time for that, don’t you? Of course, there are still issues of fertilizer abuse and paper-making pollution, but I think any civilization that can get us to the moon can handle that too, no?

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Great news! One of Spain’s Canary Islands has managed to obtain all of its energy needs from hydroelectricity and wind power.

• Island Fully Powered by Renewables

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So you’ve replaced most of your home’s incandescent light bulbs with the new, highly efficient and rather curly fluorescent variety. Good for you! You will be using less energy and spending less of your paycheck each month because of your environmentally wise choice. However, and there always seems to be a however, be careful with those things! They contain mercury, from 1 to 6 milligrams per bulb, so if you break one, be careful about cleaning it up, as it is a well-known health hazard, especially to children. Discussions are well under way as to the best way to deal with these bulbs after they burn out, but the most important thing is for you not to throw them into the trash. Look for a recycling program for fluorescent bulbs in your neighborhood and keep that mercury from getting into our air and groundwater.

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