Ásthildur Björg Jónsdóttir - Disney Go Green A Family Guide to a Sustainable Lifestyle

A Family Guide to a
Sustainable Lifestyle

Go Green A Family Guide to a Sustainable Lifestyle
Inspired by Erin L. Thompson
2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc. all rights reserved.
Illustrations Magnus B. Oskarsson
Authors: Asthildur Bjorg Jonsdottir, Ellen Gunnarsdottir,
Gunndis Yr Finnbogadottir
Editor: Tinna Proppe, tinna@eddausa.com
Layout and design: Magnus B. Oskarsson
Cover design: Gassi.is
Distributed by Midpoint Book Sales & Distribution

All rights reserved. Published by Edda Publishing USA LLC. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

Sustainability is a simple, yet big, idea. It means that we sustain ourselves on our wonderful, delicate planet without taking so much from it that it cant sustain its future inhabitants. To do that, we have to rethink many of our choices and take a look at what we consider important in life.

Think of it like the emergency instructions on airplanes that instruct parents to place the oxygen mask on themselves first before they assist their children. In this book, we are following the same idea. In the first part, we are going to look at what makes us happy and fulfilled as human beings. In the second part, we will look at what we can do to save our planet. Because caring for ourselves empowers us to care for our planet. Knowing what is good for us, translates into knowing what is good for our environment.

Throughout this book you will find explanations of ideas and concepts, fun facts, as well as green lifestyle tips and suggestions for arts and crafts activities. It is meant to be an easy reference book, something you dont necessarily have to read through from beginning to end. We hope you will drop in often, and that from each reading you will take away a new idea, a new fact, and even a new action plan for yourself.

In many parts of the world, human beings have a higher standard of living than has ever been seen before on this planet. The problem is, to maintain this standard we are using 25% more natural resources than our earth can possibly sustain. We cant go on like that forever.

Our energy consumption and industrial output are causing us to emit huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other dangerous greenhouse gases into the earths atmosphere. This traps heat and ultimately causes climate change.

Climate change poses a great threat to the future of plants, humans and animals on this planet. Rising temperatures can result in decreased crop yields, rising ocean levels, increased rainfall and risk of flooding and wildfires.

Tip!

Earth Day is a great day to make a good choice! On Earth Day, we could either donate money to plant a tree, or plant a tree ourselves!

This book helps people to understand what it means to live green! So they can answer the big question:

WHY GO GREEN?

When we decide to try and change our lifestyle, its important to find our own reasons for why! We can ask ourselves simple questions like:

What do I eat and how do I select my choices?

How and why do I go to school or work?

Why do I pay my bills?

One reason we do things is that there are consequences when we do not do them! So it can be good to think about the consequences of not Going Green! To do this we need to examine the big picture.

Did you know?

That every year our daily activities release more than 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? Its way more than it can take!

That we are currently experiencing the fastest rates of extinction for animals and plants since the days of the dinosaurs?

That the decade between 2000 and 2010 was the warmest on record?

That if we turn off the water while we brush our teeth, we can save eight gallons of water every day?

That manufacturing one plastic water bottle uses more water than is actually put in the bottle? Making plastic also emits a lot of toxins in the air, and it takes hundreds of years to break down.

Everything we do, every day, has an impact on the planet. Some of it is good, some not so good and some of it is bad. Most often we have the power to control our individual choices. This is why we can also control the impact we have on the planet.

We have to remember that no one can give us well-being. We have to take action for ourselves.

When we talk about well-being, we mean more than just happiness. It means we take care of every part of ourselves, both mind and body. We see them, as a whole, connected to the larger world. Living in a way that is good for you is also good for those around you, and, in a larger sense, good for our planet.

Well-being can take many different forms, but a useful description is feeling good and functioning well. If we feel content and confident we are able to enjoy and engage with the world. This helps us develop self-esteem.

However, reaching a balance between ecology and well-being can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes, we make wrong decisions, but it is very important to never give up.

It is important to learn to think of our own well-being as part and parcel of the earths well-being. This way we are more likely to live a happy life.

But we should always remember that opinions about what makes for a good life are different among individuals, and between different societies and cultures.

Establishing goals for a sustainable life is a very personal process. It wouldnt necessarily work to take ideas about what is a good life in one culture and apply it to another.