Something that you probably noticed while going through all the sections is that living sustainably involves paying attention to lots of different things. One thing is sure and that is that the decisions are up to you. At the moment no-one will make you live sustainably. Do you think that this is a good thing or bad?

Have you ever heard of an ecological footprint? Or a global footprint? We each of us have one.. It is a way of assessing the impact that your way of life has on the planet.

The size of our 'footprint' is worked out by looking at the amount of land needed to supply all of the resources that we use, and to get rid of all of the waste we produce. At the moment if everyone on the planet had a footprint as big as the 'average' person in the UK, we would need 3 whole planets to support us!

Have a look at www.globalfootprints.org and/or www.bestfootforward.com for more footprint information.

When you start living more sustainably, you will be making hundreds of little decisions every day.

	From switching off the tap when you brush your teeth
	To buying the recycled product - even though it may cost a little more
	From buying apple juice instead of orange juice - because the apple juice is from England (remember to check)
	To buying electricity from a renewable energy supplier
	From drinking tap water instead of bottled water
	To closing the doors in the house to keep the heat in
	It gets bigger too. You could look at where your bank invests its money, do they invest it in renewable energy companies, or in coal power stations?
	You could think about the treatment and the age of the factory workers who made your trainers, or grew the cotton for your clothes
	Some companies employ children to make things for them. Some companies pay their employees an unfair wage for many hours' work

You can influence things a lot - do you remember that advert where an ant was yelling 'excuse me' at a big bear? The bear couldn't hear and so the ant went and got lots of other ants and they all yelled together. The bear heard them then!   That's what I keep thinking of, although I don't feel nearly so ant-like when I go to the Friends of the Earth website or the WWF website or Greenpeace! Some things to debate... what do you think? Don't be down hearted - or swamped by the enormity of it! Every step counts.  Words to look for when shopping are : Fair trade Organic Free range Renewable Energy saving Made locally Produced in Britain/Yorkshire Biodegradable Recycled Refillable

An eco tax is a tax that can be set on something that causes damage to the environment.

For example, the government could set a tax on burning fossil fuels (to encourage using renewable energy more - or to use energy less) or on the amount we put in our bin (to encourage recycling). It would really annoy lots of people, particularly big industries, and they would all yell loudly and say that it threatens them in some way and we would have to look at all the angles.

If we were to raise the tax on household fuels for example, it would get people to insulate their houses better, but we should also make sure that people on low incomes get a rebate because otherwise they will be hit hardest by the tax.

What sort of things do you think that there should be an eco tax on?

Who would we have to look after if there was an eco tax?

Who would complain the most?

Would their dissatisfaction be justified?

The government could change the laws so that when councils decide who is to get contracts they take environmental concerns into account.   So, for example, when they look at which cleaning firm gets to clean all the county offices for the next year they find that the bid from firm A is cheaper , but firm B uses environmentally friendly products. At the moment they are not advised to think that environmentally friendliness is important. Do you think they should be?

Do you think that public institutions like schools and hospitals should try to get their food from local producers? It would mean eating more seasonal food. Do you think they should try to buy organic? Do you know which foods are in season in the autumn? In the spring?

	Let the other people at your school know what you are doing. Ask your school if you can have a noticeboard for environmental matters, then you can stick up your letters to your MP and the others might (hopefully) copy you.
	Remember that your parents may not be aware of many of the issues around sustainability. Be gentle and helpful! They might resist changing things at first. Be persistent and helpful! (If you want your family to buy vegetables from a local greengrocer then who can do it the most easily?
	Find out where to buy biodegradable cleaning products and how much they are so that it's easier for your family to change what it buys.
	If you want your school to change the cleaning products it uses then write down the reasons why and the ways how and send a letter with lots of signatures to your school governors as well as the headmaster. Remember, it may cost more so they will have to be persuaded!

If you want help or advice or more information then come to the Alternative Technology Centre in Hebden Bridge and ask in the Green shop. It's what we are here for!

If you want more information about:

	Global footprints
	Things that you and your school can do together to help
	Organizations with information and activities
	Possible funding sources for financing sustainability programmes

Then come on further into our web site...