Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

APRIL 2008 NEWSLETTER Celebrate Earth Day! Photograph by Kenneth Garrett There is a big, wonderful world to learn about and explore! This time of year, people are particularly focused on caring about it, too, with Earth Day celebrations held all over the world. Look for one near you with this calendar of events from the Earth Day Network. And while youÕre at it, take this month's challenge to learn how your family can help to preserve the planet. Take a moment to calculate your carbon footprint and then plan how to reduce it. We can all change what impact we have on Earth. Now that's something to celebrate! CAMPAIGN UPDATE My Wonderful World was at the recent National Science Teachers Association conference in Boston to promote global learning with science educators, administrators, and advocates. Over the next few months we'll be traveling to the BioBlitz in Santa Monica, California, from May 30–31; and to 4-H state and county fair exhibits across the United States. Look for us! GAMES AND COOL STUFF Everything we consume, use, and discard over a lifetime affects the Earth. Learn more and get educational resources from National Geographic Channel's "Human Footprint."     Did you know that Americans collectively generate over 250 tons of waste each year? Explore how you can make your home greener with these videos from the National Geographic Green Guide. Have your students create an Earth Day documentary with GLOBE. Also, check out these "green reads" and other activities for your students from National Environmental Education Week. Kids: Play Recycle Roundup and clean up a virtual park by catching, sorting, and recycling items you use every day! Teens: Enter to win the Asia Society and Goldman Sachs Foundation annual Youth Prizes for Excellence in International Education. Visit the website for contest questions and the chance to win a $10,000 college scholarship. More: For Parents More: For Educators More: For Kids and Teens IN THE NEWS Plastic-bag Bans Gaining Momentum Around the World From Australia to the U.K. and all across the United States, politicians and corporations are pondering banning or taxing the use of plastic bags. A hefty surcharge that began in 2003 in Ireland has spurred the public there to spurn plastic bags almost completely in favor of reusable cloth totes. EXPLORE MORE TALK BACK IN THE BLOG SPREAD THE WORD E-MAIL YOUR LAWMAKERS TEST YOUR GLOBAL IQ ABOUT MY WONDERFUL WORLD   TELL US What's your carbon footprint? Tell us how you, your school, or your family help take care of our wonderful world!   You received this e-mail because you signed up for My Wonderful World. To change delivery or format options or to change your address, please use the links below or write to National Geographic; Attn: E-newsletter Program; 1145 17th Street N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20036. Unsubscribe        Privacy Policy         Copyright © 2008 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.