Lindbergh Foundation
Twenty nine years ago, My Grandparents' vision of a balance between the technological advancements they helped pioneer, and the preservation of the human and natural environments they cherished, became the cornerstone of the Lindbergh Foundation's programs. The Foundation strives to carry on the concept of balance, with the annual Lindbergh Award, the Lindbergh Grants Program, educational programs, and the Corporate Award for Balance.
www.LindberghFoundation.org
Amory and Hunter Lovins, recipients of the 1999 Lindbergh Award, put things in perspective when they said, "the first thing to realize is that the earth isn't in trouble, it's the inhabitants that are threatened -- some critically and some, such as humans, by the consequences of succeeding too well. But how can we practically use resources more efficiently? How can we really make a difference?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Each time you buy a new product, such as an appliance, make sure it's the most efficient available. If they are not readily available where you shop, ask for them or shop where they are. The free market has great potential to solve environmental problems. Patronize businesses that act in an environmentally responsible way and you'll be making a difference every time you shop.
- Communicate what you care about. Other people are watching
you - your neighbors, friends, children, grandchildren, business associates...the changes that you make will begin to change them too.
- Use transportation more efficiently. Transportation accounts for about a third of all of the energy consumed in the U.S. When you think of buying a new car, look into Hybrids, Biodiesel cars or Hypercars which are fueled primarily by electricity stored in batteries. Drive a vehicle that uses less resources. A demand in the market will influence corporate decisions.
- Make your home more efficient. Another one-third of U.S. energy is used in buildings. Reduce your impact on the earth by making your home as energy and water efficient as possible. These are the quickest easiest and cheapest ways to reduce your home's impact on the environment.
- Reduce, reuse, and then recycle.
- Buy locally grown and produced items. The average molecule of food in the U.S. travels about 1,400 miles before someone eats it. (Do you ever wonder why it tastes the way it does?) Many of the things we buy are harvested in unsustainable ways (such as clear-cutting) and hauled to us in fuel-guzzling vehicles. As much as possible, choose items produced in more sustainable ways.
- Keep informed by reading, listening, and looking. You may find other ideas that will work for you. And finally...
- Get involved in organizations trying to make a difference in the future of our world.
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“As our civilization advances, if our follies permit to advance, I feel sure we will realize that progress can be measured only by the quality of life – all life, not human life alone. The accumulation of knowledge, the discoveries of science, the products of technology, our ideals, our art, our social structures, all the achievements of mankind have value only to the extent that they preserve and improve the quality of life.”
— Charles A. Lindbergh
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