Make the Earth a Promise for 2009

Some New Year's resolutions come and go — and come again the next year. I'm often afraid of the karmic trouble I'd face if I made a promise to the planet and didn't keep it. Seriously, though, even if you slip up, promising something to the planet can only do good. Promise something specific, and stick to it as best you can, with the knowledge that forgetting a couple times doesn't make you a bad person.

Here are a few good promises:

I will bring my own bag to the grocery store and drug store. I will turn off every light when I leave the house, even if I'm running late. I will turn off every light when I go to bed, even if I'm half-dead. As my batteries run out this year, I will replace them with rechargeables. I will pick up one piece of litter each day.

Even if you only remember to pick up a piece of litter 300 days out of the year, you still picked up 300 pieces of litter. Do you see what I'm getting at?

Now, make your own promise. An example of a bad promise: "I will really try to do better about the environment." Too vague. Promise FAIL. Pick something specific.