Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats

For Release April 23, 2002
Contact: Erin Oliver (608) 250-9876
eoliver@biodiverse.org

New Campaign offers Five Simple Ways
to Help Cooks and Gardeners Make Every Day Earth Day

Earth Day events will soon be over, but the vast majority of Americans will continue to care about the environment every day. People care, but many don’t know what to do. According to a new national survey conducted for the Biodiversity Project, 89% of Americans believe that preventing the extinction of plants and animals is important to them. They also believe (64%) that each of us has a personal responsibility to help protect biodiversity – the incredible variety of life on Earth. But, many people don’t know what actions are effective, or how they can really help.

May is National Biodiversity Month, and 2002 is International Biodiversity Observation Year. To celebrate these special events, the Biodiversity Project has launched a new campaign. “Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats” helps address the gap between concern and action by providing people with simple and effective actions they can take to protect their quality of life, their families’ health, and the environment, right in their own kitchens and gardens. Celebrate healthy homes and habitats with these five steps:

· Just say “no” to lawn and garden chemicals

· Create or restore healthy habitat in your own backyard

· Buy organic and locally produced foods

· Make smart seafood choices

· Buy shade grown coffee

“Americans know that their families’ health depends on a healthy environment,” says Jane Elder, Executive Director of the Biodiversity Project. “More and more, they see changes in the natural world, and they’re concerned about the loss of species and healthy ecosystems. Each of the steps we suggest can make a big difference in the health and beauty of our homes, and the home we all share – the Earth.”

For tip sheets with details on the “whys” and “how-to's” of each of the five ways, as well as experts available for interviews, and information sources. Click here to go to the "Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats" Press Kit.

You can send your readers to: www.biodiversityproject.org/5wayshealthy.htm where they can learn more about the steps they can take to create a healthy home and help protect the habitats of other living things.

The Biodiversity Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Americans make the connection between their lives and the need to protect biodiversity.

	Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats: Press Release
	For Release April 23, 2002 Contact: Erin Oliver (608) 250-9876 eoliver@biodiverse.org New Campaign offers Five Simple Ways to Help Cooks and Gardeners Make Every Day Earth Day Earth Day events will soon be over, but the vast majority of Americans will continue to care about the environment every day. People care, but many don’t know what to do. According to a new national survey conducted for the Biodiversity Project, 89% of Americans believe that preventing the extinction of plants and animals is important to them. They also believe (64%) that each of us has a personal responsibility to help protect biodiversity – the incredible variety of life on Earth. But, many people don’t know what actions are effective, or how they can really help. May is National Biodiversity Month, and 2002 is International Biodiversity Observation Year. To celebrate these special events, the Biodiversity Project has launched a new campaign. “Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats” helps address the gap between concern and action by providing people with simple and effective actions they can take to protect their quality of life, their families’ health, and the environment, right in their own kitchens and gardens. Celebrate healthy homes and habitats with these five steps: · Just say “no” to lawn and garden chemicals · Create or restore healthy habitat in your own backyard · Buy organic and locally produced foods · Make smart seafood choices · Buy shade grown coffee “Americans know that their families’ health depends on a healthy environment,” says Jane Elder, Executive Director of the Biodiversity Project. “More and more, they see changes in the natural world, and they’re concerned about the loss of species and healthy ecosystems. Each of the steps we suggest can make a big difference in the health and beauty of our homes, and the home we all share – the Earth.” For tip sheets with details on the “whys” and “how-to's” of each of the five ways, as well as experts available for interviews, and information sources. Click here to go to the "Five Ways to Create Healthier Homes and Habitats" Press Kit. You can send your readers to: www.biodiversityproject.org/5wayshealthy.htm where they can learn more about the steps they can take to create a healthy home and help protect the habitats of other living things. The Biodiversity Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Americans make the connection between their lives and the need to protect biodiversity.