Are you pessimistic or optimistic about the future of the world?

When I think about the future of the world, I am really pessimistic. In my opinion, people have not been protecting the environment properly for too long. Nowadays we can see many terrible results of it. The ozone layer is getting thinner, which has terrible consequences. It is dangerous for people as well as for animals and plants. The ozone layer is not enough protective anymore. Moreover, people have been cutting down the rain forests and now they are much smaller than they used to be. It is very unreasonable, because these forests produce the great amount of oxygen, which is essential for life on Earth. The growth of industrialization of the world is also the reason of the greenhouse effect. The climate on the Earth is getting warmer and warmer. The icebergs melt and the level of water in the oceans is constantly rising. Moreover, the fumes are terribly bad for the health of people and animals. The number of different diseases connected with civilization will keep rising. The growing production of exhaust fumes is also the cause of the appearance of acid rains in many parts of the world. Such rains destroy the plants and even the buildings and are really dangerous for all living creatures. Summing up, I think that it is difficult to be optimistic about the future of the world. People should rather start doing everything to protect the environment and at the same time- get used to the idea that the world will not exist for ever.

What do you do to protect the environment?

I try to do much to protect the environment. Of course, I would like to be able to save people, animals and plants and let them live in the clear and friendly environment, but it is not possible. However, I make a selection of the garbage. I collect cans, paper, bottles and throw them to special containers. I also tell all people I know, how important it is to collect different kinds of products, which can be recycled. I do not drive a car, but only ride a bicycle.

What are good and bad points of watching TV?

I cannot imagine life in contemporary world without a TV set. Television provides information and entertainment. Nowadays almost all people have their TV set at home.

Watching TV may be fun and educational, but it also may have bad influence on us.

 To begin with the advantages, it keeps informing us about things that happen all around the world. We can learn about the problems or conflicts happening anywhere. The reporters are always there, where something important happens. We know, what will the weather be like the next day. If we are interested in sport, we have a possibility to watch many important events 'live'- on the same time, when they are happening.

There are many educational and scientific programs in TV. People, who want to know more about different things are provided with a good source of knowledge. The access to such programs is wide and even those, who couldn't learn certain things at school may get to know about them from TV. We may also learn, how to cook or where is it good to travel.

Nevertheless, there are many disadvantages of TV as well. In my opinion, people watch too much TV. Some may spend their whole days sitting in front of it and staring at it thoughtlessly.

Young people, especially girls, Many films and programs showed in TV propagate violence. I don't understand, why people are interested in such things.  They influence badly especially children's minds, but even adults should not watch them.

Furthermore, watching TV is harmful to our eyes. People may even go blind, when they spend too much time in front of a TV set. They also are more prone to different diseases. They forget that it is important to do some exercises and spend time on fresh air.

What kind of movies or TV programs do you like most?

I don't really like watching TV. As I am a very energetic person, I easily get bored when watching TV. However, from time to time, I like to spend an evening watching TV. I like comedy films with Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan. They are not especially ambitious, but they are very entertaining. I also watch news, because I like to know, what is happening on the world.

What are good and bad points of internet shoppnig

Internet is a relatively new mean of information. Some decades ago, only few people could use it. Nowadays almost all people have access to Internet. It is the best source of information, news and knowledge. Also the virtual post proves to be very useful. Internet makes our lives easier. Staying at home, we may read news from the whole world, find interesting information in several encyclopedias. There are even whole books and scientific articles in the net. What is more, we may send letters and do the shopping. Many people today buy necessary things using Internet. Nevertheless, we need to remember that Internet shopping is not always and not only advantageous.

Some people claim that Internet shopping has too many disadvantages. First of all, you can never be sure, if you really get the stuff that you need. It happens that you pay and afterwards you get something completely different. There is nothing we can do about it. It is important that you get to know something about the seller. We may ask others if it is reliable. Furthermore, it is bad that we have to pay money for the product and additionally for the delivery, which may even double the price. If it happens that we have to send the parcel back, then we lose really lot of money. Moreover, for some people going to the shop is the only time when they move from the chair. If they start shopping in Internet, then they deprive themselves even of this form of motion. They get fatter and often fall ill. Last but not least, there are less 'real' shops and less people find employment.

However, Internet shopping has some good points as well. Such form of shopping requires less time and is much easier. You may find the product you need much faster than in 'real' shops. You are also given wide variety of choices. Moreover, in general products in Internet shops are cheaper than those in 'real' shops.

I generally do the normal shopping. I have only bought stuff in Internet twice. I bought a book and a CD of my favorite band. They are of good quality, I think. Nevertheless, I prefer shopping with my friends in supermarkets than doing it alone in front of the computer screen.

Having a pet- advantages and disadvantages

There are many people who have an animal at home. Why do they decide to have a pet? I think that it is because many people nowadays are lonely. People have to earn their livings. They spend much time in their jobs. They have no time for private life. Young people marry less often than in the past. They have less time to meet other people, to find someone to love. They decide to get a pet so as not to be completely lonely. A pet stays at home, it waits for its person to come home. We can play with a pet whenever we feel like doing it.

However, having a pet at home may cause some trouble. A dog for example is considered man's best friend. But we have to dedicate much time to take care of it. We have to remember about feeding it and going for a walk with it every day. Keeping a dog is also quite expensive. But if we are able fulfill these duties, we get something really important- a real friend. A dog-friend is very reliable and loyal. The person, who looks after it will make the most wonderful friend.

Apart from that, many people want to have some strange animals at home. They keep spiders, snakes and other animals as pets. Do such animals make their owners feel less lonely? It seems impossible to stroke them, talk to them or take them for a walk. Why then people buy them? I think that the owners of such animals want to impress others. They want to show, how brave and courageous they are. What may bother us is that such animal is capable of bitting or even killing someone.

To sum up, I want to say that in my opinion having a pet brings its owner many benefits. Of course, there are some disadvantages of keeping an animal at home, but generally a pet makes us feel safer and more comfortable. We do not have to spend lonesome evenings anymore.

A holiday camps where travelers learn a foreign language. Advantages and

Advantages and disadvantages connected with holiday camps where travelers learn a foreign language.

Nowadays more and more people go on holidays to English-speaking countries because they want to improve their language skills. There are many advantages and disadvantages connected with holiday camps where travelers learn a foreign language.

A major advantage of these camps is that you learn to speak a foreign language. Due to the fact that entrants are surround by local people, they are made to use only English. As a result their vocabulary and fluency of speaking increases quickly. Furthermore, traveling broadens the mind. When we travel abroad we get to know foreign culture. Moreover, we have an opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the world and make friendships which might last for life.

Computers in our life.

Nowadays, we cannot imagine our life without computers and the fact is that they have become so important that nothing can replace them. They seem to be everywhere today. Since 1948 when the first real computer has been invented our life has changed so much that we can call it real digital revolution.

First computers differed from today's ones. They were so huge that they occupied whole rooms or buildings being relatively slow. They were not faster than modern simple watches or calculators. Nowadays they are also used by scientist and they may also be as huge as the old ones but they are millions times faster. They can perform many complex operations simultaneously and scientist practically can't do without them. Thanks to them people has access to enormous amount of information. Gathering data has never been more simple than now. They are not only used in laboratories but also in factories to control production. Sometimes it is computers who manufacture other computers.

But not only in science and industry computers are being used. Thanks to them modern medicine can diagnose diseases faster and more thoroughly. Also in banking system computers have become irreplaceable. They control ATMs, all data is stored on special hard disks and paper isn't used in accountancy any more. Furthermore, architects, designers and engineers can't imagine their work without computers. This machines are really everywhere and we depend on them also in such fields as criminology. They help police to solve crimes and collect evidence.

Moreover, computers are wide-spread in education. Except their classic tasks such as administration and accountancy they are used in process of learning. Firstly, they store enormous amount of data which helps students to gain an information. Secondly, thanks to special teaching techniques and programs they improve ours skills of concentration and assimilation of knowledge. They have become so popular that not knowing how to use them means to be illiterate.

Of course except this superb features there is also dark side of computer technology because every invention brigs us not only benefits but also threats.

ADVANTAGES:

1. Computers saves storage place. Imagine how much paper would have to be used, how many trees would have to be cut just to store information which is today on hard disks. Data stored on just one CD in paper form would use room of dozens square meters and would weight thousands of kilos. Nowadays techniques of converting data from paper to digital form has also tremendously developed. You can simply rewrite the text using a keyboard. If you are not good at it you can use a scanner to scan necessary documents. At least there are special devices which can transfer our voice into text. Thanks to computers banks, private and government companies, libraries, and many other institutions can save millions of square meters and billions of dollars. Nowadays we have access to billions of information and due to the computer's capabilities we actually don't need to worry not only how to store them but also how to process them.

2. Computers can calculate and process information faster and more accurate than human. Sometimes there are false information in newspapers that due to the computer's mistake something has failed. But it's not truth because machines cannot make mistakes by it's own. Sometimes it's short circuit, other time it's hardware problem but most often it is human mistake, someone who designed and wrote the flawed computer program.

3. Computers improve our lives. They are very useful in office work, we can write text such as reports and analysis. Compared with old typewriters when using computers we don't have to worry about making mistakes in typewriting because special programs helps as to avoid them and we can change them any time. When the text is finished we can print it in as many copies as we want. At least but not at last, we can communicate with whole world very fast and cheap using Internet.

4. Computers are user-friendly. We can watch videos and listen to the music having only PC. We don't need video player, TV and stacking hi-fi any more. Furthermore, we don't have to buy PC's which can take much room due to their other necessary components and wires. We can always buy laptop or palm top which is even smaller, and use them outside anywhere we want.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Computers are dangerous to our health. The monitors used to be dangerous for our eyesight. Nowadays due to technological development they are very safe. But there are other threats to our health than damaging our sight. Working with computers and permanent looking on the monitor can cause epilepsy, especially with children. Very often parents want to have a rest and don't draw enough attention to how long their children use computer. This negative effects also concerns TV screen.

2. Computers sometimes brake down. The biggest problem is when our hard disk brakes down because of the data stored on it. Other hardware is easily replaceable. But there are many ways of avoiding consequences of loosing our data, for example by saving it on CDs. Except hardware failures there are also software ones. For example, for many years Windows Operating System was very unstable and that's why many other OS were written. Now the most common are Linux, Windows XP, MacOs (for Macintosh computers). Except of unstable OS another and maybe the main threat to our data are computer viruses. There are billions of them and every day new ones come into being. If you have the Internet connection you have to be particularly careful and download anti-virus programs. Fortunately, there are also many of them and most of them are freeware. You have to remember to download updates.

3. Violence and sex. The main threat to younger users of computers are internet pornography and bloody games. The presence of sexual content or level of violence should be properly marked and parents are obliged to draw their attention to this issue. There are many extremely bloody games such as "grand theft auto", "quake" etc. For example, in GTA you are a member of mafia and to promote in crime hierarchy you should kidnap people, steal cars, robe banks etc. As a bonus you can also run over pedestrians. There are also many games in which you are a soldier and your mission is to kill as many enemies as possible. The other threat to our children is internet pornography. The availability of sexual content is enormous and you can do practically nothing to protect your child, especially when it's interested in this matter.

4. The other threat is that you can be a computer addict. If you spend most of your free time using computer you should go to see a psychologist.

However, I think that the situation is very serious. Computers are practically irreplaceable and we can't make without them any more. They are everywhere, at our homes, schools, at work, in our cars. It is very possible that the next stage of human evolution is some kind of superb half human and half machines. On the other hand I don't think it is the closest future. But the truth is that that computers will rule the world sooner or later.

Tình hình kinh tế việt nam

The economy of Vietnam is a developing planned economy and market economy. Since the mid-1980s, through the "Đổi Mới" reform period, Vietnam has made a shift from a highly-centralized planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy which use both directive and indicative planning. Over that period, the economy has experienced rapid growth. Nowadays, Vietnam is in the period of integrating into the world's economy, as a part of globalization. Almost all Vietnamese enterprises are SMEs. Vietnam has been rising as a leading agricultural exporter and an attractive foreign investment destination in Southeast Asia.

Mergers and acquisitions(abbreviated M&A) refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or new location, without creating a subsidiary, other child entity or using a joint venture.

Meaning

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are often referred to as a single term. Though there are more similarities in them than there are differences, the main factor distinguishing the two is the companies’ willingness for the M&A to take place.

A merger happens when two companies decide on joining forces in their respective fields of business – they may be identical, similar or totally different.

An acquisition happens when one of the companies, known as the target company, displays hostility towards the acquiring company. In acquisitions, the acquiring company buys over the target company’s shares. Management also changes, and more often than not, favours the members of the acquiring company.

The Main Purpose of M&A

Companies engage in mergers and acquisitions for the main purpose of creating a higher shareholder value than the sum of the companies involved. This happens when the M&A provides an opportunity for the new or acquiring company to either increase revenue or to reduce cost.

There are several ways a company can increase revenue through M&A’s.

The company foresees a new target market

The company is able to develop new products through new available technical.

The company is able to increase product range

The company foresees new business opportunities

The company capitalises on products of the previously individual companies

The company is able to streamline staff

Benefits of a Merger

Synergy is a common word associated with M&As. Synergy or synergistic effects can be represented by a simple arithmetic equation of 1+1 = 3. This translates into the increase in combined shareholder value over and above the sum of the two original companies’ shareholding values.

The materialisation of synergy, however, can be curbed by intangible factors that challenge the benefits of M&As. They are discussed in the following points:

Streamlining of human capital resources

An M&A facilitates the streamlining of the cream of the crop. When companies merge, major changes occur in corporate culture, management styles, business direction, and key operating procedures. Only those who are flexible and adaptable to changes would be elected to stay on in the new company. This gives opportunity for human capital to be streamlined and for top management to keep those who are most competent and valuable to the company.

Unfortunately, power struggles and political clans also exist; this hinders the streamlining process. These simple human factors can misrepresent the selection of candidates that should be retained in the new company.

There are other factors that curb the synergistic effects of streamlining human capital. It is not suprising to see a fair amount of demotivation amongst retained employees. This can be due to them losing their displaced colleagues. Blending in two different corporate families with different corporate cultures can also be a stressful phase, especially when new alliances are formed and acclimatisation takes a longer time. New hierarchial structures can also cause resentment, especially if certain personnel are sidelined from long-awaited promotions. Reporting lines can change drastically leaving new working teams with newer learning curves altogether.

The acquiring of the most effective technology

Advancements in technology systems nearly always guarantee synergy. Companies that acquire technology-focus firms that are relevant to their business application can develop a competitive edge. Similarly, new technology can lead to aggressive product development and cost reduction.

Again however, there are several factors that can curb synergy. There is a cost involved of training and transferring technical know-how to amateur members of the new company. Training takes time and space, which inevitably leads to cost. Coupled with resistance to changes, some employees (who use older systems) may want to revert back to former ways, just to accentuate their importance and expertise in the company. Another disadvantage may be the risk of reliance on self-developed technology. Unless the technology team is able to operate aggressively in the market and respond to competition as if they were an individual company, maintaining in-house developed technology can lead to saturated development. Sometimes, companies receive better support systems and services when they outsource from technology-focused service providers.

Increase in market dominance and growth opportunities

Synergy also materialises through increased market share and growth opportunities. Merged companies experience an increase in market share. The M&A between Reebok and Adidas in early 2006 is now a major threat to Nike’s market leadership. Merged firms have also the opportunity to raise more capital as a larger and more cost efficient firm.

In some cases however, a merger also changes the perception of the company, especially when different brands are added to the product lines. Some mergers may have negative or confusing effects on consumer perception when a change of products and services fail to retain their interests.

Economies of scale

Economies of scale can also be achieved through mergers. New technology can wipe out manual work. A merged company has better bargaining power with suppliers. More work can be done in-house, such as advertising. All these changes lead to cost reduction. Sime Darby immediately announced a 10% growth rate in 2008, after the merger was completed illustrating their confidence in their market leadership in terms of size.

In general, size does matter, and size does bring in lower cost figures. However, mergers that are classified as conglomerations, where two different business-natured companies merge, economies of scales can not always be achieved, especially if the merger is not managed adequately. This is because, essentially, with two or more different business focuses, cost centres may not be consolidated as effectively as any one of the other forms of M&As. The different focuses and ideals may require separate cost elements to sustain the different business models.

Similarly, companies engaging in an M&A can not expect immediate economies of scales. Compensation packages from downsizing, time allocation for new training programmes, new branding and marketing schemes, are all major expenditures at the inception and the short-run following the M&A.

Conclusion

Companies engage in M&As to increase shareholder earnings by either increasing revenue or reducing costs. Generally, M&A’s allow a more accurate allocation of resources to do both. Synergy is a common term associated with M&As, which is proof of deal’s effectiveness. There are times however, where synergy may not be achieved, especially in the short run – companies have to work around the intangible factos that curb synergy to allow the new company to move forward as one and look for new business growth potential to increase shareholder value.

Vietnam is amidst the positive transition of its economic structure. “Green growth and low carbon” is now the country’s focus.

The transition to a green economy will bring opportunities for Vietnam not only to transform products and services, but also to reduce environmental impacts, develop clean technologies and capture international markets.

The efficient use of resources can bring significant cost savings across a number of sectors. Decarbonisation of energy generation, transport and buildings will create business opportunities.

Markets for renewable resources such as timber and energy crops are likely to expand, with new markets for ecosystem services. Furthermore, a good quality natural environment will enable a wide range of service, lifestyle and tourism businesses that depend on the quality and diversity of the natural environment.

Contributing to environmental benefits, improved resource efficiency can deliver cost savings and increase competitiveness for businesses. There will be potential gains for businesses in this area. In the same way as the carbon market rewards organisations for reducing emissions there may be longer-term opportunities to establish a market which helps manage other natural resources or services.

Besides potential benefits, businesses will need to meet the challenges associated with the transition to a green economy and that result from climate change. For example, a potential significant challenge for energy intensive businesses will be the increased costs as a result of climate change and other environmental policies, and from the increased cost of energy.

But, improving energy and resource efficiency will not only be about investment in new capital and new technologies. Regular monitoring and maintenance will often maintain or improve efficiency where new capital investment may bring minimal improvements and increase waste. As such, there is an increasing role for the use of equipment, which monitor and identify inefficient equipment or processes.

Also, more needs to be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through materials efficiency, increased recycling and the development of new process technologies and new carbon abatement approaches such as carbon capture and storage, renewable heat and electricity.

Moreover, many industries may need to change their business models over the long-term, with some disruption and cost. This may involve a focus on a service-based model involving longer-term customer relationships, such as leasing, repair, refurbishment or reuse of products by successive customers.

One of Vietnam’s green growth strategies is building green lifestyle and sustainable consumption. To help meet the targets that have been set, consumer demand needs to change, with a shift towards products and services that are green and more efficient. Where this happens businesses will need to take account of the environmental impact of their products, services and sustainable business practices at home and abroad. Access to strategically important resources could become a growing issue for businesses.

The transition to a green economy requires a workforce with relevant skills. This includes not only skills in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector, but also those needed to help all businesses use natural resources efficiently and sustainably and to be resilient to climate change. Skills for a green economy stresses that all businesses – from small owner-managed companies to large service businesses – should be thinking about the generic skills required to use resources efficiently and sustainably.

To support the transition to a green economy, the government’s commitments and businesses’ efforts will be key factors. To enjoy the success, the green growth policies should be taken into account to ensure the competitiveness. There is a need for support to enable businesses to increase their resource efficiency, resource security and resilience to climate change.

Furthermore, the encouragement and relevant investment will be necessary to support the development of green products, services and technologies.

Businesses could explore approaches to greening products and services, production processes and business models which reduce the use of resources and carbon emissions. Enterprises or investors should consider the value of the natural environment to their business and invest in green products, services and production processes. They should also build risks of energy/resource security and climate change into future business planning.

Green building is not a simple development trend; it is an approach to building suited to the demands of its time, whose relevance and importance will only continue to increase. The benefits to green building are manifold, and may be categorized along three fronts: environmental, economic, and social.

Environmental Benefits

Emissions Reduction. Pollutants released by fossil fuel fired electricity contribute to global climate change, cause air quality issues such as acid rain and smog, and pose risks to human health. 1 Green building techniques like solar powering, daylighting, and facilitation of public transport increase energy efficiency and reduce harmful emissions.

Water Conservation. Recycling rainwater and greywater for purposes like urinal flow and irrigation can preserve potable water and yield significant water savings.

Stormwater Management. Stormwater runoff can cause waterway erosion, flooding, and carry pollutants into water sources. Harvesting and redirecting stormwater, building surfaces with permeable materials, and using green roofs can control and utilize overflow.

Temperature Moderation. The heat retention properties of tall buildings and urban materials such as concrete and asphalt are the primary causes of urban heat island effect. These conditions may be offset by conscientious building design and site selection, as well as planting trees to accompany new developments.

Waste Reduction. Construction and demolition generates a huge portion of solid waste in the United States. Building deconstruction as an alternative to full-scale demolition results in massive decreases of waste production. 2

Economic Benefits

A common impression about green building is that the green premium is too expensive to be considered economically feasible. However, studies have shown that the costs of green buildings are not substantially higher than regular development projects. 3 Higher construction costs can generally be avoided by the inclusion of green design from the outset of the project. 4 Additionally, green buildings provide an assortment of economic advantages.

Energy and Water Savings. The resource efficiency provided by green design and technology leads to drastic reductions in operation costs that quickly recoup any additional project costs 5 and continue to offer dramatic long-term savings (see statistics). Money previously directed toward utility costs may be used for other purposes.

Increased Property Values. With energy costs on the rise, the low operating costs and easy maintenance of green buildings make for lower vacancy rates and higher property values.6

Decreased Infrastructure Strain. Efficient buildings exert less demand on the local power grid and water supply, stretching the capacity of local infrastructure.

Improved Employee Attendance. Green design emphasizes increased natural lighting and control of ventilation and temperature-attributes that improve employee health and prevent absences. 7 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports major reductions in health care costs and work losses resulting from commonly recommended improvements to indoor environments.

Increased Employee Productivity. Employee productivity has been positively correlated to indoor environmental conditions, and shows improvements where green principles have been applied.

Sales Improvements. Studies show better sales in stores that utilize natural light. 10 Retailers are increasingly using daylighting in an effort to harvest the associated sales benefits.

Development of Local Talent Pool. With increased attention being paid to global climate change and the need for renewable energy sources, the field of building design and construction is moving toward sustainability as a permanent objective. As of July 2007, 23 states and more than 80 cities have legislated green standards for municipal buildings. Building green in Bloomington is an investment in the local economy, helping to foster a local talent pool: designers and builders experienced with green projects able to accommodate the growing market demand for sustainable development.

Social Benefits

Improved Health. Poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) resulting from insufficient air circulation, poor lighting, mold build up, temperature variances, carpeting and furniture materials, pesticides, toxic adhesives and paints, and high concentration of pollutants (typically 10 to 100 times higher than outdoors11) contribute widely to respiratory problems, allergies, nausea, headaches, and skin rashes. Green building emphasizes ventilation and non-toxic, low emitting materials that create healthier and more comfortable living and working environments.

Improved Schools. An estimated 40% of schools in the United States are subject to poor environmental conditions that compromise the health and learning of students. 12 The healthier environment and atmosphere in school buildings utilizing green design and construction principles is shown to lead to significant reductions in student absenteeism 13 and improvements in test scores.

Healthier Lifestyles and Recreation. A key element of sustainable design is the preservation of natural environments, which afford a variety of recreation and exercise opportunities. Green buildings also seek to facilitate alternatives to driving, such as bicycling and public transport, which eases local traffic while encouraging personal health and fitness.

How Can I be a Green Consumer?

Being a green consumer simply means making choices about purchases so as to minimize one’s environmental impact. Consumers have a significant influence in driving environmental policies. There are many issues to consider when buying products. By becoming more aware about what choices underlie sustainable environmental practices, you can make to positive change.

Minimizing the distance food and other products must travel from their origin to your home can significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced in this process. By looking out for local produce at supermarkets, buying your food from farmers’ markets, and by purchasing mainly produce that is in season, you can reduce the mileage needed to transport all that you purchase.

Changes in your diet can also provide significant environmental benefits. Vegetarianism and veganism contribute much more to environmental change than many people realize. In addition to saving the animals not eaten, vegetarians and vegans support a food production system that uses much less land than the food production system of meat. ( save food and land used for livestock. )

Another production system to support is organic agriculture. When buying food and clothing, seek available organic products in order to support a system that produces without causing soil and water contamination. Although these products are sometimes more expensive due to the decreased productivity in the initial years of farms becoming organic, costs should decrease once organic products are in increased demand.

As you go about in your role as consumer, keep in mind the issue of waste. Avoid over-packaged goods, buy bulk food items, and bring your own bags. Use tap water where possible instead of bottled water. Remember 3 word “reduce, reuse, recycle.” That is, avoid unnecessary material in the first place, try to reuse what you do purchase, then recycle it if possible. At every step, try to maximize the use of all material before it reaches the landfill.

Since every product has some kind of environmental or ethical impact, an excellent way to decrease your impact as a consumer is to buy clothing and other products second hand. In this way, you do not influence the demand for products of any kind. You are merely making more use of something that someone else is no longer using.

As a greener consumer, armed with the knowledge of the environmental impacts of your consumer choices, you will now be able to tread more carefully and with more awareness down the aisles of life.