"Going green" is finally making a long overdue comeback--in the world through the strides at last made in Copenhagen, in our national politics through a determination to wean ourselves from fossil fuels, in our technology now dedicating itself designing alternative energy products, and even fashion.

But, is it worth the trouble? We probably all have a general idea that going green helps the environment and saves resources and rain forests. But embracing a greener lifestyle isn't just about helping to preserve rain forests; it is also about improving your health, saving you money, and ultimately, improving your overall quality of life.

For example, did you know that 25% of all Western pharmaceuticals are derived from plants that come from the Amazon rain forest? As it turns out, less than one percent of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists. These numbers suggest that we all have a large personal stake in the health and vitality of places far and near and that this stake is growing. It benefits everyone on the planet to help keep our wild spaces alive and growing.

The good news is that we have much power to make a significant difference.  We exert control through the choices we make at the individual level that in turn control the global impact we create.  We do this by consciously & with researched awareness choosing:

• Where you live:
  you can choose a place with little to no public transportation, or where you must drive long distances to do all your living chores; or you can choose an area that provides mass transit or where far less driving is needed
• What you buy, eat, and use:
  Buying meat that's been farmed humanely (agribusinesses are terrible polluters...not to mention how they torture the animals...); fruits/veggies that are organic; appliances that are energy efficient; a home that is energy efficient; keeping a second home to a much smaller size 
• Where and how you vacation:
  Take the train vs. a plane whenever possible; choose green vacation sites; ask the hotel to not change your towels/sheets every day but every other or third day
• How you shop or vote:
  Shopping is voting with your wallet, and is the most powerful way to make your wants known; and tracking/holding your elected officials at all levels accountable for their green credentials ensure our laws follow our ideals - Boomers are a huge and powerful voting block, we must learn to use it well.

While it's easy to get overwhelmed with the stream of "go green" information everywhere, it's also easy to begin making a positive impact. As globalization decreases the vastness of the planet (communication/interaction with people around the world is now just a click away...), it becomes increasingly easy to see how the lives of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems everywhere are closely tied to one another.

So, pesticides used in Bolivia can affect the health of people in the U.S., toys made in China can affect the quality of life in Europe and greenhouse gas emissions from Australia can affect a thinning rain forest in Brazil.

The truth is, everything we do, every day, good or bad, has an impact on the planet.  Let's use that power often, and well.