Do you believe in green living? Read the following blog and replies about a fun, easy and creative way to make your lifestyle greener.

What do you think of the “new” hat I made for my sister? It used to be my mum’s sweater. Posted by Gina at 8:32 a. m. on 11th February 2018 New uses for old clothing Nowadays, we’re more wasteful than ever-buying, using and throwing things away without thinking about the costs. We need to start living more responsibly—but how? One answer is to upcycle (再生利用) . If you're like me, you might already make soil for gardening from food waste and use empty paper boxes as storage space. Did you know you can apply the same way to old clothing? You just need imagination! I started upcycling clothing. Making new things out of old clothes is the best way to mix my talent and my interest. Do you upcycle? If so, what new things have you made? If not, why not give it a try?

Terry B   Posted at 9:08 a. m. on 11th February 2018                   Why don’t you give your old clothes to people in need? I even give away the most expensive things I don’t wear any more. So I can help the environment while giving something useful to people in need. Gina   Posted at 9:28 a. m. on 11th February 2018 early                Good point! I’m talking about only the oldest clothing in your room — the clothes that are too old to be worn by others. The same idea goes for food waste at restaurants and supermarkets. Before upcycling food that can still be eaten, for example, using it to make soil, we should give it to those in need.

Betty99     Posted at 10:18 a. m. on 11th February 2018                       I’ve made shopping bags out of T-shirts and dog toys out of socks. Upcycling clothing is a fun hobby, but the most important thing is that it makes me feel like I'm living less wastefully.

A vegetarian diet is often praised for its health benefits（益处）. Vegetarians usually have lower levels of heart disease, and studies have also shown that they have a lower risk of diabetes（糖尿病）than people who eat meat. However, most people don’t realize that a vegetarian diet produces less pollution to the earth.

Researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US recently studied how people affect the environment. The study showed that eating meat is one of the main ways that humans can change the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicle.

Then, how can eating meat have a bad effect on the environment? For a start, all farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep give off methane gas（沼气）by breathing. One cow can produce up to 60 liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）. Many environmental experts now believe that it is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated（估计）that 25% of all methane released（释放）into the air comes from farm animals.

Another way that meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef while only 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. One acre of farmland used for crop（农作物）production can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes, however, one acre of farmland used for raising cows can produce just 250 pounds of beef.

Many people now see the benefits of a vegetarian diet, not just for health reasons, but also because it plays an important role in protecting the environment. However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian, or vegan diet. They believe a vegan diet, which excludes（拒绝）all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk, can be short of many necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need.

Today, many people know that it is important to take better care of their bodies, and to use the earth’s resources more efficiently. As this understanding spreads, more people may realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive, more of us will need to become vegetarian.