Y Televisions US$ 10 Y DVD Players US$ 2 Y DVD Recorder US$ 8 Y Freeview set- top box US$ 13 Y Computer Monitor US$ 50 SAVE THE PLANET & SAVE MONEY LiMEGREEN HOW WE CAN MAKE THE CARIBBEAN A GREENER PLACE TO LIVE 22 ZiNG October - December 2009 WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT the Caribbean relies heavily on maintaining a pristine environment on which a healthy tourist industry can be based, and for this reason it's important to encourage visitors to adopt any ' eco- friendly' initiatives and lifestyles while they're here. However, at the same time it is crucial that we, as permanent residents, play our part in ensuring the sustainable development and long- term health of the Caribbean for generations to come. So much is now written about being ' green' but it all boils down to some basic things, most of which are just plain common sense. So, what can you do, starting today? ZiNGLIME WORDS: KATIE WOOD 1 Reduce waste wherever possible. Buy goods that are not heavily packaged. 2 Buy local produce whenever you can to reduce the carbon footprint. 3 Don't automatically take the car - consider public transport, cycle or walk. 4 Conserve water and fuels whenever you can and encourage others to do the same. 5 Recycle everything from kitchen waste ( great compost) to clothes. 6 Get involved with local projects that promote sustainability. 6 WAYS YOU CAN GO GREEN TODAY ZiNG needs you! Do you know of any Caribbean organisations, companies, communities or even individuals who are doing their bit to help the environment? If so, we want to hear about them. Send us an email at somezingtosay @ zingmag. net, putting ' eco- heroes' in the subject matter box. Let's hear it for. DID YOU KNOW that TVs and stereos left on stand-by ( i. e. switched off from just the remote control) use almost as much electricity ( up to 70%) as when they are on? The grid below shows the typical cost over a year of appliances left in standby mode. Always turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, and watch your electricity bill drop. THE SANDALS FOUNDATION which has just gained permission for two Marine Sanctuaries in Jamaica which will not only protect breeding grounds for fi sh, but also be used to educate the local community on the positive effects of protecting our marine life. Also, each year Sandals Resorts have marked International Earth Day by planting over 500 trees across the Caribbean to curb deforestation, and International Coastal Clean- up Day is observed with beach and reef clean- up exercises across the region. These involve over 20 communities clearing hundreds of bags of debris from the reefs and beaches, as well as educational talks to community representatives about environment preservation. Sandals - we salute you! To learn more about their work, visit www. sandalsfoundation. org