Arizona 2012: Five to Thrive©
What are your 5 things?

Arizona 2012: Five to Thrive© is an initiative to meet our fellow citizens where they are at in building a more sustainable path for Arizona. We ask that you commit to 5 actions between now and 2012 that support cleaner water, awareness, cleaner air, and Arizona as a leader in promoting sustainable communities, economies and environments. These actions can be daily changes like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or changing to canvas grocery bags away from plastic. Or you might commit to helping us all to learn about and adopt alternative energy like solar power. With Arizona 2012: Five to Thrive©, each person can decide his or her own personal course of action.

In America, citizens have grown accustomed to the label 'consumer'. We are far more than consumers. We are voters, parents, friends, students, teachers, volunteers and not the least of these, stewards of this great state and our communities. Arizona 2012: Five to Thrive© is an initiative to drive engagement and real partnership for a sustainable state. Let’s work together!!
What are your 5 things?

Coming soon: Online Pledge Form!

Actions for a Viable Planet:
  1. Recycle and reuse
  2. Use your own bag for grocery shopping
  3. Look for Fair Trade products
  4. Buy only what you need
  5. De-clutter your life
  6. Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle -- used, if possible
  7. Turn out the lights and use energy efficient light bulbs
  8. Turn off the water when brushing teeth
  9. Dry your clothes on a clothesline; not only will you be helping the environment, you will love the way your laundry smells!
  10. Purchase environmentally-friendly household products
  11. Purchase organic cotton clothing and bedding
  12. Plan nutritious meals instead of purchasing packaged processed foods
  13. Purchase non-perishable foods in bulk – flour, beans, etc.
  14. Buy clothes that do not require dry cleaning
  15. Make your own clothes
  16. Walk and bike to the local store or shopping center
  17. Buy used clothing -- your local Goodwill or thrift shop usually has hidden treasures just waiting to be found!
  18. Buy towels for the kitchen instead of paper towels
  19. Find the local farmers market for fruits and vegetables; you not only get delicious fresh foods, you support local businesses
  20. Purchase recycled toilet paper
  21. Purchase bamboo products -- towels (soft and naturally anti-bacterial), plates, and even flatware
  22. Convert to tile or recycled wood floors
  23. Turn down the heat and cooling
  24. Use glass instead of plastic for storage
  25. Use a pressure cooker to cut down on energy usage for quick meals
  26. Purchase a non-motorized lawn mower
  27. Use the SRP shower timer
  28. Vacation locally and explore your own state
  29. Take your lunch to work
  30. Purchase organic fruits and vegetables
  31. Eat less meat -- at least red meat
  32. Work from home
  33. Shop online -- locally, if possible
  34. Use mass transit
  35. Use your own water bottle

Links for more ideas:

  • Get Off the Grid!
    • Freeplay carries a line of products that are solar or hand-crank powered.
    • How about a solar night light or solar sun and moon jars? Think Geek has lots of cool items from LED faucet lights that use the water passing through them to light up to a gadget that shows just how energy efficient your appliances really are. 
    • Or to lighten the load, Green Plug created technology that reduces energy waste from chargers by licensing their technology free to promote incorporation of the technology. Nothing to buy, but a great idea that we, as consumers, can push for. 
  • Get Rid of Junk Mail! Tired of unwanted advertisements, catalogs, and other junk? Here's how to stop the waste (and annnoyance)!
    • General Junk Mail: Register your name with Direct Marketing Association to stop a lot of general junk mail: www.cmaconsumers.org
    • Catalogs: There is also a database called Abacus, where many catalogue companies get names. Go to www.abacusoptout.com, Epsilon's Abacus Cooperative Database. Follow the instructions and email them at abacusoptout@epsilon.com (they have a snail-mail address, but why waste the paper?).
    • Pre-Approved Credit Cards: Block credit card offers at OptOutPrescreen.com - you can choose to stop receiving unsolicited offers for 5 yrs or forever.
    And to stop the dinnertime calls, try the National Do Not Call Registry. It takes a couple of months for it to take effect, but it stops most of the annoying calls. You'll still get calls from charities and political parties, but that's it.
  • Carbon Footprint Calculators:
  • Reusable Bags
    Buy reusable shopping bags, beverage bottles, and a selection of accessories.
    Who says you can't be be stylish while being eco-savvy?
  • Inside the Bottle
    Learn the reality behind the bottled water industry.
  • Think Outside the Bottle
    Challenge Corporate Control of Water.
  • Low Carbon Diet
    A 30 day program for your community to reduce C02 output.