HEATHER THOMAS: Are you receiving the signs surrounding you every day? They may be as small as a wilting plant in your home, or as large as a nationwide draught or global warming. So how can you make a difference?

Well, although you can't snap your fingers and bring water to an entire country, you can be aware of what the world is 'telling you' and modify your behaviors accordingly.

Let's observe the very small and simple example of a houseplant. If you leave it alone and forget to water it, it dies. If you give it too much water, it dies. For the plant to thrive, you need to be a responsible caretaker. Ideally, you should learn about the particular plant's needs, for example, how much light is best, how often it needs to be watered, and the ideal temperature for it's location either inside or outside your home. At the very least, if you observe the plant's signs, you can adjustment its care. If it's wilting, it may need less sunlight or more water. If it's yellow, it may be over-watered. If it's not growing, it may need a larger pot or more light.

The Earth is giving us the same kind of signs. Draughts, fires and floods are just a few of the 'symptoms' of our disregard for the planet. When we are loading reams of paper into our printer we are not thinking about the trees that destroyed to make that paper, or the pollution that occurred during its production. Are you aware of the vicious cycle of negative effects that occur when we destroy forests? Not only are we destroying the habitat of thousands of forest-dwelling creatures, we are removing the Earth's natural air filter, as well as a source of shade and beauty. A more conscious effort to use products made from recycled materials and to plant trees is a quick and simple way you can get started on reversing some of the damage that has been done. Did you know that if every household in the U.S. replaced just one role of 120 ct. virgin-fiber paper towels with a roll of 100% recycled paper towels, we would save 1 million trees? Change starts with awareness and education. Here are a few things you can do:

PLANT A TREE
A good place to start is literally in your own backyard. If you can't plant your own tree, you can work with a local scout troop or garden club to raise awareness or start an annual Arbor Day event.

ARRANGE A LOCAL CLEANUP EFFORT
There are plenty of schools and charitable organizations that are often looking for volunteer projects. Let them know of a park, or area of town, that could use a litter cleanup. Sometimes local businesses also look to 'adopt a spot' and maintain it.

BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER There are a wide variety of environmentally friendly products available, so choose cleaners and paper products that are hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, free of phosphates, not tested on animals, and have biodegradable packaging or packaging made from post-consumer recycled products.

Implementing changes will NOT create major lifestyle disruptions, but WILL collectively contribute to protecting the environment. It is time to heed the warnings of global warming fueled by pollution, depletion of marine wildlife fueled by over-fishing, and environmental disasters, like the recent oil spill, fueled by corporate greed. It is time we recognize our personal power to change old habits into new earth-friendly behaviors. In the immortal words of Mahatma Gandhi, it is time to "Be the change you want to see in the world."