Monday was Earth Day, and although the holiday has never been as widely celebrated as when it was first incepted, the question of caring for our planet is more pertinent now than ever. Issues such as waste storage on Yucca Mountain and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have divided environmentalists and politicians – and the politicians continue to close their ears.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of Silent Spring, Rachel Carson’s epic warning of environmental neglect. In it, Carson describes how pesticides and pollution are destroying life on Earth. It is an eye-opening work, and the sad thing is that this prophecy is slowly coming true. For instance, Bush’s refusal to sign the Kyoto treaty last summer blatantly ignored the United States’ status as the producer of the highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. These are the same emissions that are causing huge ice sheets to melt, the effects of which were painfully evident in the record-breaking high temperatures during this year’s winter.

Being “green friendly” may seem gauche to our government, but some of us are still willing to take steps to make sure that Earth stays inhabitable for generations to come. You can assist in this effort by following this simple four-step plan: