It’s been five days and I’ve managed to stay true to my convictions this week: no meat in the name of World Vegetarian Week. For the most part it’s been not only easy but extremely tasty.

Then yesterday happened. I was afraid of something like this.

My resolve was put to the test when a new middle eastern restaurant sprung up near my house featuring the opening week special of…$1 chicken shawarma. Battle lines drawn, it was me vs. the shawarma.

How did I get over this obstacle? Just when I thought I would cave, I noticed another sign. $1 falafel sandwich to the rescue!

Two days to go, I wonder what the next challenge will be?

It’s World Vegetarian Week and I am not a vegetarian. But I’m going to be an honorary one for a whole week.

From May 19 to 25, the annual celebration of meat-free meals arrives. For some, World Vegetarian Week is a chance to experience food alternatives or to test out a lifestyle they would like to achieve. For me, there are many reasons to take the challenge, like treatment of animals, dietary and health-related considerations, and of course trying to reduce my environmental impact.

Some might say a week of action is simply symbolic, but I think it’s a good start. What do you say, are you with me? To find tasty recipes to keep you well-fed all week long, check out PETA’s Pledge to be Veg website.

p.s. I’m on vacation in one of the world’s greatest culinary cities (New York) and am really excited to take advantage of the local delights!

Q: I dry my laundry outside, but this often requires some ironing and I wonder would I use less energy using a dryer for those items?

Dorothy

Hi Dorothy,

A clothes dryer is more energy intensive, but a clothes iron consumes a lot of power as well. The typical wattage from a clothes iron is 1000–1800 watts while a clothes dryer is 1800–5000.

In my experience, clothing is less wrinkled from air drying than from using a dryer. Although I know some people swear by a short dry cycle in combination with air drying. Definitely some items, no matter what you do, seem to always need the iron.

To maximize the use of your iron:

Collect as many pieces as you can to press at the same time.

While the iron is heating up, press the thinner clothes that require less heat first. When the iron is hot, press the more difficult ones. If you have thinner items again you can turn off and unplug the iron and press the clothes that need less heat again to end.

I really like hearing from the public and every earth day that correspondence jumps! Here are two really cool things that came across my desk recently…

hi my name is camron carter I have an earth day poem that I wrote so check this out

/the future is the future and the past is the past
what we need to do is to make things last

it wont come from fighting and it wont come from greed
all we will get is what mother earth needs

live for the life and the love of mother earth
because she is our childrens future.

/by camron tyler carter

Hello sir/madame,

I am a young child at the age of 11 who is very concerned about the environment and me and a few kids have a club called “environment club” I really like your website but I have some questions. #1: about how many people compost/recycle? #2: Why do you think people don’t recycle/compost? My last question #3: can you help save the world and make it a better place and can you tell people about my concern?

Madison