Ways we conserve while celebrating the Chinese New Year

My name is David Lin and along with my wife, Lindsay, as well as our three children, Junior, Michael and Samantha (ages 14, 12 and 10 respectively) 2012 will be our family’s 8th consecutive year of volunteering with WWF- Canada.
Throughout this period we have enjoyed promoting the annual CN Tower Climb, as well as participating in the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.  Another adventure saw us wearing the Panda mascot costume at the Green Living Show – a wonderful opportunity to bond with our kids for a worthy cause.

As you may know, Monday, January 23, 2012 will mark the start of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon – what fun it is to be able to celebrate a second new year in the span of a few weeks!
Here’s how our family celebrates while keeping an eye on the environment.
1. At our celebratory dinner, we eat fish and make sure to save some for the next day – the maintenance of our earth’s seafood supply is extremely important.  In conjunction with the overfishing of species such as tuna and cod, and in light of the recent controversy around the consumption of shark fin soup, we are taking personal steps to protect and support our vital industry by learning about sustainable ocean management.
2.  Another interesting practice is the wearing of brand new clothes to symbolize a sufficient amount of necessary items for the upcoming year.  Between Christmas and Boxing Day sales, we have a full supply of new winter clothes. These come in handy as we lower our home’s thermostat to save on heating costs, as well as prepare for WWF Canada’s 3rd Annual National Sweater Day on Thursday, February 9.
3.  Finally, one of our children’s favourite traditions is the giving and receiving of red envelopes with cash enclosed as a gift of appreciation between families and friends to ensure prosperity in the upcoming year.  Along the same lines, you can visit wwf.ca and select one of the 11 animals available for a symbolic adoption. You’ll also be doing the planet a favour by not generating any unwanted packaging.
For those who prefer a stuffed toy, consider adopting an endangered animal online.  The favourite ones in our home are the Orangutan and the Giant Panda.  Bonus: If you consider this option, your cuddly pet may arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day which is coming in just a few short weeks.
I hope you enjoyed reading a small slice on how an average family in Toronto celebrates the Lunar New Year holiday while being mindful of how we all inhabit the same wondrous planet.