Glossary
The Glossary contains information about the 'tiles' or squares in the game.
If you would like to suggest some more info for any of the game tiles please email earthcaregame@gmail.com
Green, renewable or clean energy is created from sustainable sources our planet provides – like wind, sun and water.
The Green Electricity Guide has been developed by Greenpeace and the Total Environment Centre. They have done the research to help you choose the greenest electricity suppliers.
What leisure activities do you like? There are many ways to have fun without harming the planet.
Some ideas: bike riding (keep to the tracks), kite-flying, bush walking, swimming, kayaking or canoeing, bird or whale watching, nature journalling...
Avoid 'fast fashion' and poorly made furniture or household items.
When you are shopping consider whether you can get something second hand (you know it is more likely to last then - if you are the second or third or more owner). Check out Buy Nothing New Month.
Avoid Single-use items - wash & re-use
Lunch boxes, drink bottles, cups, cutlery, food containers, stainless steel or other kinds of reusable straws.. will all help you avoid waste. Check out Plastic Free July
The ocean is downhill from everywhere
Keeping stormwater drains and street gutters free from litter helps make sure that it doesn't wash into local waterways when it rains..
One great group cleaning up waterways around the Central Coast of NSW is Clean4 Shore.
Litter belongs in the bin - but make sure it is the right bin.
Look for the organics bin, the recycling bin or landfill bin and choose wisely..Every little bit of litter matters is the message of this music video created by Port Phillip Eco Centre in Victoria, Australia.
Energy is what keeps us going - catch & store energy - don't waste it.
Using solar power or other renewable energy is better than fossil fuels which have taken millions of years to form in the earth; eating less meat and more local and plant based diet uses less energy and riding a bike if you can, instead of driving someone reduces air pollution and is good for you.
Schools and workplaces can be living ecosystems too! Learn to let nature in.
Greening your workplace makes it a nicer place for you and can provide habitat for birds, lizards, frogs, bees, butterflies and other creatures. Setting up and looking after a worm farm is a way to let nature recycle your organic waste on site.
There are so many ways to care for the EARTH. Can you share some of your ideas?
The ideas in the EARTHCARE game are just the beginning of ways we can care for the earth, connect with nature and conserve the planet's resources. We also need our Governments to make laws that ensure companies and the community use sustainable practices . As citizens we can tell our governments that this is important.
Broken glass is dangerous
This is a penalty square in the EARTHCARE game. If you land on this square and have a red token (20 points) you need to return it. Never leave glass Iying around - it can cut people, other animals and also cause a fire if in dry grass on a sunny day.
Using Single-use Items like plastic cups, cutlery or plates is a waste of resources. Leaving rubbish behind is not cool!
This is a penalty square in the EARTHCARE game.
If you land on this square and you have a blue token (5 points) you need to return it. Avoid single-use items and choose to reuse instead. Always take your rubbish with you until you find the right bin.
Save energy. Be energy efficient.
Turn off lights and any electrical appliances when not in use.
This is a penalty square in the EARTHCARE game.
If you land on this square and you have yellow tokens (1 point each) you need to return all of them. Leaving lights and other electrical items on unnecessarily is wasteful and if you are using coal fired power it is adding to climate change.
Conserve water. Water is life.
This is a penalty square in the EARTHCARE game.
If you land on this square and you have yellow tokens (1 point each) you need to return all of them. Water is precious. Fresh water is in short supply on the planet. Catch rain in water tanks.
Use rainwater for flushing toilets and washing machines. Make sure taps and toilets aren't leaking and report public water leaks.
Smoking is bad for you and the planet!
There is lots of medical evidence about the dangers of smoking (including e-cigarettes) - don't do it!.
Cigarette butts are still the number one litter item in the world (even though smoking rates are lower). They are made of plastic and must be kept out of our waterways - they are poisonous.
Take care when observing animals
It is good to observe animals in your garden or in other places in nature - like the beach or the bush, but try not to disturb their homes.
Feed the soil to feed the plants
Composting is working with nature to recycle organic matter and create humus and healthy soil.. So many things can go into a compost including food scraps, egg cartons, grass clippings, dead leaves, coffee grinds, and even old cotton clothes. Add air and moisture then decomposing animals and microbes will do the work.
Marine Reserves protect healthy oceans
A marine reserve is an area that has legal protection against fishing or development. A very small % of the world's oceans had been set aside in marine reserves.
Nature Reserves protect healthy habitat
Inside the nature reserve you can learn the names of plants and animals, take only photographs and leave only footprints and join a nature conservation group like the Nature Conservation Council..
This kind of litter refers to rubbish lying around in a public place. It doesn't belong there. Leaf litter is natural & lovely!
You can make a difference by picking up litter when you see it. Find out more from organisations like Clean Up Australia, Keep Australia Beautiful,and Take 3. Take care, wear gloves and wash your hands when you are done.
Glass is made from sand, soda ash and limestone, heated at high temperatures. Glass lasts a long time and should be reused.
The same glass can be recycled a million times over to produce bottles and jars of the same high quality. Of the glass recycled in Australia, 85% is made back into glass containers. Recycling glass has many environmental benefits–it reduces emissions, saves energy, and reduces consumption of raw materials.
Metals are made from minerals that are mined from the earth.
Paper is made from wood fibre most commonly from forest plantations.
Glass can be recycled over and over
Metals can be recycled over and over
Paper can be recycled over and over
Paper and cardboard recycling - Australia has some of the highest recycling rates in the world. Recycling paper reduces the amount of raw materials being extracted from the environment and the loss of habitat linked to this.
Refillable beats recyclable hands down
Buying in bulk reduces the amount of packaging you use and usually saves you money over the long term. Look for shops offering to refill containers rather than sell you a new container.
Ready to START the EARTHCARE game?
Collect an I CARE card when you pass START, or land on another player, or get a six (instead of having another go) or go through the marine reserve or nature reserve.. or declare you WON'T SMOKE. I CARE cards help you land where you need to eg to put litter in the bin or recycle your glass, metal or paper and earn points.
Be Prepared for impromptu shopping
BYO shopping bag or trolley when you go out so you can carry your shopping home.
The Landfill site (or TIP) is the place where mixed waste is buried and compacted.
It is very likely that we will need to mine our landfill sites to recover the resources we have wasted. It would be much better if we sorted our waste and reused and recycled it rather than bury it. The less we send to landfill the better! Let's copy nature and find uses for everything - in a circular economy.
Solar power is generated when energy from the sun (sunlight) is converted into electricity or used to heat air, water, or other fluids.
This is a huge topic so if you have questions the Solar Quotes website Frequently Asked Questions page is a good place to start.
Reduce your transport related carbon emissions whenever you can.
Walking, riding, scooting, skating and using public transport are all better for the planet.