YesVideo’s Green Weblog

Have you heard the news that Yesvideo is forming a new “Green” team? Our goal is to make ourselves more environmentally responsible and aware. I am excited to announce that we will be launching many new programs for recycling and awareness in the coming weeks and there will be many opportunities for everyone to contribute.

Our first highlighted project is going to involve raising the awareness of those who smoke and drop their cigarette butts on the ground outside. Anyone who walks through the back parking lot can easily see that this is becoming a big issue. I have talked to some of the smokers and they think the best way to bring the awareness level up on this would be to put up some signs to remind us. So we have decided to have a fun Poster Contest. Since next Tuesday is Earth Day, we are going to kick off the program with a contest to make the best poster to encourage people to remember to dispose of them properly. Below is some information about this worldwide problem and a few examples of posters that have been done before.

So, get out your pencils, crayons, or keyboards and be creative. The top 3 posters that are chosen will be posted on the exit doors and each will receive a Green prize.

The Top prize is a cool Solar, color changing, light for your yard.

Second prize is a beautiful, warm, soft blanket throw made from bamboo (more on the amazing environmental properties of bamboo to come).

Third prize will be a set of 5 very sturdy cloth grocery bags that you can take to the market and avoid the “paper or plastic” dilemma.

The contest will end on Friday April 25^th at noon and the winners will be announced by the end of that day. Read on to see why this issue deserves our time and attention. I hope we can all get excited about doing all we can to save our planet.

Passionately yours,

Julie Freeman

It is estimated that several trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide every year. That’s billions of cigarettes flicked, one at a time, on our sidewalks, beaches, nature trails, gardens, and other public places every single day. In fact, cigarettes are the most littered item in America and the world. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a synthetic fiber, NOT COTTON, and they can take decades to degrade. Not only does cigarette litter ruin even the most picturesque setting, but the toxic residue in cigarette filters is damaging to the environment, and littered butts cause numerous fires every year, some of them fatal.

They get washed into storm drains and end up in the ocean. Fish and birds mistake them for food. The butts, and nicotine trapped in them, are toxic and have harmful effects on wildlife and the environment.

Wildfires have been caused by discarded cigarettes. These fires not only destroy acres of open space, but have caused families to lose their houses and cost communities millions of dollars in fighting the fires and rebuilding afterwards.

1st Place winner
Andrew Bautista

2nd Place Winner
Alvin Corhodzic

3rd Place Winner
Tammy Lujan