WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I may be just 10 years old, but I am doing my bit for the environment. My parents influenced me greatly and they were encouraged, in turn, by Gulf News' Go Green campaign. I have learned some very valuable lessons, and I am trying my best to help make a difference.
Although my family is quite conscious about the environment, our efforts were limited to saving water and switching off the lights when we did not require them. But with the Go Green campaign, my father realised we could do a lot more!
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At home, we have three air-conditioning units. My dad connected all three water outlets with the help of flexible plastic pipes, bought for just Dh10 at a grocery store. All the wasted water would then be collected in a bucket. On a hot summer night, we would often collect up to 20 litres of water! In the past, we have used it to water plants in our balcony, wash our hands during the day and even wash small kitchen utensils.
My dad said he often came across such systems of collecting water when passing by grocery shops. Usually, such shops would throw away the water, but we decided to find a use for it.
My family also participates in other eco-friendly practices. Every week, we use Gulf News' jute bags to carry old newspapers and plastic bottles. We take them to recycle bins set up by Bee'ah - The Sharjah Environment Company. The bins are located at convenient places, along the length of Buhaira Corniche, in Sharjah.
Additionally, my mother never allows me to throw away plastic shopping bags. She has taught me to neatly fold them, so that we can reuse them when we go out shopping.
- The reader is a pupil of grade five at Dubai Scholars Private School, Dubai.