My buddy Kermit D. Frog says "it's not east being green." And though I feel for my little friend, it's not as hard as it may seem to be green.

President Obama recently spoke at the G8 Summit about the importance of nations and their leaders to take steps to prevent further climate change and environmental decay around the globe, while insuring healthier, longer lives for all of us. He also acknowledged that there will be obstacles to global action, due to the political complexities and national concerns of individual countries.

What the hell does that mean? Well, it means that if we wait solely for governments of the world to act, we risk living in a world where WALL-E will have to come to our rescue! So as we await bold action by leaders around the world, the responsibility falls to us. If we are going begin to live with greater respect for the world given to us and improve our own day-to-day living conditions, we can't just wait for politicians to fix the problem.

Here are actions we can all take that may seem small but can really make a difference!

Go Organic: Look to support companies that have joined in the cause. Beware however, every product claiming to be "all natural" or "organic" is not what they seem. Check for Eco-Cert or USDA Organic seals which are now recognized in 80 countries. But you don't always have to go out and search for organic products - you can do-it-yourself. Whether you carve out some space in your yard/patio/terrace/fire escape or join in with neighbors and covert that overgrown lot or unused space into your own organic garden. Not only will you be eating healthier, but it will also save you money and in many cases, even generate cold green cash! Community gardens have been used around the country for everything from feeding the homeless to raising money for college.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle: at work and at home. And I don't mean just paper and plastic! By now, we all know about paper/glass/plastic and should be recycling those items on the regular basis, right? But you can do more! All kinds of items can be recycled: batteries, old computers - some companies will even buy back used ink cartridges or give you discounts for returning empty makeup compacts. You can donate just about anything from clothing to your car (I did!). About to buy that new furniture set? Give the old furniture to friends or family.

Make more efficient/greener choices: Whether it's hair care, your make-up, sun block or clothes there are always greener choices to make. Be sure to avoid products with harmful chemicals or that are tested on animals. You can do the same around the house. Energy efficient products can be a bit more expensive up front, but it is well worth all savings you'll get in the long run. From light bulbs to microwaves, to toilets and washing machines, you can save big money if you can dig a little deeper up front.

Get Educated: Three sites - www.thedailygreen.com, www.earth911.com and www.go-green.ae are great sources for general green information and news, while www.idealbite.com and www.dailyecotips.com are cool sites for everyday ways to greenify (yes, I said greenify) your daily activities. And www.delight.com is a fun place to find eco friendly gifts so you can help friends and family join in.

At this point, the evidence that our health is in jeopardy and that Earth's environment is headed for dire straits and requires action by the global community is quite clear. But for those who still want to debate the issue, I simply say if we make more consciously green decisions, and it turns out there is no crisis - what is the harm? Choosing organic food, breathing cleaner air, consuming less energy, finding creative ways to reuse everyday items and generally living more efficiently makes the environment better and all of us healthier!

So lets GET GREEN! Together.