America means beautiful country Published June 25, 2008 By Kelly Shea and Laura Hoover 60th Air Mobility Wing TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Many Asian countries refer to the United States of America as "A beautiful country." Yes indeed, they are right. My family and I recently spent five days visiting Yosemite National Park. This national park is a treasure trove of beauty from the majestic falls to the diversity of wildlife. Everywhere you look you see the beauty of our country and we have been given "dominion" over it. With that authority, comes the responsibility to care for this natural beauty. Here are some tips we all can use to help do our part in caring for this "beautiful country." Buy in bulk By purchasing items in bulk or getting fruits and veggies loose rather than pre-packaged in plastic, instantly reduces what is thrown away. Choose the reusable alternatives to disposable products: Reusable grocery bags vs. plastic or brown bags Sponges or rags vs. paper towels Reusable razors vs. disposable shavers Coffee mugs vs. paper or plastic cups Washable plates vs. paper Cloth napkins vs. paper Cloth diapers vs. disposable Handkerchief vs. tissue Reusable mesh coffee filters vs. paper Filtered water at the tap and use re-useable water bottles vs. plastic water bottles Pack a waste-free lunch One child's average school lunch generates 67 pounds of waste over one year. Use reusable containers for lunch. All purpose cleaner To make an all purpose cleaner you will need a very large bottle of distilled white vinegar, a spray bottle and tap water. Fill the bottle ¾ the way with warm tap water then add one cup of vinegar. Shake and it's ready for use. Because of the high level of acidity, white vinegar can effectively kill mold, bacteria and other house-hold germs. This all-purpose cleaner can be used on nearly every surface in the house from counter tops to high chairs. Don't use on wood. Laundry softener Buy a liquid softener and put it in a spray bottle. Spray on a wash cloth and use like a disposable softener sheet. Spray with softener before each load. Scouring cleaner To make a non-toxic scouring cleaner combine one tablespoon of liquid detergent (clean and clear brands work best) with ¼ cup baking soda. Slowly add trace amounts of white vinegar to the mixture until you get a cream like paste. This paste is good for a multitude of things such as cleaning the tile grout on the floor or in your bathroom, lime and soap buildup in the bathroom and kitchen, baked on oven grime and anything else that may need a thorough scouring. Never flush unused medicine. Most prescription and non-prescription medicine can be returned to a pharmacist. Another option for disposing of unused medicine is periodic collection events sponsored by various cities within Solano County. These events are advertised on the following website: http://www.recycle-guide.com/. You can find more information and tips about recycling at: https://eim.amc.af.mil/org/60ces/assetmanagement/ (click on recycling) (from .mil computers) and http://www.obviously.com/recycle/ or contact Delores Tiburcio, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron at 424-5127. Thank you for doing your part to make sure that America remains a beautiful country.