Save the planet: as an eco-conscious consumer, spend your money on products and causes that help save the planet, here are five suggestions that make a big impact

Unless you e Superman, saving the planet can be a cumbersome project. But from the comfort of your own home, you can begin to exact change on both a local and global level. Here's how.

protect biodiversity Evidence suggests that the world is in the midst of the "sixth major extinction event in history," according to a study published in the March 19, 2004 issue of Science. You might recall that the last extinction occurred 65 million years ago. It killed 16 percent of marine families, 47 percent of marine genera (the classification above species) and 18 percent of the land vertebrate families, including, most notably, the dinosaurs. What can you do? Support missions such as the Great Apes Survival Project (www.unep.org/grasp), a multiorganizational initiative working to save the endangered apes of Africa and Asia and the impoverished and war-torn human population that lives alongside them. "Ethically," says Professor Kai M.A. Chan, a conservation biologist with the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, "it would be a travesty if we let [the apes] be butchered into extinction by starving logging crews with no other sustenance."

use sustainable products Planet Earth is not an all-you-can-eat buffet. That means, first and foremost, recycle and purchase recycled products ... right down to your shoes. Nike recently introduced the Considered line, which boasts a far more sustainable profile than its other shoes. For instance, the Considered boot uses 89 percent less solvent in production; the woven material is made from renewable hemp; and recycled factory rubber waste composes the outsole. The end result is 61 percent less waste and 35 percent less energy consumed than a comparable regular Nike boot. Other eco-conscious shoes include KidBean.com's line of organic children's shoes; the venerable Birkenstock sandal; and New Balance, a leader in vegan athletic shoes.

drive responsibly The most important environmental decision you make as a consumer--and the one with the most direct impact on the world you live in--is the type of vehicle you drive, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. In California alone, transportation accounts for 41 percent of global warming emissions, as every gallon of gasoline consumed releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. So what can you do? Aside from taking public transportation--which some Americans have limited access to--the next best option is to purchase the most fuel-efficient car possible (or better, a hybrid) and avoid SUVs and light trucks, which emit five times more pollution than the average car.

watch what you eat It you want to be a triend to the Earth--and your body--eating an organic diet is a great choice. Organic farming, among its numerous benefits, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion and promotes cleaner groundwater. And consuming organic foods prevents harmful pesticides from entering your body: Between 1994 and 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program noted over 80 percent of the conventional fresh fruits and 75 percent of conventional fresh vegetables tested contained pesticide residue.

vote Investigating the environmental stance of politicians vying for office is a simple step, but voting with your conscience is more difficult. According to a survey conducted by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke Hniversity, 79 percent of those polled favor "stronger national standards to protect our land, air and water," but only 22 percent voiced their concern at the ballot box. To save the planet, you must empower politicians who share your beliefs.

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