Is it all going to hell in a handbag?

I saw an ad on television today that featured a polar bear mom and baby floating on an ever-shrinking chunk of ice. The ice wobbled and tipped, nearly dumping the poor bears into the drink. The gist of the commercial was that the polar bears were losing all of their habitat and it was all my fault, so please send funds somewhere to do something.

I understand that the ice floes are shrinking, and I feel for the polar bears. I want to make a difference. It would be awesome to crusade for the environment...to stop global warming, and to ensure that the maternal bond between polar bear and cub is never interrupted due to lack of ice.

And, then, reality hits. I have four "cubs" of my own ... each wanting dinner in an hour. They need baths and want to play a bit before bed. There's a ton of laundry to be done, not to mention the grocery shopping for the week. The baby will need his diapers changed about 14 times before morning. I haven't slept a full night in eleven years. What can I do?

So, here's my plan: I want to evaluate the small changes I can make in my daily life. Can I help my family live a little more "green" and save some money in the process? Do I have the time and energy to save the planet? Is this going to be fun, or will it suck rotten eggs?

What do you think? What suggestions do you have? How can everyday people make small changes and impact the world? Can we save it, or is it all going to hell in a handbag, as my Grandma would say.