Last month, as part of Break the Addiction's 12-Step Program, you learned how to Get Political. Now it's time for you to rev it up and take Step 7: Go Paperless.

In this age of wireless communication, why still use paper? Sure, texting from your mobile or computer uses some energy, but did you know that for every ton of paper you save, 17 trees stay alive? Our forests are shrinking quickly - half of the earth's original forest cover is already gone.

And the loss of our trees not only leads to animals losing their habitats and becoming extinct, but contributes directly to global warming. Deforestation accounts for up to 25% of the carbon emissions that lead to climate change. Our trees are Mother Nature's lungs! One way to save them is to go paperless. And here's what you can do:

Use the Internet! Do more than just surf the Web - use the net to get rid of some of the mail that comes to your house. Sign up to have your bills come to your inbox instead of your mailbox, and then pay them electronically. The same goes for those bulky bank and credit card statements: Use online banking instead.

Having a holiday party? Send out those invites electronically. And if you're going to give a gift, use electronic gift-certificates. As for those party snapshots: send those out via e-mail, or post them on your Web site. By not printing photos, you'll save trees and money!

Cancel those catalogues - and that newspaper subscription, too. You can do most of your shopping online, and get your news fresher from your paper's Web site.

Sometimes, of course, you gotta use paper, especially for school. Try to do your corrections on your screen, and when you print out or photocopy your assignments, use both sides of paper. When you buy your paper, make sure it's made from recycled materials, and remember to recycle your own paper waste.

You could also start a recycling campaign at your school. During one school year, an Arizona high school managed to collect more than 6 million tons of paper for recycling!

Your school could even go a step further: Check out this story about a Pennsylvania high school that has gone completely paperless.

So get inspired, and start your own campaign for change. Once you've broken your own bad eco-habits, spread the word about saving paper to friends, family, your school, and your work. And banish those paper cuts for good!