I ate some hot wings today. They were super good. It occurred to me that I had no idea where any of the ingredients had come from. I felt a little bad. But I was still giving myself a break. I mean, having awareness and just THINKING is a positive step. Thinking leads to action. Then when I was done eating and went to clean up my lunch I realized that the Styrofoam container it had came in could not go in the recycle bin. As I tossed it in the trash and threw the celery that came with it in too (we have no compost bin at the office) I realized, again, how easy it is to just NOT THINK about what impact my consumption is having and how habitual it is to just “throw it away”. It occurred to me: There is no such thing as “throw it away”. I’ve been increasingly aware of what bin I put things in. It’s becoming even more important to me because I try to remember that “away” doesn’t mean erased. I get overwhelmed pretty easily when I think of my own responsibility and contributions to environmental issues and how I should be doing more. So I decided to give myself a pep talk. Here goes:
Things make sense.
(I mean some of the time)
There are some things about me that fall right in to line with going green. It’s a natural progression. I feel better and better about how I live and how I see the world as I learn more and make informed choices. I feel like going green will let me just dive right into fully embracing things that are already a part of me.
We have a garden.
It makes me happy to see the new little baby leaves emerge out of the dirt. Like- REALLY happy. I get all puffed up and proud of the little buggers. I coo and cheer them on. I commend those tiny little seeds for all their work and I feel happy and thankful for the rain. I like to imagine how the roots are growing down in the soil when they first start out and as they get stronger. They are becoming established in to the soil I (well, mostly Abby) worked hard to provide for them. Teamwork. We put attention and energy into the seeds and the small plants as we seeded them. And now were watching them grow into food for our family. When I go visit the garden I like to pull the weeds and move the slugs away and water them. I feel like I’m sticking up for my friends.
I like to can/preserve food.
I’ve always taken an interest in canning food with my grandma. We spend long days over the summer and fall standing in the kitchen washing and boiling and cutting and setting. In the end, we have an absolutely stunning collection of food. To me, freshly canned food is so beautiful. It’s beautiful because of the colors and because of the food I have now to save until I want it. And also because I spent time with my family making memories and working together. I’m getting to the point now where I think I’ll be able to do some preserving on my own. Abby and I are going to venture there together this year. I like to think of a big beautiful pantry full of jars of food. I’m looking forward to visiting local farms and buying boxes of apples, peaches, tomatoes… and berries. I love picking berries!! I’m thinking about preserving some pie filling this year. I’ve never done that before. We can do jam, too. Oh, I get so excited about all we can do!
I like handmade things.
I’m one of those people who… well, I’m just super crafty. I like it all….sewing, painting, building, drawing, paper crafting, yarn crafting, beading... When I see cool hand made things (which I love) I usually instantly translate it to how I could do it. And if I can’t (or haven’t) I like those things even more. I like it when the things I have around me mean something. Often times, my most valued things are items made by people. They evoke a feeling in me, or a memory and when I use them, I feel good. Or if they are not made by someone I know, I feel good using them because they are unique and add character and interest to my world. I like to give gifts and receive gifts that came from my effort or my thoughtfulness not solely from a pocketbook. And I truly TRULY admire making useful, thoughtful or artful things from previously used things. Just recently Abby and I bought jackets from this wonderful clothing designer from the Portland Saturday Market. We visited her little booth Shabby Knapsack – and I was so excited to see her fun, creative comfortable clothes made from second hand fabrics. It instantly became my favorite article of clothing. It’s infused with creativity, sustainability, personality, and family values. She and her daughter sew clothes and her family lives off of their business. “Consuming” in this way is so satisfying. So much more than stopping by target.
I like second hand stuff.
I shop at goodwill and garage sales (in season). It’s usually the first place I check for things I need. I honestly don’t remember the last time I bought a new book. I buy them all from individuals online. I get super excited about going through a bag of hand-me-downs. I admit part of this is probably the tiny sliver of resourceful-hoarder I got from my mom (which I will never admit to having), and part of it is because I don’t like to spend money. Whatever the cause, I have the makings of sustainability under my skin.
I’m feeling a bit better about my green-side now. I want to remind myself that even my tendencies to do and like things green are good. Even if I don’t make the best choices every time. –or even know what the best choices are every time.
After thought: Is it “green” of me to order online? I mean, what about the environmental impact of shipping? I did choose the seller from my own state thinking I would get my book faster… but I guess that helps the environment, too. One more “check” in my pep-talk box.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
paradigm shift
I feel a bit uneasy writing a blog about environmental issues and what I think about them. I feel like I should really know what I’m talking about before I put my words and perspectives out there. Like I should do all the research and have a collection of a lot of solid information before I begin. When I see other blogs online, it seems like there are experts on issues and I’m just not so sure what I’ve got to offer. It occurs to me, then, that my learning and my process could be helpful, and maybe inspiring. So, I’m willing to put my naïveté out for everyone to see. My words come from genuine concern for our planet. Even if I don’t know exactly what I’m doing or what I’m talking about, I am trying and educating myself as I go along. And for whatever it’s worth, I’ll share that process with everyone.
For the last few weeks, my girlfriend, Abby, and I have been talking and learning about some super important issues.
-We’ve learned some pretty frightening things about the food industry. From practices on growing, maintaining and distributing crops to the raising and processing animals for consumption.
-We’ve learned a bit about sustainability.
-We’ve considered topics like water and energy conservation.
-A big one for me is waste management and consumerism.
(more on these later)
From these conversations and small bits of research here and there, my little earth-loving vocabulary is growing. But that’s not the only thing that grows. My worry grows too. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when I begin to see what’s really going on. In the past, I’ve learned bits and pieces of startling information about the state of the earth and the need for people to become more environmentally conscious. And in those times, the more I learned, the more overwhelmed I became. Until, in a sense, I just quit searching and learning because maybe all the problems seemed too big for me to tackle, or maybe because it really is just easier to follow the crowd and choose not to think about what I just saw or read. It’s most likely both. I was in a paradigm of thinking.
In my society, I have the privilege to follow the crowd and choose not to think about what I just saw or read. It’s all hidden under a veil, away from my immediate sight.
I live in a society that makes it very easy for (and encourages) a certain life plan to be followed with all the blinders put on in the right places in order to perpetuate existence in that life. That life is about following a path of personal gain. I do whatever benefits me- in that moment. Instant gratification. There is no need to think of my life or actions and how they are affecting others or the earth. The values within this life plan are surrounded around having things. Pretty- glamorous- things. To me the Glamorous part is the veil of perfect and shiny and new that consumers (like me) are drawn to. This is how it goes: I grow up and gain skills for a job. It is valuable to find a job that makes the most money. I use that money to buy things. And if I don’t make enough money to buy those things, it’s okay for me to borrow it, even if I may never have the money to pay it back. If I can’t buy all the things I want, I work harder and strive harder to find a better paying job. To buy more, and “better” things. If I find something I like, it’s in my best interest to buy one of each color. The definition of “better” has nothing to do with how the making or distribution of that product affected anyone or anything. It has nothing to do with how long it will last or how useful it is, or where it will end up when I’m done with it. It has more to do with what is in style. Everything is better if it’s disposable, easy, and convenient. If it’s the latest, newest, most in-fashion, up to date thing—I should probably have it, or want it. And when that thing I worked so hard to get becomes “used” or out of style, there is already something there to replace it that I should now be working toward getting. It seems exhausting doesn’t it? It does to me. And it is. But when I’m following that path, those are my values and it’s important for me to keep up. I like it. I truly want those things, and it’s worth it for me to work hard to get them. It feels good when I get the newest thing. That’s what living within a paradigm is all about. The thing is: nothing about following that path includes the acknowledgement that everything I do is connected to everything else in the world, or even the people in my own community. The effects my actions have on the earth or on other people are hidden from view. I throw away trash and it’s taken away every week. I don’t know where. To me it’s gone. Gone from my life = gone completely. Because I’m not expected to think about the state of things from any other perspective than my own. A beautiful glamorous veil of blind. A front put up by the next guy just trying to live his own version of the do-more-buy-more-for-yourself path. ‘Let’s make everything look pretty and perfect and new and exciting so the people will hop on the wagon of want give me their money so *I* can buy more things.’
It’s time for a paradigm shift. Changing a paradigm view from seeing only what I am shown to seeing what I need to see. I want “things”. I do. And it’s because I’ve lived in this system of inconsiderate consuming. The day to day life of people living within this paradigm is not about considering other people, or the health of the planet. Ultimately it’s about basking in the ability and privilege of not needing to.
Well, that’s not what I’m about anymore. It’s not right. The reality is, everything we do, everything we consume, where we get our consumables, and what we do when we’re done with things has an impact. Sometimes it has a very large impact on people, and on the environment.
One of the very difficult things to swallow is that entire industries go through a lot of effort to maintain the “beautiful veil of glamour” that we fall for. What this means is that they use up tremendous amounts of non-renewable resources and produce unbelievable amounts of waste. (Insert ridiculously shocking statistic here—or you could watch the 15 minute video “the story of stuff”—because I’m not the expert) Just the process of bringing all the “things” to people is mind blowing. Things aren’t made from nothing. They’ve got to get that stuff from somewhere. And where does it come from? Our earth. For everything you buy new you are using up resources, and contributing to the waste produced to make it. Sadly, people and animals are trying to live in the places that the resources are being used up. And people and animals are trying to live in the places where the waste is being dumped. Things aren’t created from nothing, and they surely don’t turn into nothing just because they aren’t out of our sight.
Many companies hold no accountability for where or how they get their resources, or how they dispose of waste. Because they don’t have to. Consumers don’t ask those questions. Because, in many cases, they don’t have to. It’s outside of their paradigm and within their privileges.
I know I’m making a lot of blanket statements about people and what they know and what they do. I do not believe all people are the same, or carry the same level of awareness. I know the world is filled with people who have different experiences. I know not everyone lives within the paradigm that I did. I know that not everyone who lives aware of that paradigm is completely blind or callous to everything.
One of the points I’m trying to make is: There is a huge market for “things”. If consumers don’t ask questions about the sustainability practices of the companies that bring them those things… There are no standards of accountability for those companies to live up to. And if people don’t insist on buying the ‘things’ that ensure a respectful level of sustainability, the companies will continue to feed the market that doesn’t ask.
Consumers and companies together maintaining the firmly set blinders.
And then there is the market for food. This is such a big deal because I eat food. I need it to survive. I depend on food for my health, my life. It seems crazy but there is the same false veil of beauty and glamour over the market that brings me food. If something seems beautiful and perfect, easy and convenient then there’s probably more to the story. So far, whenever I find out the “more” part of the story; it’s not very good or healthy for anyone. Especially mother earth. Either that or we just don’t know how healthy it is or isn’t - so we keep it. That by it self is scary.
Genetically engineered foods are all over the place. And the health concerns are either unclear or unknown altogether. The ethical practices of GM companies is horrendous at best. (Insert thought-provoking information here – or you could watch a video about Monsanto – and be floored—because I don’t have all that stuff stored in my head yet) I’m not expert on the industry of GM foods or why they are so bad. But I am no where near convinced they are good. At all. .
What I do know is that I want to know what I’m supporting. I want to know where my food comes from and what’s been added to it, or put on it. I want my food natural. I want to take all the blinders off and make sure that I’m supporting things I agree with.
I’m taking on the responsibility to learn what I agree with and what I don’t, and also how to find out about what I’m buying. I am making efforts toward buying local whenever possible and buying certified organic at other times.
I feel motivated and fueled by Abby’s mutual interest and passion.
For the last few weeks, my girlfriend, Abby, and I have been talking and learning about some super important issues.
-We’ve learned some pretty frightening things about the food industry. From practices on growing, maintaining and distributing crops to the raising and processing animals for consumption.
-We’ve learned a bit about sustainability.
-We’ve considered topics like water and energy conservation.
-A big one for me is waste management and consumerism.
(more on these later)
From these conversations and small bits of research here and there, my little earth-loving vocabulary is growing. But that’s not the only thing that grows. My worry grows too. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when I begin to see what’s really going on. In the past, I’ve learned bits and pieces of startling information about the state of the earth and the need for people to become more environmentally conscious. And in those times, the more I learned, the more overwhelmed I became. Until, in a sense, I just quit searching and learning because maybe all the problems seemed too big for me to tackle, or maybe because it really is just easier to follow the crowd and choose not to think about what I just saw or read. It’s most likely both. I was in a paradigm of thinking.
In my society, I have the privilege to follow the crowd and choose not to think about what I just saw or read. It’s all hidden under a veil, away from my immediate sight.
I live in a society that makes it very easy for (and encourages) a certain life plan to be followed with all the blinders put on in the right places in order to perpetuate existence in that life. That life is about following a path of personal gain. I do whatever benefits me- in that moment. Instant gratification. There is no need to think of my life or actions and how they are affecting others or the earth. The values within this life plan are surrounded around having things. Pretty- glamorous- things. To me the Glamorous part is the veil of perfect and shiny and new that consumers (like me) are drawn to. This is how it goes: I grow up and gain skills for a job. It is valuable to find a job that makes the most money. I use that money to buy things. And if I don’t make enough money to buy those things, it’s okay for me to borrow it, even if I may never have the money to pay it back. If I can’t buy all the things I want, I work harder and strive harder to find a better paying job. To buy more, and “better” things. If I find something I like, it’s in my best interest to buy one of each color. The definition of “better” has nothing to do with how the making or distribution of that product affected anyone or anything. It has nothing to do with how long it will last or how useful it is, or where it will end up when I’m done with it. It has more to do with what is in style. Everything is better if it’s disposable, easy, and convenient. If it’s the latest, newest, most in-fashion, up to date thing—I should probably have it, or want it. And when that thing I worked so hard to get becomes “used” or out of style, there is already something there to replace it that I should now be working toward getting. It seems exhausting doesn’t it? It does to me. And it is. But when I’m following that path, those are my values and it’s important for me to keep up. I like it. I truly want those things, and it’s worth it for me to work hard to get them. It feels good when I get the newest thing. That’s what living within a paradigm is all about. The thing is: nothing about following that path includes the acknowledgement that everything I do is connected to everything else in the world, or even the people in my own community. The effects my actions have on the earth or on other people are hidden from view. I throw away trash and it’s taken away every week. I don’t know where. To me it’s gone. Gone from my life = gone completely. Because I’m not expected to think about the state of things from any other perspective than my own. A beautiful glamorous veil of blind. A front put up by the next guy just trying to live his own version of the do-more-buy-more-for-yourself path. ‘Let’s make everything look pretty and perfect and new and exciting so the people will hop on the wagon of want give me their money so *I* can buy more things.’
It’s time for a paradigm shift. Changing a paradigm view from seeing only what I am shown to seeing what I need to see. I want “things”. I do. And it’s because I’ve lived in this system of inconsiderate consuming. The day to day life of people living within this paradigm is not about considering other people, or the health of the planet. Ultimately it’s about basking in the ability and privilege of not needing to.
Well, that’s not what I’m about anymore. It’s not right. The reality is, everything we do, everything we consume, where we get our consumables, and what we do when we’re done with things has an impact. Sometimes it has a very large impact on people, and on the environment.
One of the very difficult things to swallow is that entire industries go through a lot of effort to maintain the “beautiful veil of glamour” that we fall for. What this means is that they use up tremendous amounts of non-renewable resources and produce unbelievable amounts of waste. (Insert ridiculously shocking statistic here—or you could watch the 15 minute video “the story of stuff”—because I’m not the expert) Just the process of bringing all the “things” to people is mind blowing. Things aren’t made from nothing. They’ve got to get that stuff from somewhere. And where does it come from? Our earth. For everything you buy new you are using up resources, and contributing to the waste produced to make it. Sadly, people and animals are trying to live in the places that the resources are being used up. And people and animals are trying to live in the places where the waste is being dumped. Things aren’t created from nothing, and they surely don’t turn into nothing just because they aren’t out of our sight.
Many companies hold no accountability for where or how they get their resources, or how they dispose of waste. Because they don’t have to. Consumers don’t ask those questions. Because, in many cases, they don’t have to. It’s outside of their paradigm and within their privileges.
I know I’m making a lot of blanket statements about people and what they know and what they do. I do not believe all people are the same, or carry the same level of awareness. I know the world is filled with people who have different experiences. I know not everyone lives within the paradigm that I did. I know that not everyone who lives aware of that paradigm is completely blind or callous to everything.
One of the points I’m trying to make is: There is a huge market for “things”. If consumers don’t ask questions about the sustainability practices of the companies that bring them those things… There are no standards of accountability for those companies to live up to. And if people don’t insist on buying the ‘things’ that ensure a respectful level of sustainability, the companies will continue to feed the market that doesn’t ask.
Consumers and companies together maintaining the firmly set blinders.
And then there is the market for food. This is such a big deal because I eat food. I need it to survive. I depend on food for my health, my life. It seems crazy but there is the same false veil of beauty and glamour over the market that brings me food. If something seems beautiful and perfect, easy and convenient then there’s probably more to the story. So far, whenever I find out the “more” part of the story; it’s not very good or healthy for anyone. Especially mother earth. Either that or we just don’t know how healthy it is or isn’t - so we keep it. That by it self is scary.
Genetically engineered foods are all over the place. And the health concerns are either unclear or unknown altogether. The ethical practices of GM companies is horrendous at best. (Insert thought-provoking information here – or you could watch a video about Monsanto – and be floored—because I don’t have all that stuff stored in my head yet) I’m not expert on the industry of GM foods or why they are so bad. But I am no where near convinced they are good. At all. .
What I do know is that I want to know what I’m supporting. I want to know where my food comes from and what’s been added to it, or put on it. I want my food natural. I want to take all the blinders off and make sure that I’m supporting things I agree with.
I’m taking on the responsibility to learn what I agree with and what I don’t, and also how to find out about what I’m buying. I am making efforts toward buying local whenever possible and buying certified organic at other times.
I feel motivated and fueled by Abby’s mutual interest and passion.
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