In today’s Web 2.0, everything online world, I often forget that one of the best ways to get connected, inspired and motivated is to connect with like-minded people in the real world. This post will focus on a couple of great groups in my area and direct you to some national organizations that may have local chapters where you live.
First off, I have to admit that the idea for this post came to me when a friend of mine mentioned that a friend of hers was putting together an “ecosalon” just for women in our area. This struck me as an awesome idea and a great way to get like-minded people together in a simple and powerful way.
With that in mind, (and since I happen to be in the 50% of people not included in that group) I set out to find other places people could get together and get green. I found a great local organization called UrbanTilth that is focused on creating urban gardens in our area. They are actually part of a national movement that is dedicated to producing 5% of our food supply in our local communities. Our family has gotten directly involved in Berryland, their urban garden project in the Richmond (California) Greenway. Even my little ones have gotten involved helping to shovel dirt for the berry plants.
Here’s a great clearing-house site where you can find organizations that get your juices flowing! So there's really no excuse--Get connected, get empowered, and go change the world!
green+living green+living+tips ecology environmental green fresh mynt green+marble carbon+footprint carbon+offset junkmail+elimination global+warming global+climate+change
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
What would you give up?
“OK,” you say, “Now you’ve finally converted into a standard left-wing enviro-terrorist blog bent on denying hard-working Americans the creature comforts to which we have become accustomed. I knew it would happen sooner or later!” Not so fast—this isn’t the typical rant against the Consumerism we have come to see as our God-Given right. In this post, I will attempt to consider a very difficult question posed to me by a well-meaning friend, and, with some help from you, maybe we can come with some ideas, if not answers to this question.
The question (paraphrased) was this. “If typical first world per capita energy consumption is more than 30 times third world per capita consumption, what are you, my good green friend, willing to give up to create a world capable of sustaining human life in the long term?” His point was this: We can all install compact fluorescent lights and drive Priuses (Prii?!), but we will never get where we want to go without a major change in lifestyle.
This set me to thinking. What would I give up? What would my family give up? Do we really have to give things up to create a sustainable model? Here are a few ideas I have:
1) I would be willing to give some or all of the electrical appliances in my house including the coveted dishwasher, in favor of manual alternatives.
2) I would be willing to get rid of one gas only car and get an all electric vehicle for local trips and errands.
3) I would be willing to pay an additional 10% tax on gasoline as long as it was coupled with a windfall profit tax on petroleum companies and the money was invested in an Apollo project aimed at making sustainable energy the foundation of our national energy usage by 2020.
What would you be willing to do? What ideas do you have?
green+living green+living+tips ecology environmental green fresh mynt green+marble carbon+footprint carbon+offset junkmail+elimination global+warming global+climate+change
The question (paraphrased) was this. “If typical first world per capita energy consumption is more than 30 times third world per capita consumption, what are you, my good green friend, willing to give up to create a world capable of sustaining human life in the long term?” His point was this: We can all install compact fluorescent lights and drive Priuses (Prii?!), but we will never get where we want to go without a major change in lifestyle.
This set me to thinking. What would I give up? What would my family give up? Do we really have to give things up to create a sustainable model? Here are a few ideas I have:
1) I would be willing to give some or all of the electrical appliances in my house including the coveted dishwasher, in favor of manual alternatives.
2) I would be willing to get rid of one gas only car and get an all electric vehicle for local trips and errands.
3) I would be willing to pay an additional 10% tax on gasoline as long as it was coupled with a windfall profit tax on petroleum companies and the money was invested in an Apollo project aimed at making sustainable energy the foundation of our national energy usage by 2020.
What would you be willing to do? What ideas do you have?
green+living green+living+tips ecology environmental green fresh mynt green+marble carbon+footprint carbon+offset junkmail+elimination global+warming global+climate+change
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
