Resolutions: another list

Everyone seems to be resolving to be a little greener this year. Great impulse, but too often we are doing it primarily in the way that we have been conditioned to by our consumer economy: we BUY something new. Conserving or reducing or reusing or recycling is generally not our first impulse; Usually we rush out to lasso the latest gadget or device that has some green kudos attached to it and bring it home. This is not to say that we shouldn’t replace those things that are no longer performing the job we bought them to do, but don’t just throw something out and replace it with some new ‘green’ thing without giving it some careful and informed consideration. Try forming and embracing new habits. Besides with the economy in the crapper it makes even more sense. So, enough with the energy efficient florescent light bulbs already!! You can make that number 1 on your list if want you to, but it really won’t change much of anything. Better to unscrew your current world view, chuck your outlook on what and where your place is in the global community, and try out a new one.

Consider some of these options:

1- TURN OFF THE TV! (except for the Red Sox and the Patriots' games!) Almost everything on the tube is basically crap (the so-called program) wrapped in more crap (the advertising) . It's a totally non-nutritional, non-compostable shit sandwich, so stop eating it.
2- Become more informed about the physical world you live in. One place to begin is with learning about ecological foot printing and watersheds.
3- Try making a chart that lists what you CONSUME as well as how much and from what source(s), and what you BORROW or ‘use’ e.g., water. While this sounds like a real chore, maybe even a PITA (pain-in-the-ass), you can make it fun if you have kids. Try it out for a little while. If nothing else, the experiment may make you more aware of what you take out of and put back into the world around you. If you pull out an atlas and check out where some of the stuff that makes up the ‘stuff’ of your life comes from, you’ll also familiarize yourself with how the world is connected, and learn some geography at the same time. (I’ll post a sample chart here in the next couple of days.)
4- Take deliberate and conscious steps to reduce your personal (and your family’s) consumption of practically everything…. From energy to water to gadgets to clothing.
5- If you live in a neighborhood where you actually know your neighbors maybe there are some activities you can do together or equipment that you can share that will not only save you money, but conserve energy and build relationships as well.
6- Are they any appliances or gadgets or equipment you can recycle or donate? In Great Britain over the last few years there has developed a new kind of party called a ‘cadge’ party. Folks get together around exchanging, trading or re-circulating un-wanted gadgets or equipment. Usually there is a theme, like ‘personal electronics’, e.g., PDSa, cell phones, etc. An evening is set aside, usually with a pot-luck dinner involved, folks gather with their stuff and the exchanging and bartering begins. It’s communal, comical and a hell of lot of fun. It's also a lot less competitive than serial bridge games.
7- Garden, if you can and if you want to make the commitment; but if you can’t or don’t, try to find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) location or a farm stand near you. Note: go organic as much as possible, but you already know that.
8- Shop locally as much as you can. Support the merchants in your own community. Going to BBS (Big Box Stores) may save you money, but BBS don’t tend to keep much, if any, of their profit money in the local community. Worst of all, they are relentless predators and muscle smaller retailers out of business. Not only that, if you have to drive more than 10 miles one way to a BBS, you may not be saving any significant amount of money any way, at least not on small to medium purchases. Moreover, you will be adding CO2 and other pollutants to the environment as well as putting wear and tear on your car.
9- Form a shopping pool. When you must go shopping, try as often as possible to buddy up with someone you know who is likely to be wanting or needing to go on a similar errand. It may add a little extra time but it will pay you back major social dividends and save some money too.
10- ENOY life more!