Results tagged “environmentalism”

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While I think it is about time that, as a country, we begin to seriously consider our consumption and its impact on the Earth, part of the problem I have with the environmental movement as a whole is that some supporters have surpassed a moderate interest and are hovering around in fanatic territory. (You should see some of the outlandish emails I get being on PETA's email list!) When extreme attitudes are expressed in an off-putting way, it does nothing to further the cause and often can serve to scare away people who would be otherwise interested. For instance: there are reports that Woody Harrelson forgot to bring his vegan shoes and belt to Cannes. His assistants could not track down any non-leather alternatives, so he had his shoes and belt flown to France! This is extreme (and extremely ridiculous). When someone becomes so rigid in their beliefs that they have accessories flown halfway around the world, things have gotten out of control. (Note: I will be adding this story to my on-going list of reasons why I believe the Apocalypse is close upon us.)

Pretty much every media outlet we rely on, mainstream or otherwise, constantly bombards us with "green" topics. Many retailers and manufacturers are moving towards greening their products (though whether they are successful or whether sometimes it is just greenwashing is debatable). These days it is pretty hard to avoid the issue, but sometimes there is just such an overwhelming amount of information, including both scare tactics and sound advice, that we might find ourselves using the handy old technique of avoidance. Since we know that's not the right answer either, probably the best way to go is take some time to sit down and think for yourself, considering all of the information that is out there, and decide what, realistically, you can do. And if you don't live alone, think about scheduling a time to talk to your roommate(s), significant other, family members, or whomever else about how you can work as a team to infuse some positive changes to your lifestyle. The key at first is to select changes that are realistic, that you can feasibly do. Don't pick as your first project a grand scheme to convert your house to solar power. Instead, think about planting a veggie garden in your backyard or patio (and maybe later add in composting to go along with it). Make a plan to carpool with a neighbor or a spouse. Try to limit yourself to one meat-based meal a day (if you are not already a vegetarian). Don't buy bottled water from Fiji. (Drink filtered tap water instead.) Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them on a rack to dry. This list could go on and on, but you get the idea—make it manageable to facilitate success rather than frustration and failure. Don't overwhelm yourself with doom and gloom, simply try to find ways to manage your life in a more environmentally friendly way.

This week's New York Times Magazine features an article entitled "Why Bother?" by Michael Pollan (the author of must-reads The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto). In "Why Bother," Pollan states that the bleakest part of watching An Inconvenient Truth for him was "during the closing credits, when we are asked to . . . change our light bulbs. That’s when it got really depressing. The immense disproportion between the magnitude of the problem Gore had described and the puniness of what he was asking us to do about it was enough to sink your heart." Many of us can relate to that. We think, wow, there are just so many environmental problems out there, how can what little I do make a difference? And with that defeatist attitude, many of us choose the path of not doing anything. Pollan argues that "Climate change is upon us, and it has arrived well ahead of schedule," but now is not the time to think that whatever you may do as an individual is "too little too late." He says, "For us to wait for legislation or technology to solve the problem of how we’re living our lives suggests we’re not really serious about changing—something our politicians cannot fail to notice. They will not move until we do."

Local writer/director/producer Michael Gleason recently sent us a link to his short comic news piece called "Arrgh! Taxes!" which we were planning on profiling today given that it is April 15th. However, one of his other pieces struck a chord with us about a topic near and dear to this column's heart: environmentalism. In his clip "Eco-tistical," he defines being eco-tistical as "someone who is more concerned about looking like they are concerned about the environment, than actually being concerned about the environment." He takes us through his decision to replace his Ford Taurus with a Toyota Prius, but he is concerned that his decision to purchase a hybrid would be eco-tistical. That is, he is afraid he's making the choice to buy the Prius for the wrong reasons. He considers instead planting trees or riding a bike to work. In the end he does choose a Prius because his "eco ego needs massaging." While he says this in jest, it is a true commentary on the way our society has grabbed hold of the eco movement.

This week, take some time to think about how much unnecessary paper we are using up each day. When you see your fifteenth movie of the Philadelphia Film Festival, don't pick up yet another copy of the film guide. Don't print out that third recipe for macaroni and cheese from your favorite food blog, complete with nine extra pages of reader comments. Don't print out the Juno screenplay and re-read again, shaking your head and wondering how that schlock won an Academy award. (Oh wait, maybe that's just me who is doing that). Don't subscribe to a printed publication that can be read online.

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Contrary to what perceptions might be, environmentalism does not always equal extremism. Being environmentally conscious does not mean forsaking your interests and living in a shack in the woods. It is important, though, to be increasingly aware of the impact that you and your actions are making.