. It's a pocket-size reference based on the credo "every dollar makes a difference". Quickly look up which companies are operating in the green, and which ones really stink, before you go out and buy a pint of ice cream, dog food, cosmetics, or a new car. It ranks them on the following factors: Environment, Human Rights, Community Involvement, Animal Protection, Corporate Crime, Discrimination, Employee Treatment, and Philanthropy. Be sure to read the beginning: it is filled with vital information and inspires you to use it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Get this book. Use it.
The best resource we received at this workshop was a book about responsible shopping. Face it, we're Americans and we shop. But we don't have to shop at stores that have mastered the concept of externalized costs. Go out and get a copy of The Better World Shopping Guide: Every Dollar Makes a Difference. It's a pocket-size reference based on the credo "every dollar makes a difference". Quickly look up which companies are operating in the green, and which ones really stink, before you go out and buy a pint of ice cream, dog food, cosmetics, or a new car. It ranks them on the following factors: Environment, Human Rights, Community Involvement, Animal Protection, Corporate Crime, Discrimination, Employee Treatment, and Philanthropy. Be sure to read the beginning: it is filled with vital information and inspires you to use it.
. It's a pocket-size reference based on the credo "every dollar makes a difference". Quickly look up which companies are operating in the green, and which ones really stink, before you go out and buy a pint of ice cream, dog food, cosmetics, or a new car. It ranks them on the following factors: Environment, Human Rights, Community Involvement, Animal Protection, Corporate Crime, Discrimination, Employee Treatment, and Philanthropy. Be sure to read the beginning: it is filled with vital information and inspires you to use it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
First thoughts after the workshop
Hello World,
This is my first blog. Pardon me if it's amateurish. I'll get better, I promise! Some of what follows may be old hat to you, but it is a message that needs its volume turned up way past 11.
[Ed: After writing the below, I started to feel embarrassed that I hadn't gotten involved sooner. So what? I am now.]
My wife Lisa and I just attended an all-day conference here in Santa Cruz called "Changing the Dream, Awakening the Dreamer", sponsored by Inner Light Ministries and the PachaMama Alliance. It was at once both alarming, an inspiring. The key point of their thesis: the vast majority of American's are living in a sort of materialistic trance, blissfully unaware of the subtle side-effects their consumption has on Planet Earth. They showed a number of compelling videos that either described the problem, demonstrated its validity, or suggested actions we all might take. My favorite one comes in the form of a cartoon, and is absolutely essential viewing. It is called The Story of Stuff. I truly believe that in 20 minutes, this amazing and entertaining video will show you more about our consumer-driven economy and its ravaging effects than a short book on the same topic.
Another painful point raised in the workshop is that a majority of biologists are now convinced that the earth is undergoing mass species extinction unlike any other ecological event since the death of the dinosaurs. Depending on who you ask, either 70% of biologists or 85% (I am not sure this was the high number) declare this as fact. There are many reasons one might be left feeling hopeless after hearing this. There truly is very little time left. And while it may be too late to prevent mass extinction, it also may not be. Imagine if everyone started doing something truly different in their day-to-day lives, starting today. What if everyone just stopped using paper cups, for example? This would reduce the rate of tree harvesting by 2 gazillion trees a year, and these saved trees would filter out 16 gazillion tons of CO2. OK, so I am making up these numbers, but the point is very real: there is strength in numbers. We must all begin to raise our own awareness and the awareness of others, urgently. I mean right now.
They say it's difficult to change old habits. I tend to agree. I am hoping that by joining the chorus of switched on people who are actively supporting each other in adopting new greener values, my inertia will get it right between the eyes. I ask anyone who reads this to write one commitment they will do (mine was to start a blog). It can be anything at all. As simple as hanging the next load out to dry rather than using the dry cleaner. It could even be as easy as emailing a pointer to this blog to a friend. When you have done this small thing for our planet, please post it here. I don't like how much noise is found in the blogosphere. That's one of the reasons I have waited 'til now to start one. So please, keep your posts short and action-oriented. My favorite posts will be the ones about what you have done today.
Finally, a few more links to stimulate your imagination and light a fire under your butt:
Make it something you enjoy, so that you'll do it again and again. And again.
This is my first blog. Pardon me if it's amateurish. I'll get better, I promise! Some of what follows may be old hat to you, but it is a message that needs its volume turned up way past 11.
[Ed: After writing the below, I started to feel embarrassed that I hadn't gotten involved sooner. So what? I am now.]
My wife Lisa and I just attended an all-day conference here in Santa Cruz called "Changing the Dream, Awakening the Dreamer", sponsored by Inner Light Ministries and the PachaMama Alliance. It was at once both alarming, an inspiring. The key point of their thesis: the vast majority of American's are living in a sort of materialistic trance, blissfully unaware of the subtle side-effects their consumption has on Planet Earth. They showed a number of compelling videos that either described the problem, demonstrated its validity, or suggested actions we all might take. My favorite one comes in the form of a cartoon, and is absolutely essential viewing. It is called The Story of Stuff. I truly believe that in 20 minutes, this amazing and entertaining video will show you more about our consumer-driven economy and its ravaging effects than a short book on the same topic.
Another painful point raised in the workshop is that a majority of biologists are now convinced that the earth is undergoing mass species extinction unlike any other ecological event since the death of the dinosaurs. Depending on who you ask, either 70% of biologists or 85% (I am not sure this was the high number) declare this as fact. There are many reasons one might be left feeling hopeless after hearing this. There truly is very little time left. And while it may be too late to prevent mass extinction, it also may not be. Imagine if everyone started doing something truly different in their day-to-day lives, starting today. What if everyone just stopped using paper cups, for example? This would reduce the rate of tree harvesting by 2 gazillion trees a year, and these saved trees would filter out 16 gazillion tons of CO2. OK, so I am making up these numbers, but the point is very real: there is strength in numbers. We must all begin to raise our own awareness and the awareness of others, urgently. I mean right now.
They say it's difficult to change old habits. I tend to agree. I am hoping that by joining the chorus of switched on people who are actively supporting each other in adopting new greener values, my inertia will get it right between the eyes. I ask anyone who reads this to write one commitment they will do (mine was to start a blog). It can be anything at all. As simple as hanging the next load out to dry rather than using the dry cleaner. It could even be as easy as emailing a pointer to this blog to a friend. When you have done this small thing for our planet, please post it here. I don't like how much noise is found in the blogosphere. That's one of the reasons I have waited 'til now to start one. So please, keep your posts short and action-oriented. My favorite posts will be the ones about what you have done today.
Finally, a few more links to stimulate your imagination and light a fire under your butt:
- Earth Communications Office - a site with stunning videos about these issues. A real treasure.
- Resources from Awakening the Dreamer.
- Upcoming events from ATD. (Go directly to their site if you're a latecomer).
- Where do we go from here? - A list of materials from the workshop.
- Reuters article about mass extinction
Make it something you enjoy, so that you'll do it again and again. And again.
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