It is easy being green

It is easy being green


By: Jeff Miller

With all due respect to Kermit, being green is not only becoming the popular thing to do, it is also becoming easier by the day. When I was a young boy, I read the 1972 children’s book “Who Wants A Pop Can Park”, which used creative ways to explain the reasons we should throw our pop cans in the trash rather than litter. It left an impression on me that we need to take care of our world because it is our responsibility. I have now realized over the following years that it may be more than a responsibility, but instead a necessity.

There are several fantastic resources on the internet that help give ideas on how we can make a difference:
The 20-minute internet movie “The Story of Stuff” is a fast paced, often humorous film that examines the social, environmental and global costs of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. From the limited life cycle of personal computers to changes in footwear fashion, the story demonstrates that products are either designed to be regularly replaced or to convince consumers that their stuff needs to be upgraded. This notion of planned and perceived obsolescence drives the machine of American consumerism year round. This excellent video can be viewed at www.storyofstuff.com.
There are several tips for taking action after seeing “The Story of Stuff.” One takeaway is to realize that recycling doesn’t get to the core of the problem. Why? Because it can take 70 bags of garbage to produce what we see at the store. Thus, it isn’t enough for us to simply recycle what we use. It is important to be sure, but reducing and reusing are even more important. More tips can be found at www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_taking_action.pdf.
To get a good idea of our personal impact on the world, take the Ecological Footprint Quiz http://www.myfootprint.org/ and discover ways to live toward sustainability.
Examine the benefits of taking up or enhancing simple living. Since 1996 The Simple Living Network has been providing resources, tools, examples and contacts for conscious, simple, healthy and restorative living. The websites are www.simpleliving.net and www.simpleliving.org
Visit Keep Indy Beautiful’s excellent website and learn about recycling options, waste reduction and tree planting at www.kibi.org.
Consider constructing a Rain Barrel to capture and reuse this great natural resource. The internet has many great websites for how to build a rain barrel.

As a final reminder of our responsibility, even Disney Pixar is getting in the game. I am quite happy that my 2 1/2 year-old son's favorite movie right now is Wall-E, which has a fantastic message about the importance of protecting our environment. The DVD even comes in an environmentally friendly package. The take away is that we all have a responsibility to care for our world. Even small steps make a difference. As I learned as a young boy, if everyone thinks that tossing their one pop can on the ground doesn't really hurt anything, then before long we are all living in a pop can park.