consumerism,"being green", and natural living

[khongashes]

i'd like to bring up a topic for discussion. i've watched this community change and evolve and i've noticed a surge in "green" consumerism posts

Comments

[chrisloy]

While I am sure there are some actively consumeristic (is that a word?) individuals here, I think for a lot of us it is more of when you HAVE to buy something, making sure it is in line with green living.
Just my 2 cents.

[njlorelei]

Agreed. I doubt there is anyone in this community (though I'm sure someone will prove me wrong) who never buys anything. So if you have to buy something why not buy something that is little better for yourself, the environment, the world.

[khongashes]

exactly but maintain the idea that contributing to consumer-capitalism is part of the problem too..

[njlorelei]

Oh yes it's definitely, if not a major part, of the problem.

[khongashes]

the problem

[gaijin_grrl]

Yes, this.

[khongashes]

yes. i hope you aren't being flippant. i surely think it's not eevillll to buy things.

[gaijin_grrl]

?

Nope, just agreeing with the above post. If I do buy something, I try to buy "green" if possible and if I can afford it.

[khongashes]

well done then.

[khongashes]

i hear you, i'll use this example: on a personal level when trying to participate in a movement, there are necessary implicit contradictions always because of the nature of "ideals" which remain "idealistic" due to the fact that they cannot exist in real life.. so vegans. well they drive on roads and use computers and they all are well aware that both of which have components made of animal by-products. so essentially even the most militant vegan isn't vegan by their own strict manifesto since they own a laptop etc.

so yeah, we do the best we can with all that we know.

[julierocket]

Computers have animal by-products in them!? Jesus, where AREN'T there animal by-products??? That's almost funny.

[khongashes]

i know right. it's sick.

[khongashes]

hmm can't find any in my quick search... but let me direct you to another similar topic bolstering the argument that even a militant vegan probably isn't a living example of an ideal: all pharmaceuticals are tested on animals. many drugs have animal by-products in them, primarily hormonal treatments/drugs; so like many of your vaccines, here's a website: http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html.. also most hormonal birth control methods