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
( Read more... )
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.
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.
I'm with you. Make it or do it yourself whenever possible. The more I'm learning the more I'm doing.
I used to go for the whole "oooh this product is greeeen!" but eventually I realized that I may be buying a product that is more green but it comes in plastic which isn't so green.
This spring I'm going to take it one step farther and try growing my own veggies. Granted I don't use produce bags (made my own out of mesh) at the store but I'm learning that not all "organic" food is really organic...some of it is just barely organic and the guidelines for calling it organic leaves a lot of room for crud.
the cool thing about this is: you start gaining special skills. you learn your own craft which will take your entire life to perfect. and i imagine this to be utterly rewarding on a persona level.
yes i agree with you. and i think we also have to work against the isolation this society has driven us all into.. and then we might rely on cooperatives which seems to me that would enable us to not be so pressed for time always. after which we might have some free time to make things like cleaners for our homes and homemade dishes etc. maybe take bikes around instead of our hybrid cars. haha.
But moving to a co-op lifestyle requires certain things, like living in a high-density area. It's pretty easy for me to buy food at farmer's markets since I live right near Cambridge, MA; there are enough crunchy liberals around here to warrant farmers' markets in towns adjacent to me four or more days a week! Being part of a co-op is also something not everyone is comfortable with... some people like more privacy (I'm assuming you're partly referring to co-op living situations
( ... )
(I'm assuming you're partly referring to co-op living situations?).
Not in particular. just the frame of cooperation in general. coming to gether to give the skills you have and those who lack them and vise versa . haha. sorry my post has been residing in the theoretical, i hope it's ok that i don't ground my claims from time to time cause i guess i am trying to get across and extract from people basic premises.
but these things, like DYI projects, are exactly what would make cooperative human activity thrive because of course not everyone has the space/ money/ time to own and opperate their own kiln AND hand wash all the clothing AND weave their own rugs AND make their own food! i hear on the density thing. yes. there would need to be some sort of centralized place like a town square which would require a town! so country folk would have to travel greater distances to participate and reap the rewards (i am assuming it would be worth it :)
I am normally quite anti-consumerist, and ardently anti-corporate. Right now, though, I honestly believe that people need to spend money, we need to help small businesses out. We need a little consumerism right now, and green is probably a good compromise.
Not completely disagreeing with you but pointing out a positive effect of the recession, it forces people to get 1) more creative, 2) less consumeristic - thus helping the environment, and 3) since it is the first major recession since the latest "Green Movement" began,m it makes room for new businesses which will (hopefully) be a bit more responsible, both economically and ecologically.
That being said, history shows us humans are at there best when cooperative, perhaps this re-considering of buying habits will point us in a better direction overall. Anyone going to the extreme and just not buying anything at all, can cause as much damage as those who were over spending during the fat times.
Comments 142
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Just my 2 cents.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I used to go for the whole "oooh this product is greeeen!" but eventually I realized that I may be buying a product that is more green but it comes in plastic which isn't so green.
This spring I'm going to take it one step farther and try growing my own veggies. Granted I don't use produce bags (made my own out of mesh) at the store but I'm learning that not all "organic" food is really organic...some of it is just barely organic and the guidelines for calling it organic leaves a lot of room for crud.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Not in particular. just the frame of cooperation in general. coming to gether to give the skills you have and those who lack them and vise versa . haha. sorry my post has been residing in the theoretical, i hope it's ok that i don't ground my claims from time to time cause i guess i am trying to get across and extract from people basic premises.
but these things, like DYI projects, are exactly what would make cooperative human activity thrive because of course not everyone has the space/ money/ time to own and opperate their own kiln AND hand wash all the clothing AND weave their own rugs AND make their own food! i hear on the density thing. yes. there would need to be some sort of centralized place like a town square which would require a town! so country folk would have to travel greater distances to participate and reap the rewards (i am assuming it would be worth it :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment