Sustainability and Politics: Here's What YOU Can Do

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Here's What YOU Can Do - U.N. Reports 7 Billion Humans

U.N. Reports 7 Billion Humans, but Others Don’t Count on It - NYTimes.com

***Zero-population growth: the tenet is one person in for each person already on the earth. So, in a two parent family = two kids max = zero population growth

It sounds easy, but I have to focus every day on improving also:

***Minimize one's consumption

***Don't buy things with excess packaging

***Don't buy things unless you need them

***Buy things that feature bio-degradable and/or recycled packaging (costs a *little* more; invest in our future please)

***Recycle as much paper, plastic, metal, as you can

>>>MOST PEOPLE TELL ME THEY RECYCLE MUCH MORE THAN THEY THROW AWAY!!! THIS IS GREAT!! KEEP IT UP!!

***Buy local, organic food. It really keeps the carbon/pollution costs of transporting your food down

***Buying local, organic food also supports local economies, ensures your food is most fresh, and keeps pesticides and other poisons out of us and the ground

***Consider zero-population growth: the tenet is one person in for each person already on the earth. So, in a two parent family = two kids max = zero population growth

***Don't waste water; we take it for granted

***TURN OFF THE SPOUT when brushing teeth or shaving, etc. I still have to remind myself to do this sometimes. Don't overwater outside.

***Go UNDER YOUR BATHROOM & KITCHEN SINKS and turn the hot and cold water flow knobs down 10-25%; Max flow will still be plenty; the avg. flow will now save water and YOU money

***Replace the three most used lights in your house with compact fluorescents -- this will save you 75% on your electrical bill for those fixtures, breaking even for the $2 bulb purchase price in a matter of weeks if the bulbs are frequently used; you WILL NOTICE THE SAVINGS on your NEXT electrical bill

***Replace the next three most used lights with compact fluorescents next month, until there are no more 18th Century, loses-most-of-its-efficiency-in-heat, Thomas Edison incandescent bulbs in your house

***Buy a hybrid, or electric car, when you can, when it suits your style and there is a suitable vehicle

***Walk or bike when you can!

***Have some candlelight nights, "turn the lights down low" as Bob Marley put it

***Put up solar panels right now, if you can afford it. Call me if you need help figuring out if it's feasible for you.

***Support higher fuel-mileage legislation

***Support clean-energy legislation and products, and use them

***Find clever ways to save energy around your house

***Be mindful, have fun, kick ass

***And realize how much more fun and safe the world will be if it's not terribly over-crowded, polluted and everyone is fighting for basic resources in a decade or generation

***You want your kids, and you, to live in a more fun, safe, and sustainable world in the future, don't you??? Do it! Now re-read the above and have a great day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/opinion/08friedman.html

http://colbyallerton.blogspot.com/

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I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.