Discussion Friday: Sacrifice or Small Changes?
November 14, 2008 by admin
Filed under Chic Discussion, Living Chic and Green
(I decided to start facilitating a little conversation on top of all the good green goods. Every Friday I’ll try to think up something good for us to debate. Let’s hope I don’t run out of ideas.)
I caught Supper Club on Planet Green for the first time tonight. It’s a pretty interesting show. You have some celebs and green gurus show up and some chef. Have the chef make dinner and talk about green topics in between.
During the episode I saw, the conversation turned to something interesting. They were talking about being perfectly green and how that is impossible. Al Gore was given as an example. He preaches green, yet flies on a private jet. Not so green. Is it fair for him to preach sacrifice?
On top of that, they argued about what really makes a difference. Yes, it’s great to buy an organic sweater or a reusable grocery bag, but our bigger problem is energy and figuring out how to switch to green power. The larger sacrifice must be made in order for the smaller things — CFLs and organic clothing — to make a difference. Essentially, changing one small thing in your lifestyle isn’t going to cut it.
Do you agree? Are small changes not enough to get us out of this mess?
Don’t worry! I don’t think you’ll run out of issues to debate. With the “green” headlines hitting every day, there’s plenty to make us scratch our heads and wonder.
I do agree that changing one small thing in your lifestyle, say, switching from plastic bags to carrying your own reusable canvas, isn’t going to save the planet.
Even if every person on Earth stopped using plastic shopping bags, it wouldn’t be enough to cut down on the greenhouse gases that are creating global toxic air, climate change, and threatening to end the world as we know it.
That said, I truly believe that making the small changes is the right thing to do. With our organic cotton purchases, you and I aren’t going to be able to effect change in the kind of scale that will save the Earth. But is it really up to us? We’re not scientists or biologists or chemical engineers. We probably don’t have the knowledge, skills or resources to be able to discover the green power solution that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale.
But what we can do, we should do. We can continue to lend strength to the environmental movement by lending consumer power to companies making better choices.
We can advocate for resources to the scientists who can make a real difference in making green energy production a viable option. We can write to our legislators and elect environmentally aware representatives.
I don’t expect to be able to save the world by purchasing organic cotton. But I am certain it’s the right thing to do!
I totally agree Tara.
I think it’s true that maybe one person can have little effect but if we continue to make going green a socially accepting change than the masses will dictate the industry.
Buying one organic shirt will not save the earth, but it does say that you care about green ideals, which may push companies to do so.