Stuff

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... We're consumers. And the fact that we, as Americans, are described as that as oppose to other things is terrifying to me. Do we really "need" everything, I guess so, because that's what we're told.

I just watched a movie called "The Story of Stuff" and in all honesty, some of the concepts we're pretty intense.  The idea is:

1. we wake up and go to work
2. we are so tired when we get home that we plop down, watch television, only to be told that we suck and we need stuff to make us awesome
3. so we get up and go shopping in order to buy all the stuff that will make us happy

1. then go back to work in order to pay for all the stuff we just bought
2. so then we are so tired when we get home that we plop down, watch television, only to be told that we suck and we need stuff to make us awesome
3.  so we get up and go shopping in order to buy all the stuff that will make us happy

1. then go back to work in order to pay for all the stuff we just bought
2. so then we are so tired when we get home that we plop down, watch television, only to be told that we suck and we need stuff to make us awesome
3. so we get up and go shopping in order to buy all the stuff that will make us happy...

Wow.

This also reminds me of a video I watched promoting a conference I'm attending about how the world is just telling us though the media how worthless we are. And in that way, the media trains those around is to look at us as worthless if we choose not to conform. Think about it.

Black Friday

Black Friday

The Ridiculous:
- Stores opening as early as early as 3am
- Not to mention stores open 24hrs like Walmart
- Customers camping out for sales
- Stores only having a limited number of sought out, on sale products

The Sickening:
Two years ago a Walmart worker in New York was killed by a stampeding mob. As much as no one meant to murder that day, everyone participating full fledged in the Black Friday chaos should feel ashamed. How does the Christmas spirit turn into this madness?

Can't say it enough. Our need for "stuff" comes from human greed but also from this feeling of entitlement. The way most people grow up, their parents pamper them, and society tells us we need certain things to be accepted or well liked. We grow up needing to fit in, which in many cases requires us to be materialistic from day one to keep up with pop culture and current trends. Things that are common place in this culture, like commercializing every holiday, are somehow not necessary in other countries. So who is to blame for our materialistic society?

More Environmental Concerns, Less Controversial Issues

Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water, Water...

EVERYWHERE

But not a drop to drink...?

So lets just talk about how much water is on the earth.  How much? Well just as we are about 70% water as humans, the earth is about the same. We keep hearing that the next war will be over water, which surprises some people, maybe not locally as many communities have droughts, but from a global perspective it appears we have plenty of water!


Fact:

• 97.5% of our water is SALT
• for the math whizz's this means only 2.5% of  our water is FRESH
• 68.7% of that is snow and ice (yes this means those massive glaciers!)
• 30.8% groundwater + 0.4% lakes, rivers ect... = our source of fresh water
• NOTE: this is less than 1% of all the water on EARTH

With that in perspective, lets think about everything we could possible use water for...

The Obvious:  showers, washing dishes, drinking, flushing toilets, washing car, watering lawns, washing laundry, watering plants... to name a few

The Not-So Obvious (Virtual Water): 

• How much water on average does it take to produce...
• a car = 40,000 gallons
• 1 pound of plastic = 25 gallons
• pair of jeans = 900 gallons
• 1 pound of wool/cotton = 100 gallons
• refine a barrel of crude oil = 1,900 gallons
• 1 pound of cheese = 900 gallons (milk) + 600 gallons
• pair of leather shoes = 2,000 gallons
• 1 pound of roasted coffee = 2,500 gallons
• one latte = 50 gallons

So perhaps cutting showers short by 2 minutes is not the most effective way to conserve water, not saying it doesn't help, but consuming less "stuff" seems to be the way to go! While everything we consume, in any sense of the word, uses water, there are some products that take more water, or that just aren't as vital. For example, although 1 pound of cheese uses more water than a pair of jeans, do we really need the 8th pair of jeans? Most likely not, along with the 50 gallon latte we get every morning on the way to work. Obviously water is VERY important for more than just quenching our thirst, which is why using it to its fullest potential in the most sustainable way is absolutely necessary.  There is, ultimately, plenty of water on the world for all to use, as the same with many other natural resources, however they are not unlimited. Taking care to only consume our share is essential for making the world go round.

When Sex Isn't Just Your Business

THE ISSUE:

Sex. Apparently its something we can't live without. By we, I don't mean me, I might be generalizing a little. While taking a survey last week online I was asked why I don't have sex. It seems like abstinance these days isn't very well accepted. Why? I have no idea. If you think about it. It makes far too much sense.

Economic Issue:  An article written about in my college daily news paper a few years ago had to do with the availability of condoms on campus.  When the writer was sick with a cold, he called Health Services and asked if they had cough drops or tissues for distribution. No. So the question is, why is our tuition money paying to provide people with unlimited free condoms? But not just condoms, flavored condoms, textured condoms, difference sized condoms?

When we consider that the school does not have free products to help prevent sicknesses that people have no control over, like the flu or a cold, but provides students with condoms, something doesn't add up. People need to start being responsible and if they need condoms, buy them, don't make me buy your supply with my tuition money. Or better yet, take a chill pill and practice the easiest and cheapest form of birth control, abstinence.

Environmental Issue: Second, not only should people be buying their own "necessary" prevention, if I have to for my common cold, but most forms of birth control are terrible for the environment.  Obviously condoms are not exactly Mother-Earth friendly, but how about oral contraceptives? Not only do they affect the fertility of the human user, but as it turns out, many fish have issues reproducing due to the estrogen that leaks into the waterways from human waste. As it turns out, and I can see it being a legal issue in the future. Companies should be held responsible and PAY for these wastes being emmited from their products that are effecting our ecosystem. They also be required to place a warning on their labels explaining the risks to the environment because OUR body are not the only concern, as everything comes full circle.

If you're really not digging the fish example, how about the use of horses in the production of oral contraceptives? The estrogen is from the urine of pregnant horses. Now if that doesn't put a bad taste in your mouth, these baby horses are killed at birth because they are essentially useless. While I believe this is illegal in the U.S. these days, it is not in other countries. Just because it isn't being done here, doesn't mean it isn't being supported here through purchasing and use of these pills. Thankfully there are places that adopt the horses to people to save them as oppose to slaughtering them.





The point? You don't just effect you. Think about it...

NO Plastic Bags!?

Summary: Today I went to ALDI with my mother, and as I was placing our groceries on the conveyor belt when I noticed that the man in front of me was putting all his goods right into the carriage with NO bags. I was mystified. Then I realized ALDI has NO plastic bags. What a brilliant idea!

ALDI's thoughts on this comes from how other grocery stores (or all stores really) jack up their prices in order to provide "free" plastic bags. ALDI charges customers a lower cost and then makes them PAY for the bags. But who wants to pay "extra" once they realize they have an option? Most people bring their own reusable bags or just carry the goods out in hand.  It makes a lot of sense. Using this tactic, the Republic of Ireland has actually cut the number of plastic bags used by 90%. This means the stores don't have to buy as many of the bags and less plastic is put into the environment. For those who find it more convenient to pick up plastic bags at the store, they are given a little slap on the wrist with anywhere from a 50 cent to $1 charge per bag. Again, absolutely brilliant.

Everyday We Wake Up...

Once upon a time I went to Lilith Fair...

Moral of the story is that I absolutely fell in love with this song: You, Me and the Bourgeoisie by The Submarines

Plastic Bottles
Imported Water
Cars we drive wherever we want to
Clothes we buy it's sweatshop labor
Drugs from corporate enablers
We're not living the Good life
Unless we're fighting the Good fight
You and Me just trying to get it right

But when you hear all of these issues that people put to the back of their mind compacted into a few seconds it makes this song amazing. I just held my breath the first time I really listened. It also describes how we're not really living the way we're meant to unless we're fighting all these issues. Ultimately all of these topics directly effect other people around the world in ways that we may never have imagined. How unfair of us to indulge in so many luxuries not only because others cannot but without even considering who we're harming in the process. "Unless we're fighting the Good Fight. You and Me just trying to get it right." Getting it right is a lot harder than people think. With one solution comes another problem and its all about finding the fairest and most sustainable way for the world as whole. Until greed subsides and people start considering the future instead of living for the now, it's clear that private citizens can only "try to get it right."

Love can free us from all excess
From our deepest debts
Cause when our hearts are full we need much less

When people ask me what I want, and I honestly feel like anything I want I shouldn't have. If I don't need it, or can't put it to some long term use for bettering myself or others, than its not worth getting. The things people "need" these days amaze me. People say "I can't live without it." Really? All I need are the people I love, honestly, which seems cliche, but its absolutely true. I grew up with two brothers. None of us getting too much of what we wanted, and none of us ever regretting not having those objects. For the first time in quite a while all five of us will be living under the same roof. I can't be any more thankful.

But Here we are in the center of the first world
It's laid out for us, who are we to break down?

Everything is right in front of us. How stupid would we be to turn it away? If we choose to open our eyes we'll realize that the way we have brought up to live is strictly for our own comfort with no real consideration for the world or others.

Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose Light
And we try, it's too easy just to fall apart

Think about it. People wake up so cranky every morning. We need to wake up looking at each day as a challenge. What can I do to live to my fullest? Choosing Love and Light may seem so easy, but lets be honest... how many times did you press the snooze button this morning? It's so easy to and let the world pass us by dwelling on things that we dread. Approach life head on and conquer what needs to be done so you can have every opportunity to Live.

Becoming the Change

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi



This is my favorite quote. It gives a sense of hope, faith, motivation, ownership and responsibility. It makes me realize I can't just sit waiting for change, but we must all be the change.

Living in our world today I understand that it takes a lot of money and power to get much of anything done. Unfortunately the money and power do not seem to be in the correct hands. The best I can do, as one person, is make myself knowledgeable and pass what I can to those around me.

This blog is my attempt to share what I know with anyone who cares to read with the hope that at least I may impact someone somewhere as I am impacted by big and small events throughout my day.

Remember that this is our world, and any attempt to make it a more beautiful place should be welcomed with open arms and open minds.