Consumption

I was just thinking about economic development. I think that if we put work into making every person's quality of life improve, it is complete stupidity and short-sightedness not to put at least as much energy into making all production sustainable. If more people have more money, that means they can buy more. If they can buy more, then they will use more and therefore waste more. It does not make any sense whatsoever to work towards reducing hunger and poverty without putting at least as much energy into making ALL businesses and establishments and INDIVIDUALS environmentally responsible. I think it should be on everyone's minds to live and work and produce and do everything in a sustainable way. To me that is just the most common sense thing. If we truly want to be responsible people that is what we have to do. I know that it's hard to do, but it sure is possible. What on earth is the point of working towards everyone in the world having some kind of quality of life if there is a very real possibility that there wouldn't even be enough resources on the earth if that was achieved?

I'm trying to change my anger at what's going on. Because when you think about it, what's the point of me feeling angry at people for not seeing my point and not agreeing 100%? That actually does not accomplish anything. What's so important about other people agreeing with me? Well it is important in the sense that it could inspire them to change their habits and become more aware, but if I put too much energy into feeling angry that other people don't think the way I do and in wishing they would change ... I'm not channeling my energies properly I think. I would have more chances of making people less wasteful, or of there being a little bit less waste, if I worked on some larger scale. If I worked at changing the way things are done at a higher level.

I think my actions in terms of peronally trying not to be wasteful in my everyday life IS a good thing and in keeping with what I think can actually effect change. But I feel I should be doing more. For love of the earth and beautiful life. There is nothing more important than life. When I say life I don't mean the life we each live but life forms. All life is so beautiful. I know I sound like such a hippy but it makes sense to me to embrace that side of hippiness. Oh how I love life. I love trees I love beauty. Really, what on earth is more important than life and beauty? I don't think anyone could ever convince me otherwise.

This is what I do in my everyday life to reduce waste:

- eat little meat
- not buying paper: using the backs of already written on or photocopied paper
- not taking plastic bags at stores
- recycling every little thing, big and small
- using less electricity
- buying mostly organic foods
- no use of disposable menstrual products
- not buying conventional and chemical-laden soap, shampoo, etc.
- not buying conventional cleaning products: using things like
baking soda and vinegar
- not buying a car
- not using napkins
- not buying paper towels


This is what I want to start doing:

- buying different toilet paper & using less of it
- using less water in showers
- putting a brick or something in the toilet tank so as to use less water when flushing
- composting
- not buying new books
- buying more used clothing (more used things in general)
- using less tissue paper
- using less energy in my everyday life
- covering windows in the winter to conserve energy

If anyone knows anything about this stuff & can give me more info or suggestions please leave a comment. Or if you have any disagreements also.