Jan 07
 |
How big is your footprint?
When I was in college my roommate and I covered our couches with Indian print bedspreads. We hung beads in the doorway and painted a florescent peace sign on them. I wore Indian print blouses, long beaded earrings and flowery headbands. We marched for the causes we thought were important, showing the world who we were and what we stood for.
Of course we were conscious of our own little world, too. After all we had dirty clothes to wash, sociology tests to pass, and fraternity parties to go to.
But we were also aware of the big picture. Of the impact we were making on this earth.
In today's lingo, that would be referred to as one's footprint.
In terms of carbon it means the total amount of green house gas emissions caused directly by one's actions. In ecological terms, it refers to the measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems.
In either sense of the word, it boils down to how we are affecting the planet.
Back then we weren't measuring every move we made. We just made them.
Because the earth's resources are now running low and everyone is talking "green" this and "green" that, our lives are being scrutinized. Unfairly at times because one's economic situation affects how we live.
What I'd like to think is that everyone is doing the best they can.
I recycle all my wine and vodka bottles. Even on the hottest days when my hot flashes are the most intense, I try not to keep the air conditioner on too much. And I try to turn off the lights after leaving a room, but sometimes a "senior moment" interferes with my thinking.
But at the end of the day, when I cuddle up with my Indian print blanket and reflect back on my actions, I'd like to think that I've left a pretty decent footprint for the historians of tomorrow.
How about you?Products You May Also Like
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Comments (45)
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Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 6:13 pm
I recycle glass bottles too. The embarrassing part is exactly HOW MANY of them are wine and liquor bottles. It looks like we have a massive party whenever they're delivered to the center. I don't think of myself as 'green', but I don't really see the sense in putting things in a landfill that can be reused.Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:48 pm
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Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 5:56 pm
I'm trying, but do forget the lights sometimes. Will try harder.Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:45 pm
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 11:27 amI recycle more than I throw away. And I'm pretty good about turning off lights, unplugging things not in use (as they use energy even when off but still plugged in). I'm trying, though, to get better about upcycling...and lower the amount of consumption in our household over all. I don't consider myself "green" compared to many, but I do what I can. (And I recently came across an awesome project for recycling wine bottles. Will share once the project is complete.) Nice post, Janie.Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 12:30 pm
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 4:37 amOne of the best things everyone can do for the environment is to significantly reduce the amount of meat you buy/eat, or, preferably go vegetarian (or vegan if you're really brave!). And if you buy locally and avoid overly processed foods, you can make an even bigger difference. And if you're reading this and shaking your head, insisting that you can't possibly give up your cheeseburger, then maybe these facts will put things in perspective: Americans eat more than TWICE the amount of meat than the rest of the world. Eating meat at the rate that America does isn't "normal." The rest of the world eats significantly less meat than we do, and has much lower rates of diabetes and heart disease. Even though Americans are only about 4% of the world's population, we eat more that 15% of the entire livestock population. The average American is now eating more than 50lbs MORE meat than they were 50 years ago. In order to keep up with this abnormally high demand for meat, the livestock industry is cutting down forests at an alarming rate, and employing mass confinement, processing and slaughter methods that are not only inhumane, but dangerous (the rate of disease and illness is increased dramatically due to factory farming methods, requiring the use of antibiotics, which in turn creates resistant disease strains, which in turn often render treatment for both animals AND humans useless). The factory livestock industry responsible for nearly three-quarters of all water-quality problems in US rivers. Starvation and malnutrition is a devastating problem in some parts of the world, but instead of using crops to solve this problem, we're sending those crops overseas to America to feed livestock for slaughter so that Americans can have their hamburgers. And don't get me started on the inhumane treatment of livestock. Don't kid yourself into thinking America has any laws that protect against animal cruelty. Those laws do NOT apply to livestock. They've been bred to be as large as possible, so that each animal can produce more meat; but that means they often literally can not stand on their own (this is true for pigs, turkeys, cows, etc). Turkeys have their beaks and fingers/claws removed to that they don't peck each other to death (trauma-induced). Pigs, some of the smartest animals on the planet (smarter than dogs), typically go insane from the confinement... no, no, I'm not going to get started, I won't be able to stop. Back to the environmental concerns: The United Nations recently reported that adopting a vegan diet would greatly combat the worst effects of climate change and researchers at the Univ. of Chicago agree, reporting that switching from a standard American diet to a vegan diet makes more of a difference than switching to a hybrid car. Meat-eaters are responsible for more than seven times as much greenhouse-gas emissions than vegans. (Data from NY Times) Plus the fact that a vegetarian diet is good for your own health (as per the American Dietary Association and other research studies). If you're curious to learn more, i encourage you to look it up online. This NY Times article is a good place to start: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 If you can't go vegan, at least try cutting back on the amount of meat you consume. It'll be better for the animals, the environment, and your own health. Thanks for letting me rant.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:18 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 8:01 amHey Janie! I am a fanatic about recycling and I *always* turn out lights. I'm shooting for that decent footprint, too - and trying to teach it to my kids.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:16 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 5:14 amThe words changed, but our intentions are the same, to tread lightly. We've taught our kids to turn out the lights, turn down the thermostat, recycle, thrift shop, share and pass on, and so much more. We eat half the meat we used to eat. And I think we're better for it and I hope our planet is too The more we do, the better off we are. Pass it on.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:16 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 4:42 amWe recycle too, and we pay special attention to our water usage. Maybe the upside of the unpredictable fuel prices this past year is that we're all a little more conscious of how much we drive (and how often we have to fill the tank)!Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:15 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 4:12 amI remember going with my grandfather to the local recycling center when I was in college (mid-70s). My grandparents were very conscientious about their environmental footprint. I guess I come by it naturally... We have curbside recycling here, but my father's city (200,000+) doesn't. At 83 years old, he drives across town to various places to recycle assorted materials. Of course, he's driving a full-size club cab 4x4 truck, so it may be a toss-up...Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:15 am
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Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 11:30 pmWe try to do what we can and our recycle bin is usually full. I try to remember to turn lights off and my husband isn't catching me nearly as much. Usually it's a case of I've left the room and think I'll be back in a few minutes. Hours later I discover I've left the light on. Of course you realize you should send your blog to Motel Six...they're always leaving the light on!Reply
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2 replies, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:13 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 2:50 amI also try to only use electricity when it is needed and shut everything off otherwise. However I am a big offender when it comes to a/c. I can't deal with being hot.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:13 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 1:39 amMy parents taught my sisters and me to always leave a place better than you find it. As I get more fab :-) I am more and more aware of my various legacies, especially how I leave the earth. My nemesis is batteries. Double A batteries. What are we supposed to do with them? Also, we never buy audio greeting cards because of the batteries in them and would go into the landfill.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:13 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 12:52 amGreat article, Janie! How French! French women pass designer handbags down to their daughters and wear beautiful clothes until they fall apart. I like to think America is becoming less "disposable," too. You're doing your part!! X, CathyReply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:12 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 12:28 amRecycling is one of the easiest things we can do for our planet. Especially wine bottles! ;-)Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:11 am
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Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 12:16 am
I'm thinking more and more about this every day now.Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:10 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 12:05 amWe try to recycle everything we can, our recycle bin is usually full. There's always more one could do, but I can't say that I did so little that it makes me feel uncomfortable :>)Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:10 am
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Report Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 12:01 amI try to recycle all I can, Janie. When I visit friends and famly in other parts of the country, though, I see that not everyone is as conscious of recycling as we are in Southern California--or at least not every place makes it easy. But sorting into our different-colored garbage cans is a habit now. So is turning off water and lights.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:09 am
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Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 11:29 pmWe try and live a green life. I know we are not completely there yet but we perfect and area of our life so it becomes a habit and then add another area so we don't get over whelmed or defeated.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:08 am
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Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 10:02 pmGood article, Janie. Easy reminder of the little things we can do. I do the best I can to reduce my footprint. My biggest problem is lights. For example if I go away and won't be home until after dark I leave a small light on in the house and my porch light on. I consider that a safety issue.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:08 am
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Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 9:32 pmI'm pretty careful. I reuse zip lock bags, recycle everything I can and shop for things NOT in small or excessive packaging. I have almost stopped using bottled water. I buy recycled paper towels, use cloth napkins.... Etc. I unplug chargers and power down where ever possible.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Tue Jan 8, 2013 at 8:07 am
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Tue Jan 8, 2013 - 4:21 am
I remember the Indian Print bedspreads, and the hint of smell of incense from them. Cool! My name is Haralee and I am a recycle nut!Reply -
Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 9:03 pmI try to recycle everything that I can. YOu know what I hate. Those packages that are cardboard but have that little plastic window? They make recycling HARD!Reply
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2 replies, Last reply by Sharon on Mon Jan 7, 2013 at 10:05 pm
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Report Mon Jan 7, 2013 - 9:23 pmI recycling everything I can, as well. And I also try to be conscious of my water consumption, never leaving it running longer than necessary.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Mon Jan 7, 2013 at 9:25 pm
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