Business Week and River Swimming
“Excess Disguised as Less” is an article by Akiko Bush on the same subject as my last blog entry - a seemingly unlikely subject for BusinessWeek, but it appears that the discussion of excessive consumerism is broadening. Incidentally, Akiko Bush is also the author of a book of essays about her experience swimming in American Rivers. Smart woman.
Dear environmentally conscious consumer:
Don’t get me wrong, I am impressed that more and more businesses are offering environmentally friendly products and love it. Recycled products of any kind, whether they are paper products, recycled glassware, fleece made from recycled plastic bottles, etc. are a great idea and certainly reduce our environmental footprint. It’s becoming hip to shop for eco-products and we’ve long passed the age when environmentalists were immediately recognizable by the way they dressed. Websites like www.treehugger.com are a constant source of information for new eco-friendly products. This is a great development and I get excited every time I read about it. I have been to the new cool eco-store in town. I have bought that bamboo shirt and love it. I happily recycle everything possible. But here’s the problem: Environmental sustainability cannot be achieved by simply recycling and using more environmentally-friendly raw materials for our consumer products. We cannot shop our way out of an ecological problem. By focusing solely on purchasing environmentally friendly products we are in danger of forgetting that anything we buy and consume requires large amounts of resources to produce, recycled or not. And most of those products are made in countries where environmental protection ranks dead last on the priority list. Instead we should remember that there were three “Rs” in the environmental mantra: reduce, reuse and finally recycle.
Reducing the amount of things we buy decreases the energy required to make them, the packaging that ends up in the landfill and the number of products that get sent there as well after the end of their useful life (and often before). By all means, this doesn’t mean that we should make do without the things we need or want. Not at all. Because to the rescue comes the second R: “reuse”. For those of us living in or near a big city, web sites like Craigslist gives us the opportunity to buy and sell used items we no longer need. Almost everything one could possibly want to have is available in used form on Craigslist or eBay, in second-hand stores, libraries, your friend’s closet, basement or book shelf, or a rental place (the things you can rent these days: cars, outdoor equipment, bicycles, kayaks … ). Trust me and try it. It’s great fun. Yes, it takes a bit more time to find exactly what you want, but doesn’t it take just as much time to shop for new things? Craigslist is almost as convenient as online shopping and in most cases you can pick up your item somewhere in your community the same day. And you just made another community member happy and richer rather than some corporation. If you have to buy new items, and sometimes that’s unavoidable, the key is to purchase high quality products and look for eco-friendly ingredients and responsible manufacturing processes. The neat thing is that you’ll be able to afford to do so, because you’re spending less money on those products you end up renting, borrowing or buying used, and you are able to sell a high quality product more easily when you no longer need it.
One more thing, a lot of people enjoy shopping. I have a pretty low tolerance for shopping, with the exception of food shopping at the farmers market and a weakness for book stores. Really, there are so many things I’d rather be doing. Many people also complain about wanting to simplify their lives. I highly recommend it. Cancel your subscription to Simple Living, stop shopping for anything but food and other essentials (ask yourself whether you really NEED to buy that extra pair of pants, piece of furniture, toy). Quit worrying about expensive gifts and take your friends out to see a play, go for a hike, or visit a museum instead. Chances are, they really don’t need any more trinkets either. Donate or sell items you don’t need. Not only will you help the environment by not buying unnecessary things or buying them used, you’ll also save money and reduce the clutter in your house.
Isn’t it interesting that one of the easiest ways to reduce our environmental footprint is also the way to more simplicity and serenity? It’s eminently liberating. Even more interesting is that our so-called advanced society really should take lessons from the way our grandparents lived, more simply, less focused on material things and more on the important things in life: family, friendships, civic engagement, and the enjoyment of food, nature and music. Leonardo da Vinci was right: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
Sincerely,
Not a material girl
… strawberry shortcake. Or chocolate mint.
I’ve been biking to work. The distance is a measly two miles, so not really a great workout, but not only am I twice as fast as if I were taking the T, I also enjoy pleasant scents along the way. Right outside my door I cycle past a candy factory. I still don’t know what product is made there, but it spreads a wonderful and irresistible aroma of chocolate mint and strawberry shortcake. Please don’t tell me what they make, I’m pretty sure I’d rather live in ignorant bliss on this one.
On the other side of the river I ride down Charles Street and then cross the Boston Common, where the smell of freshly cut grass reminds even the busiest of us that it is in fact summer.
I know I have a pretty good commute by any standard, but who else can claim that their commute smells good as well?!
What internet regulation has to do with corn farmers
Bet you didn’t think there could possibly a logical connection. Well, neither did I. But in a filing to the FCC to support strict regulation of the Internet NBC states: “For example, in the absence of movie piracy, video retailers would sell and rent more titles. Movie theatres would sell more tickets and popcorn. Corn growers would earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment”.
Grabbing at straws, are we? More on that here.
A taste of Belgium right in Central Square
Who would have thought that it is possible to find authentic Belgian food in the midst of Cambridge? I loved the moules et frites I had at Central Kitchen last night - the mussels served in a delicious sauce along with exquisite fries and, just like in Belgium, with creamy mayonnaise on top. The frites were truly remarkable and tasted just like Europe to me. Don’t ask me how they’re different from American fries - they just are, somehow crisper and fresher. I was in heaven. The tasty meal was complemented by a bottle of French red wine from Cote d’Ore, very attentive and pleasant wait staff and, most importantly, great company.