Greensumption

So, on the tail of my last post about greenwashing, I would like to extend my philosophy a bit further and talk about "greensumption."

Greensumption is a form of greenwashing, but taken to the next level. It is the belief that it does not matter how much you buy as long as the things you buy are 'green' or 'sustainable.' This is false. I have written previously about the difference between excess and subsistence (click the tag at the bottom of the post for the other posts) and I think that that ethic can be broadened to consumerism as a whole.

Although buying truly green, sustainable, fair-trade, and locally made products is good, the no-action option should be explored before purchases are made. Is it possible to do without? Could I maybe reuse something I already have for the same purpose? Could I buy this product used? Would it be possible to borrow this from a friend? These are just a few of the questions that you should ask yourself before you purchase your 3rd television, your second brand new car, your new 'going out' clothing, etc. Even things such as household cleaners and processed foods can fit into the 'unnecessary' category. Am I asking you to revert back to the stone ages and cast efficiency, technology, and consumerism out the door? Absolutely not. I am just asking that you make each decision, each impulse buy, a conscious decision and weigh the pros, cons, and alternatives. Be an active consumer. Think for yourself.

Learning how to use basic ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda to clean your house or reaching for an apple that a farmer in your town grew instead of a packaged snack might actually be easier and more rewarding -- and all it takes is thought!

For another take on the idea of Greensumption, check out this satire (it is about 5 minutes long, and leaves you chuckling and thoughtful):



An additional (and longer -- about 21 minutes, but still uber interesting!) source of knowledge on where your 'stuff' comes from can be found in The Story of Stuff. As stated on their website:

What is The Story of Stuff?: From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

I encourage you to take a look at both videos, and make your own decisions. Feel free to leave comments below!

Happy Hump Day!
A.Tobias

Greenwashing...

Greenwashing is an advertising technique used by companies (most times larger corporations) to falsely brand a product as 'green,' or more commonly, overemphasize or exaggerate the eco-friendly claim. Sadly, this is a very prevalent technique in this emerging eco-era. People are beginning to accept that humans are negatively impacting our planet (the last statistic I read was that about 80% of the general population believes in 'global warming' -- or more accurately 'climate change'). Let me give you a few examples of Greenwashing:


Exaggerated Claims: Say, for instance, a company has on its label the universal 'reduce-reuse-recycle' triangular arrow motif, the words "eco-friendly," and the bottle is green. Although to the average consumer this would be thought of as a 'green' product (and that is exactly what the company wants you to believe), it might simply mean that the bottle that the cleaning product is packaged in is made from some small amount of post-consumer recycled plastic... it might not (and usually doesn't) have anything to do with the actual cleaning product. And, while buying products sold in eco-friendly packaging is good, the claim is exaggerated. The cleaning product probably still contains sulfates and phosphates among other things, most of which are likely to make their way into the ground water, which is bad.

False Advertising: Some 'green' products will say that they are Certified Organic on their label... the trick is to see WHO certified them. Is it a third party company? Or is it a government company such as the USDA? It is possible that if the label is not one that you readily recognize, like the green (or black) and white circular USDA Certified Organic label. That could mean that the label is a "third party" label that 'certified' this particular product as Organic. The certifying company could be owned by the same people that make the product themselves, or another legitimate certification company. It is important to know your labels.


The most common labels broken down: Eat.Drink.Better.

For a much more comprehensive searchable list: GreenerChoices.org

To buy local produce from a Farmers Market: Local Harvest


The best way to guard yourself against greenwashing is to read the ingredients list, look for trusted certification, and to look and see where the product is made. Make the choice for yourself, don't trust marketing and advertisements -- they are after the bottom line.

Checking labels on everything might seem very time consuming, maybe too time consuming -- and it is. BUT the more you do it, the easier it becomes, and after a while you will know which products, labels, and companies you trust. It is important to put your purchasing power behind companies that exhibit the qualities and practices that you believe in.

And... About cost. Yes, buying Organic, Free-range, Grass-fed, and local items can be more costly -- in the short term. It is important to recognize that the money you are 'saving' right now might need to be spent later on externalities that you cannot foresee now. By supporting Organic agriculture you are saying that you are against synthetic chemicals in your body and pollution in your water -- which your healthcare and your tax dollars might have to pay for in the future.

Well, you might say, I am just one person -- how much of a difference can I even make? That my friend is the tragedy of the commons. What if all 100 people in your family and your extended family thought that way, or everyone in your town, school, office... wouldn't that add up? Too many people think that they are too insignificant to make a difference, and that is sad. I know your worth, why don't you? I believe that each of us can be an agent of change, even in small ways. Knowledge spreads. I am doing it right now.

Rant: Global Warming Critics

I cannot stand people who try to discredit Global Warming (or more accurately and less confusing: Climate Change) by using record setting snow storms as their evidence. For those of you who don't know, Climate Change will increase the intensity of all weather -- cold weather too. The part of the debate that really gets my blood boiling is when politicians or other 'authority' figures try to discredit Climate theory in a public way, which confuses the general public and becomes fodder for the anti-Obama movement (the Tea Party). The opposing party will cite scientists, studies, and 'facts' as if they are truth or as if they bear equal weight and merit as the science proving Climate Change and its anthropogenic acceleration. It is not ok to give the debate equal weight in the press when the science is not equal, this confuses the masses. Unfortunately (in my opinion) this is a ploy to discredit the Democratic party during a defining time in history and before a new round of elections come due. I think it is time for the sore losers to accept that they lost the office and that it is a time for this "hope-y change-y" stuff -- as Sarah Palin so ineloquently put it. I hate to spur political debate, but I hate ignorance more. Please consider the sources and its biases, including me and mine. Do the thinking for yourself.

This Blog entry on WeatherUnderground does a good job of furthering this argument: Climate Change Debate and Biased Parties

Intelligence is sexy, and so is having your OWN knowledge based opinion.

Happy Thursday!
A.Tobias

Do I have to be a vegetarian to be an environmentalist?

The short answer: Nope

But... Why do we have it so ingrained in our beliefs that a meal is not complete without meat? We can certainly do without it. It might even be the 'greenest' thing to do.

However, contrary to popular belief eating meat isn't always bad for the environment. Here's the catch: The trick is to be careful about where the meat came from, how it was raised, and -of course- everything in moderation.

There is a difference between eating meat for subsistence and eating it in excess. It is the excess eating of meat in our culture which leads to factory farming and other unsustainable methods of meat/protein production. I do not condone conventional methods of production -- to be clear. There is a movement called "Meatless Monday's" that encourages meat eaters (eating meat from ANY mode of production) to forgo meat-eating one day a week. For more information see UM Food for Thought.

Personally, I do eat vegetarian when I eat out, or when I can't say with certainty where the meat came from or how it was treated. I eat the meat/protein that my husband, myself, or an acquaintence provides with a bow, gun, or fishing pole. I subscribe to the notion that we are part of the food chain, and eating meat is just as much our right as it is the right of other omnivores or carnivores in nature. There is something so innate, honest, and beautiful about the hunt-the kill-and the subsistence of natural predators. There is an energy cycle. Wolves naturally select elk that are older, weaker, or lame to be their prey. It is an advanced (and intelligent?) form of natural selection in my opinion. The energy the elk consumed from the vegetation to fuel its life is now sustaining the life of the wolf, and when the wolf dies its remains will decompose and aid the growth of vegetation from which future elk feed. It is humbling to see ourselves as being just as simple and natural as the wolf or the elk. In the words of Aldo Leopold:

"We are plain citizens of the land community"

Too simplistic and ideological? Maybe... but it is the way I see things. Disagree? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Anthropocentric* Environmentalism?

Today, in my Environmental Ethics class we were asked about the intentions behind our environmentalist ways. We were asked to think about why it is we care about the environment at all. Is it because we care about species and we don't want to see them die out? Is it because we feel a sense of responsibility for the damage that we as humans have caused? OR is it because we want the environment to be aesthetically pleasing and functional for us? Maybe we feel bad for what we have contributed and we need to fix it so that we feel better...


...Have you ever thought about it like that?

As much as I would like to believe that I am doing small altruistic favors for the environment every time I recycle a can, compost some scraps, or take a bus instead of drive, it is hard to ignore the thought that maybe I am really doing it for myself. Being kind and responsible to the environment does make me feel good, it does release some of the guilt I feel for living in such an unsustainable country... but is that all it does? I suppose I mean to ask: even if my intentions are completely selfish (subconsciously) are the positive outcomes nullified? What harm am I doing by making responsible choices about how I consume, and dispose of, materials made from earth's finite resources? None. So, why not? Regardless of what you believe, why not?

We cannot ignore the evidence that the finite resources upon which we depend for transportation and energy are actively depleting. It is a fact. We cannot ignore that fresh water is becoming increasingly harder to find. Alternative energies need to become a serious focus, as does water conservation, and recycling in general. Am I only concerned about the depletion of these resources because my livelihood and quality of life depend on them? I want to say no, but in reality, the answer might be yes. I will continue to grapple with this, but...

The bottom line is that conservation is conservation, regardless of my intentions. Reducing the raw materials that I demand, re-using whatever I can, and recycling the things that I cannot re-use, is good for the planet -- our planet. Whether or not one believes in climate change, how can being environmentally responsible be a bad thing?

*'Anthropocentric' means human centered.

Seen or Heard: Inventive use of a Mason jar

While sitting in my Environmental Psychology class today I witnessed this little act of ingenious. Amazing how something so simple can get me so excited. Hot tea, in a Mason jar -- the top served as a nice resting place for the used tea bag. New life rule: use Mason jars for more than long term food storage. What a great way to re-use! Thought I would share.

Additionally: How cute would a knitted koozie look on this? I just might Etsy that...

If you don't know what Etsy is, check it out: http://www.etsy.com/ 

OR  

for a handmade koozie on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32208739&ref=sr_gallery_14&&ga_search_query=koozies+knit&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

First things first...

Who am I? Why should you care about what I have to say?

Those are big questions. Unfortunately I only have simple answers. I am Angie Tobias, mother of one, wife to a beautiful man, and a Senior at the University of Michigan. I study Sociology and Global Change. I am focused on environmental impacts, awareness, and intervention. I care about humanity and I believe in peace. I hope that someday I can say that I have made some tangible difference in the world... but I think everyone hopes for that.

I see things differently, perhaps more deeply --maybe too deeply-- that most. Overanalyzing everything and arguing topics to death are my hobbies. I am opinionated, but I like to keep an open mind. I am stubborn, but I will let you have your say -- and make sure you know that you were heard. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and everyone has the right to disagree. Being challenged to look at things from a different point of view is essential to forming your own opinion and your own identity. It is important to question your reality, not just the trivial aspects of it, but all of it -- even what you believe to be a fundamental truth.

My blog is titled "Hippie Heart: On the off beat" because hippie hearts beat a little differently, and that is the way I like it. I encourage you to find your off beat, and embrace it. What is unique about you? It could be a thought, a theory, your style, your hobby, your interest... regardless of what it is, develop it. That is what I am trying to do here. My topics will be random, but so am I. They will vary from things I see and hear, ideas that I question, to green living tips and environmental awareness. I am not trying to recruit anyone, or carry out some political agenda; I am just making a space for my thoughts.