Why you should care about the environment even if you don't give a crap about global warming
I'm going to admit it here, folks - I'm still on the fence about global warming. Yeah, I've seen Inconvenient Truth, I've heard arguments from both sides - but I still don't know if it's really as big as some people think it is. I guess I'm a global warming agnostic. But, I'm still a hippie tree-loving freak, and here's why.
1. Saves us money. Most of the time anyway. Some things are more expensive, yes - like fair trade coffee or non toxic paint. But, most of the eco-friendly things that we do daily save us money also. Some examples - use the heat and air conditioning sparingly, line dry our clothes, use cloth napkins, combine our errands into one trip, buy things used, reduce, reuse, recycle. There are many more examples.
2. Better for our health. We try our best to eat organic because we don't want all those icky pesticides in our body. I use a reel lawn mower becasue I don't want to breathe exhaust (not to mention damage my ears) from a gas mower. We cook our food from scratch because High Fructose Corn Syrup and Partially Hydrogenized Vegetable Oil can't possibly be good for you. The less toxins the better. It's true the FDA is changing their story about what is good for you and what isn't so I go by this rule - the closer it is to how God made it, the better.
3. I like animals. I don't want to eat them. I think that eating Bessie the cow is just as bad as eating my neighbor's dog. Eating meat has massive effects on the environment but I'm not going to go into that here. You and your google-skills can find them for yourself.
4. Better for the global population. The whole world doesn't have cushy office jobs, or 3 weeks of paid vacation. Much of the world's population works their butts off in terrible conditions so we can be selfish and have whatever we want. I saw a picture once of a kid carrying water home in a barrel that had a huge skull and crossbones on it. It was from the pesticides that were used in the apple farms where he worked (yes, the kid). Would you let your kid drink from that barrel? I would hope not. Our choices do not only effect us.
5. Better for the local economy. Conservatives should especially like this one. Buying local and not from big box stores (*cough*Walmart*cough*) will help your city. Less unemployment, more money being spent within the community, happier people, more visitors, less taxes. Why would you not want to help and support the very place that you live.
6. God says so. This one is especially for my Christian readers. And, I think that even if you don't care about my other reasons, this one trumps them all anyway. Read Genesis 1. God gave us this earth to enjoy and protect, not to wreck. God created nature to work in perfect harmony with each other, and the humans have a little problem with coming in and disrupting it all. Also, what about the verse - Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. That one goes especially with #4 point. The lady sewing your jeans for pennies a day is your neighbor too.
And, the Pope says you should care about the environment too.
Alright, I'll stop my soapboxing for now. You don't have to become a hippie tree-hugging freak overnight. Make some baby steps, read an environmental blog (Green as a Thistle) or listen to an environmental podcast (More Hip Than Hippie). Take one habit at a time and you'll never notice the change.
And one more post for you to read to show you that babysteps aren't futile. The Butterfly Effect of Not Wearing Socks
Tracy - who was green before it was cool. :)
1. Saves us money. Most of the time anyway. Some things are more expensive, yes - like fair trade coffee or non toxic paint. But, most of the eco-friendly things that we do daily save us money also. Some examples - use the heat and air conditioning sparingly, line dry our clothes, use cloth napkins, combine our errands into one trip, buy things used, reduce, reuse, recycle. There are many more examples.
2. Better for our health. We try our best to eat organic because we don't want all those icky pesticides in our body. I use a reel lawn mower becasue I don't want to breathe exhaust (not to mention damage my ears) from a gas mower. We cook our food from scratch because High Fructose Corn Syrup and Partially Hydrogenized Vegetable Oil can't possibly be good for you. The less toxins the better. It's true the FDA is changing their story about what is good for you and what isn't so I go by this rule - the closer it is to how God made it, the better.
3. I like animals. I don't want to eat them. I think that eating Bessie the cow is just as bad as eating my neighbor's dog. Eating meat has massive effects on the environment but I'm not going to go into that here. You and your google-skills can find them for yourself.
4. Better for the global population. The whole world doesn't have cushy office jobs, or 3 weeks of paid vacation. Much of the world's population works their butts off in terrible conditions so we can be selfish and have whatever we want. I saw a picture once of a kid carrying water home in a barrel that had a huge skull and crossbones on it. It was from the pesticides that were used in the apple farms where he worked (yes, the kid). Would you let your kid drink from that barrel? I would hope not. Our choices do not only effect us.
5. Better for the local economy. Conservatives should especially like this one. Buying local and not from big box stores (*cough*Walmart*cough*) will help your city. Less unemployment, more money being spent within the community, happier people, more visitors, less taxes. Why would you not want to help and support the very place that you live.
6. God says so. This one is especially for my Christian readers. And, I think that even if you don't care about my other reasons, this one trumps them all anyway. Read Genesis 1. God gave us this earth to enjoy and protect, not to wreck. God created nature to work in perfect harmony with each other, and the humans have a little problem with coming in and disrupting it all. Also, what about the verse - Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. That one goes especially with #4 point. The lady sewing your jeans for pennies a day is your neighbor too.
And, the Pope says you should care about the environment too.
Alright, I'll stop my soapboxing for now. You don't have to become a hippie tree-hugging freak overnight. Make some baby steps, read an environmental blog (Green as a Thistle) or listen to an environmental podcast (More Hip Than Hippie). Take one habit at a time and you'll never notice the change.
And one more post for you to read to show you that babysteps aren't futile. The Butterfly Effect of Not Wearing Socks
Tracy - who was green before it was cool. :)
Labels: Environment
posted by Tracy at 5:51 AM
1 Comments:
Tracy
Nice to see your blog again. I came accross your address and thought I should recheck it out. I agree with you on all of your points accept number 3. More because of good stewardship and the horable habit of waist in this country. This is god's world and our responsibilty to take care of it. I was on a green and organic kick for awhile and getting there again with energy and gas costs. Lots of walking and biking. Anyways now I'm on a soapbox. Let's meet up sometime. Glad to hear about your homeschooling decision.
Patty
homeschoolblogger.com/thelutherslife
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