One woman's search to find greening in the world today …

Category Archives: grudgement

Shame on You, American Express!

Here is the American Express Corporate Responsibility platform for preserving and sustaining unique historic places for the future - ”We support organizations and projects that preserve or rediscover major historic sites and monuments in order to provide ongoing sustainable access and enjoyment for current and future audiences. The programs we support include historic landmarks and public spaces. We emphasize preserving sites that represent diverse cultures.” They even give millions every year to fund projects like restoring Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Pretty great, right? I am behind their global efforts on many fronts, including supporting relief efforts in the wake of the Japan tragedy. And while I don’t actually hold an American Express credit card, I hear rave reviews about them as a credit card company. So much so, that I have even seriously considered getting one myself.

So imagine my dismay when  I received a non-solicited credit card offer in the mail. It was so non-green, I was taken aback. Actually, it was gold. Very gold. Now at first glance it looked inviting, like a beautiful, shiny, little gold gift that touched my material girl’s heart. What was alarming? It was in a 6″ x 8″ slim (1/2 inch or so)  gold box, with so much excess packaging! As pretty as it looked, I’m sure that gold cardboard, paper, etc. is not recyclable. Lots of slick pages in the little booklet, which was set into a “well” in the box itself. And hidden out of sight, for reinforcement behind the shiny gold cardboard was a 1″ border of styrofoam all around the edges of the box. Styrofoam!!

Another look at their website had me realize that other than some sustainability efforts at historical sites and buildings, American Express does not say anything about being an environmentally friendly company. Which is sad, because they do so many things just right. Now, the powers-that-be may have no idea about my – and probably millions of others – pretty little gold packages. They should know, and take a stand for global sustainability, not just for places, but for the planet as a whole.

You’re a good company, American Express. And, you can do SO much better…

The Party’s Over…

…turn out the lights!! It is three weeks into January now, and I am surprised that a few people still have their holiday decorations up. As I drove by a house with a lighted Christmas tree inside, I could only hope it is artificial, because otherwise is must be getting pretty crispy and dry right about now. Another house had a yard full of lighted snowmen, assorted reindeer and multi colored lights in all the trees. Still a third, which was actually on the local Holiday Home Tour this year, had it’s beautiful collection of lights brightly lit.

I just don’t get it? And maybe this is grudgement on my part, but embrace the new season, and the beautiful simplicity that January brings. Not to mention all that wasted electricity!! It’s time to unplug those lights and store them until next year.

Years ago we discovered that the  Artistic Directors (husband and wife) of an arts organization I worked for actually kept their tree up and lit (and YES, it was a tree cut from the nearby hills)  until APRIL!! That is just too bizarre to make up. They enjoyed family time camping out in the living room. I can only imagine what would happen if even one tiny spark…well, it is beyond comprehension. The scary thing is, they probably weren’t the last people in the world to take down their tree.

It’s time to enjoy the clean, simple beauty of the world around us now that we can see the shape of the trees, the lines of the buildings and the beautiful starry night sky – Mother Nature’s decorations that can outdo even the most lavish holiday display. In my neighborhood, the Camelias are beginning to bloom and their lovely whites, pinks and fuchsias are truly an early Valentine to us all.

So…turn out the lights! The Christmas Party’s over!!

Mid Year’s Greener Dream

Here we are at the midyear point of My Green Adventure! My 26th Thursday post in 26 weeks.Whoo Hoo!! I can hardly believe it. While on the one hand it feels like I am learning so much about being Green, on the other, it still feels like there is SO far to go. What are the subjects I keep pushing off because they feel too big, too confusing or just plain too daunting? (Hello lightbulb dilema!)

So, maybe let’s take a little break while we look back to April 22 (Earth Day 2010) and beyond to see how far we have already come. As I read over old posts, there is a definite pattern, on a weekly basis, of going off the charted course to wherever the adventure took me. Whether it was recycling 101, what to do with old pills, or the Eco-Angels that surround us, each post was a moment of discovery for me. Some were about Grudgement (green-judgement) and a sense that nobody cares. That’s just not true, and I am seeing more and more people who really DO care about being greener.

One of the most surprising things was the popularity of the August 27, 2010 post: NOT Stinky in Sacramento. This one had the most comments and buzz by far…who knew Apple Cider Vinegar and Lavendar could be so popular?

While we’re at it…who knew it was illegal to throw away any kind of batteries in California? And that every time I use my favorite aerosol hairspray, I am actually offsetting the impact through Native Energy? Or that one could buy a book and plant a tree?

OK, now that I’ve caught my breath and am feeling reenergized and enthusiastic, let’s get back on the trail leading to My Green Adventure. Lots of places to explore, ideas to ponder, people to be inspired by.

What’s next?? Looking for new adventures, challenges, ideas and epiphanies from everyone around me. Join in – I’m looking for ideas to explore from each of you…

Making a difference?

“Is Anybody there? Does Anybody care???” ~ lyrics from the musical, 1776

What’s on my mind this week is a recurring and disturbing thought…why don’t more people care, and take responsibility for being kinder to the environment? In the past month or two, I have had the wonderful and eye opening opportunity to spend time working with many college age kids. What I observed has been truly surprising and amazing. Before the project began, I IMAGINED  they would all be very eco-aware, and instead, I often see apathy, indifference and distain about even the little things – turning off lights, basic recycling, etc. I have to admit, I am disappointed and discouraged. Not only for their lack of awareness, but at myself, for not being a more powerful influence.

How  to do this? I try to be more eco-friendly – I use my reusable mugs, water bottles, as well as putting things in the recycle bin whenever I have the opportunity, whether they are mine or not. Big deal!  I know this is just a drop in the bucket. I want to do so much more, and this feels like a missed opportunity. Granted the culture of this group (where I am an occasional visitor) isn’t very green, so how can I make a bigger difference here?

One courageous answer to this question is to have conversations with the people at the top and offer my support to help create a more sustainable, less toxic workplace. It sounds like this is the next step on My Green Adventure. So, I am making a  commitment to have those conversations…

I’m curious – what do you do when the people around you don’t line up with your green values and visions?

Healing from the “big spill”

For the past three months or so, we have all been painfully aware of the gulf oil spill. The magnitude of the injury the earth has suffered is incomprehensible, unimaginable and unthinkable. It seems like the whole world is going through a painful grieving process. I know that I have felt pretty helpless at times, and I imagine many others have as well. What is there for us to do?

Some people want us to boycott BP for putting us in this mess. I would hope we can see the bigger picture. BP only owns about 100 gas stations out of 100,000 BP stations worldwide. so a boycott would hurt the small independent BP gas station owners the most. And, playing Devil’s advocate for just a minute, BP just might need all the money it can earn to help pay for this mess, right? What if, instead of a BP boycott, we could take another, more positive approach?

A few  ideas (some are really simple, some you may already be  doing) to get us started::

  • Drive less, carpool, group errands and make every trip in your car count
  • Use public transportation more
  • Walk more
  • Donate to a charity that is helping with the relief efforts
  • Roll up your sleeves and volunteer to help
  • Focus on the solutions instead of complaining about the problems
  • Educate yourself – what products contain oil made from fossil fuel?
  • Use less of those products
  • Ask yourself – “what can I do to help?”
  • Send positive thoughts to BP to create a permanent solution
  • look for things to be grateful for

OK, I know the last one is a bit of a stretch, but recently, Environmental Leader Insights reported that the commercial green building industry is really growing, and is expected to see an increase of more that $100 billion in the US in the next five years. The main reason for this growth? You guessed it – the oil spill!  There is opportunity all around us if we just look for it.

It’s time for us to begin the healing process –  we’re all in this together.

NO Mug…Red-Faced and Barehanded!

Since I have begun my Green Adventure, I have really tried to use my reusable travel mugs. REALLY tried. In fact, even the baristas at my local coffee places know me by my mugs (and yes, I do have a collection of them.) And, of course, everyone knows about my efforts to be greener. So, imagine my embarrassment being caught without my mug. I know it seems like a small thing, but I just couldn’t leave carrying a paper cup. At this point, I think coffee even tastes better, and certainly stays hot/cold longer in my own mug.

After I got over my self-GRUDGEMENT, my short-term solution was to buy a new mug. This explains my collection, right? So, my new challenge is this: remember to ALWAYS keep a clean mug in the car for mug emergencies like I had today. And, if I ever forget my mug again this year, I will put a dollar into a piggy- bank. At the end of the year, I will donate whatever is in that bank to a green charity TBD. And I will be looking for other ways to “feed the piggy-bank.” Now that my conscience is clear, let me tell you about my great new green mug which also happens to be green in color.

First, I want to praise my Favorite Mug. It is a 20 oz. insulated stainless steel mug made by Kleen Kanteen (they also have 12 and 16 oz. sizes) This mug keeps things hot for 6-12 hours and cold for 24 hours!! I know that sounds a bit far-fetched, but we tested it. These are a bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny! You can find these online at: www.kleenkanteen.com

Today’s mug is a 100% recycled food grade polypropylene mug (and 25% is post consumer, to boot!) It’s lightweight, much cheaper and alas, doesn’t keep things cold/hot forever. It’s from the Aladdin sustain line. I got mine at Peets Coffee, but they are also online at: www.aladdin-pmi.com/products/sustain This will be a perfect in-the-car-just-in-case mug.

The moral of today’s post? Don’t be caught barehanded!!

eco-judgement…or GRUDGEMENT

Here I am – five weeks into My Green Adventure – weekly posts about creating eco-awareness for me and others, in a positive, fun way. So why am I feeling judgement ooze in? This is NOT positive and NO fun at all!! For example, here I am at my local coffeehouse, with my reusable mug in hand. What do I notice? That I am the ONLY one with a mug that is not paper. Maybe your favorite coffee place is different. I certainly HOPE it is! I once did the math on this – suppose I got one paper cup of coffee everyday for a year? That equals 365 paper cups going into the landfill. Now suppose that same coffeehouse sells 1,000 paper cups of coffee in a day? Now, that’s 365,000 cups in one year into the landfill. And, we’re just talking ONE coffee place. Don’t get me started on the trees!! Whew! Now, before I tar and feather everyone who is holding a paper cup (because of course I am feeling rather “holier-than-thou” about now, holding my own mug) – maybe it is time for me to remember the time just last week that I was out without my mug. I wanted some coffee, and so I became one of those paper-cup holding villains. Or what about the time I was out shopping with a friend, who tossed a big bag that was easily recyclable into a garbage can. I did call her on it, and she just said,” Oh – you are just greener than I am.” as if that made it OK! Many of us do the best we can at any given moment, and getting all high and mighty about being greener doesn’t serve anyone. It actually can make the offender resist your best efforts in creating awareness. We do know that like energy attracts, and so keeping that positive, non-judgemental attitude is the shortcut to creating the space for people to change. My challenge and my promise: I am willing to let go of  my “green judgement” – hereafter known as my GRUDGEMENT – and find ways to learn and pass on that knowledge in ways  that are fun, inspiring and makes people actually think it is a great adventure to be greener themselves. I’d love to hear your ideas, questions, comments about how GRUDGEMENT shows up in your world, and how you handle it…