About being green

Our world is toxic. I am becoming convinced of that. The conveniences that we have generate an incredible amount of waste. Perhaps, I shouldn't have purchased that "green" car, and it's still gas....just gets better mileage. I think it's watching Planet Green on cable.

There is an interesting article in today's New York Times: Our Ocean of Plastic. Good gravy! Plastics from Asia and Russia are washing up on the Alaskan shores (not to mention all the plastics from the good ol' U. S. of A.). Reading this article has cured me of any desire to swim in an ocean.....but, people, we are supposed to be stewards of this world. What are we doing?

Last night, I went to local Starbuck's with one of my work colleagues. Although in Smalltown American, it looks like any Starbuck's, the clientele as a little different. In the corner, sitting in two winged back chairs, were two older gentlemen. My colleague knew the one and introduced me, "this is So-and-so (I hate to say this, I didn't catch the name), he's one of the city counsel-men so if you have any gripes, let him know." I took my opening, "Hey, I do! How about getting some organized recycling here?" I have been trying to find some place to recycle goods -- there is an organization that takes newspapers, pop bottles and card-board, but nowhere for many other recyclables, and I am tired of storing them for trips to the Big City. His response, "A lot of people have been asking about that." WRONG RESPONSE! If a lot of people having been asking about it, why aren't we looking into it? They are passing all sorts of crappy ordinances to "clean up" Smalltown America, but if we don't do something to raise awareness of how much we are polluting, and we don't do anything to cut down on our "footprint" not having fences in the front yard is just somehow missing the forest for the trees, the boat for the ocean.....you get my drift.

So, I will continue to do my little part. I am collecting my soda bottles and newspapers. I collect the magazines and glass to haul into the Big City. I am thinking about getting solar panels, but so far, I have found only one contractor in the metroplex. Still, one is better than none, and he does serve this area.

Don't get me wrong: I know that I do a lot to have too large a carbon foot print, but I am slowly trying to modify my behavior. I continue to drink Diet Coke in all of those plastic bottles, but I am weaning myself of that habit. As I see people getting cancer that just shouldn't be getting it, I am becoming more and more convinced that our world is toxic, the additives to make our food pretty are toxic, the stuff we spew into the air is toxic, the run-off in our oceans is toxic.....no, I won't be able to go all green by tomorrow or next month or next year....however, I think it is very important for all of us to try to do our part, however big or little that part may be. Hug a tree...or better yet, go plant one!