No, I don’t always remember my ugly lime green bag when I go shopping. Blame it on my age or blame it on the alignment of the stars from day to day, but sometimes I just forget.
Other times I don’t, though. The impact of my efforts to cut down on the number of plastic bags that come into my house can’t be quantified, of course. However, it illustrates one of the maxim’s I live by: All you can do is all you can do…just do something.
My efforts plus yours and his and hers and then theirs slowly become significant, and that’s all we can ask of each other. Our children and their children will be the beneficiaries, and they may some day thank us a great deal. We just don’t know at this point.
So, what else can we do to pool our efforts? Let’s talk about water:
• Buy a low-flow showerhead. (They feel great, too…like showering in a soft rainstorm.)
• Turn off running water when brushing teeth.
• Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
• If you take baths, eliminate one a month in lieu of a shower (with your nifty new showerhead!).
• Use a commercial car wash instead of washing your vehicle in the driveway with a running hose.
• Eat less meat. The amount of water that goes into producing grains, meat, and other commodities is called “virtual water.” For one pound of meat, virtual water used is 30 times higher than that needed to grow wheat, for example.
Remember: All you can do…….
Which of these will YOU do?
Source: You Are Here: Exposing the Vital Link Between What We Do and What That Does to Our Planet, by Thomas M. Kostigan.
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So happy you are still writing about the environment. I have a serious dilema about the plastic bags. I don't forget my re-useable bag but don't use it anyway. Why? Because the kitchen waste needs to be contained or it will froth and ooze in the bottom of my trashcan. I would buy bio-degradable bags if my finances allowed it. Ya know....I'm ASSUMING I can't afford them. I'm gonna check and let ya know. Thanks for helping me help myself!
ReplyDeleteNiris Iris
I re-use the plastic bags that do come into the house and I recycle aluminum cans. I DO NOT water the grass!!! Mother Nature took care of the grass before the water hose and sprinklers came along and she is doing a fine job on my lawn now! It's not the greenest or lushest in the neighborhood, but you know what? Who cares? It's still plenty good enough for the kids to play on and that's good enough for me!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't buy the reusable bags, either. I collect them at meetings, conferences, etc where they are in endless supply! I have quite a collection, and I'll be glad to share....
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