We are experiencing a massive societal movement towards environmental consciousness. This movement has different faces to it, including Hollywood and the fashion industry, who make up their own definition of green, and brand their interpretation of sustainability. This has given rise to a new consumerism. Think about it: we are now to replace everything we own for green, organic, recycled? How about just keeping what we own, or recycling it? Doesn't that count towards sustainability?
Let's play a game. It's the sustainability game. It's about how many planet Earths would it take to sustain the population of the world if we all live...like you!!!! You input your choices, the way you live, your type of housing, in an easily interactive way, and at the end it gives you the result in # of planets.
I failed at 3.7 planets.
I come from Central America, I know about poverty and limited natural resources. I'm an advocate for green architecture and living, I built my dream green home, I recycle everything, I live a healthy lifestyle, I walk three miles every day and don't commute to work. And I failed.
Actually, the real failure here is our government. We can and should ask that they do better at leading the environmental cause. Our leaders, all the way from presidents of our neighborhood organizations to city council, to the presidency of the United States, can effect change at the scale that we, doing the right thing, can't.
Thomas Friedman, in his article in today's Houston Chronicle and NY Times, gives the example of the change that NYC's leaders have been able to effect that will hugely impact the well-being of it's residents. According to Friedman, the fleet of Taxi cabs in NYC is comprised of 13,000 old, high emission-producing, gas guzzlers. Thanks to elected officials using vision and common sense, the fleet is changing over to low-emissions, hybrid cars, against all odds and wills. They are now putting pressure on the companies that hire the fleet of 12,000 limousines and town cars, to ask for hybrid cars.
Now, that's what I call change. Having lived in NYC I can tell you that that fine black debris that one breathes not only cloggs pores but gets deposited in all fine creases, hair, nose and eyelashes. Of course you look the other way, after all your get to live in the Big Apple, but you pay a price. And for children, the elderly, and the infirm, the price is too steep.
All the green blogs in the world can't effect change so huge and catalytic. So vote. Research your candidates, and lets ask questions of them that make them take a stance on the environment. Our lives depend on that.
As for the sustainability test, would you please post your score in # of planets that it would take for all of us to live in your lifestyle? Don't be ashamed, because the other thing we can do is re-visit the questions on how we live, and do better each day.
