Green Building Writer Goes on Rant
{Readers, I apologize ahead of time for the tone of this piece, it is strictly stream-of-conscience, and may not make sense when I’m done. I will return to “proper writing style” with my next article.}
I have been reading and seeing a lot recently about whether the green building movement is a fad or is here to stay, whether global warming is a myth, and how builders and owners are considering green measures only if there is a monetary reason for doing so. There is controversy in other areas outside of green building, including paper or plastic, whether to buy organic food, and what to do with all the environmentally unfriendly stuff we’ve accumulated over the years. Not to mention what do you do when you want to do the right thing, but you can’t afford it?
I’VE HAD ENOUGH!!! It is time for a different perspective, one very different from our usual ego-driven, myopic view of what effects ME, and only ME. Here are some thoughts that I think help put things into perspective (at least for me):
- Last night on “Brink” (a show on the Discovery Channel), they reported that scientists recently discovered evidence that the Milky Way Galaxy (the one we live in) is 50% larger than was previously believed. That tells me that I’m an even smaller speck in all of eternity than I thought I was.
- On the other hand, I look at all the junk in my house, all the “stuff,” and I see that cause and effect expands the boundaries of my influence in the world. (I didn’t even mention the materials to build the stuff, the energy to make it, transporting it here, etc, it boggles the mind.) Although I didn’t cause all this “stuff” to be created, I brought it all here.
- So, I am torn between the smallness of my existence and the largeness of my footprint. I begin to see how my desire for stuff (equally caused by my needs, my ego, the capitalistic society I live in, and wonderful marketing campaigns) affects not only the planet, not only our solar system, but the Milky Way, too.
I know this is a bit woo-woo, “out there.” Our planet will not die tomorrow if I throw a piece of litter on the street. The human race will not fail if we do not reduce our dependence on oil. Nothing catastrophic is going to happen, ever. And that is where the trouble lies. No one will ever see when global warming has an effect on our environment, because it is so gradual. We will never be able to pinpoint the exact time that we screwed up, we will just suddenly realize it. It is like the current recession – the experts can only see it as a recession AFTER time has passed, only in retrospect. During the recession, we all struggle along, not knowing that we are in a “recession”. So we now struggle along, not knowing that we are possibly in an environmental “recession.” When will we know, and who will tell us?
This is even more overwhelming than my opening paragraph!!! How does anyone do anything to change something that is so large, so encompassing, and so entracted in our society and our very humanity? The answer is: DO ONE THING AT A TIME. Do what you can do today, in this moment, to make a difference. The difficulty is we have to look at things with a new viewpoint: not what does it mean or do for ME, but what does it mean or do for US. US means every living thing on the planet, the planetary material, and the atmosphere that surrounds it. For, without US, there is no you and me.
The decision whether to go green or buy organic should not be based solely on financial gain or convenience (although these factors do play a part). I know this can seem overwhelming too – how do you weigh what is the best decision, especially when you don’t have all the answers? If you can, do some research and find some answers. If not, and/or after you do your research, you do the best you can IN THAT MOMENT, with what you know. It is the thinking and the decision making that makes the difference. Just buying and doing things because you always do them isn’t going to change anything, but thinking about what you buy and the things you do, that changes everything, even if it is the same decision. It’s different because you have put the intention out there to make a difference. Intention brings you more of what you intend.
If we all intend to be kinder to our environment, our world, and each other, AND take actions based on those intentions, we can change everything. There is nothing that can stop us. But when we let societal pressures, marketing, and ego make our decisions for us, we are sliding down the slope that leads to recession.
I know this is not a usual post for this blog, and I’m sure I stirred some of you up (at least I hope so, otherwise I’m preaching to the choir, and that won’t get us very far), so let me have it. Share your passion (or not) for going green!!!!
P.S. Thanks for letting me vent.
Great post! Well said. Glad it was said. Keep it going!
I try every day, in every situation to make the right decision to help the planet environmentally. I really struggle with those around me who are too lazy to do the same. It is an effort and it can sometimes cost more but, I can’t think of anything more worthwhile. I just have to find a way to help those around understand how important it is and to do it in a manner that doesn’t sound like preaching. I really appreciated your rant and will use some of the thoughts to help explain my passion.
Interesting “rant.” I agree that we need to take personal responsibility for our actions and in the ways we each contribute to the problems of our planet.
Your analogy of the recession is interesting, but recessions are a known part of the economic cycle. What we are going through environmentally appears to be unprecedented.
One huge problem to tackling the environmental problem is that as a species humans do not recognize a single entity that we all agree is an equal threat to the entire human race. There is nothing out there that we all equally fear enough to band together as a species. Because of this, we occupy ourselves by fighting each other over “limited” resources, seeing each other as enemies and trying to gain power over one another.
Sure we can each do one little thing- write a blog, pick up litter, buy from local producers. But we still have an economic system that exploits, a marketing system urging us to buy unnecessary things because buying will keep our country afloat and make us an economic power, etc. etc. Fundamental worldwide attitudes need to change if we want to improve conditions for this planet and for our species (and all other creatures and elements of Earth).
Of course that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t act responsibly as individuals, but somehow our individual acts need to merge with others like it across the country and world. A revolutionary transformation in attitude is needed regarding the way we think about ourselves as a species and how we view power.
So much to do, so little time.
Allison, you’ve hit the nail on the head. We NEED a fundamental change in attitude. We NEED to rethink our priorities, as a nation, as a race, and as a global community. As long as we see ourselves as the “supreme beings,” we will never recognize the threat we pose TO OURSELVES!
Thanks for your comment.
Idiots will always vastly outnumber the wise and until you can change that fact you will not get change without strict enforcement of appropriate regulations, but you will not be able to establish universally agreed upon regulations until idiots are no longer in the majority.
All physical changes start with a change of mind/s and that is where you need to start. People need to more wisdom, but how do you ensure that the next generation will be wise than the last, what steps must you take in raising and educating them?
Great article, and venting is good…
Green building is about what’s good for the environment, the planet and all future generations.
It’s a positive direction and here to stay.
There are only 3 kinds of people in the world. –
Those who MAKE things happen, those who WATCH things happen, and those who say, WHAT happened.
We each decide, we can get on the Green Building wagon or get left in the dust….
You go girl!
Sandy
Things are undoubtedly moving in the right direction, but for them to continue in this direction the effort cannot lose its authenticity.
The statement “whether global warming is a myth” and those like it should be avoided. Scientific evidence proves the warming trends alone; very few dispute global warming. What people dispute is its cause and the role man in the warming; Science is not to a point to definitively know the role of man. And as long as the majority support the effort to be more environmentally sensitive in their decisions, why insert this contentious statement? Let science work its course.
Faulty statements on this issue become the focus of a reader’s attention and an entire opinion can be discarded as not factual. To remain relevant, the facts must be the focus.
Rant on! Maybe it was the full moon, but I find myself thinking exactly the same way lately. And it really hit home when my 9-year-old asked me, “Mom, what are we doing to help the polar bears?” It’s time everyone at least as a first step start to understand or recognize that our daily lives–how we work, live, play, shop, etc.–has an effect on the planet and future generations. Perhaps the economic downturn will be a silver lining for the environmental movement as people will have to start doing more with less?!
[...] After pondering for a while, I realized what I must do – I must become a “super greenie!” [No, that does not mean I put on a green leotard and cape, flying around, saving the planet from the forces of Carbon Dioxide (my Arch Enemy, of course).
] What it does mean is that I have to step up my actions, and do even more of the thinking that I advocated on my rant. [...]