It's not easy being green
As readers of this blog, and maybe even my good friend CindyDianne's blog you know that I'm trying my darnedest to get "greener". I say trying because I'm really not there yet. I own two large vehicles with 6 cylinder engines, there are still a few incandescent light bulbs in my house, I haven't taken to composting yet, I buy non-organic, non-locally grown produce most of the time, and if my brother were here he'd say there isn't a granola bar to be found in my cupboard, and I don't own a pair of Birkenstocks. (I meant silly humour and not harm with that generalization, please laugh and don't anyone be offended) The list of things I'm not doing goes on, and on, and on for sure.
Some things are just hard to adjust to, or "inconvenient" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge); I'll whole heartedly admit to that. My hats go off to the diehards out there that devote so much time and energy to this cause, and make the necessary sacrifices to save our planet. It's not easy, and it's not cheap, and people even have the gall to dismiss your efforts and extremism and call you a granola bar eating, Birkenstock wearing, tree hugger. They're mean and wrong. You're saving our planet. The world needs more of you. Please keep it up.
Where it gets a little tougher is for guys like me who aren't yet "all in". No matter what you do, you're still not doing enough, and you can't even really talk about all the good you're doing because someone is just waiting to point out all the good you're not doing. Suddenly, you're a hypocrite. And that hurts, and leaves you wondering why you even bother.
What makes being green the hardest though? The most tiresome part I find is knowing what bandwagons to get on, and which ones to avoid. For example, most recently there was a report published by CNW Marketing Research called the "Dust to Dust Automotive Energy Report" that suggested the Hummer H3 is actually "greener" than a Toyota Prius. The premise is that when you factor in the total impact to the environment, right from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacturing, useful life, and disposal, Hybrids actually are less environmentally friendly than a lot of other old fashioned gasoline cars. Imagine that. Actually, imagine the controversy that this has generated! The arguments both for and against the findings of this report are equally compelling. So who do you believe? What car should you buy? Then there's the topic of "carbon credits". If I support green efforts with cash because I can't or won't make the necessary changes to my lifestyle and be greener, but can afford to support the efforts of others with money, than am I really green? Tough question. It can be argued both ways. So what is one to do?
Unfortunately, I don't have an easy answer. Here's what I do know though. Apathy won't get us anywhere. We have to take responsibility for ourselves, and participate. There's strength in numbers, and the more we put our heads together, the more we'll figure this out. We may not get 100% of our efforts right 100% of the time, but it's better than sitting around pretending no action is required. By participate I don't mean just replacing light bulbs, and walking to work. I mean engaging in the research, the debate, and the promotion of this issue. Care enough to argue about it at least. Don't be pig-headed about it, or jump on the latest bandwagon because you were "sold" on it by a master of persuasion, but care enough to take some form of action. Please, if not for us, for your kids, or your grand kids, or their kids.
As for me, I know it's hard, and I'm actually energized by that. Go ahead and call me a hypocrite if I'm not 100% converted or fully informed. Rest assured I'm better today than I was yesterday, and I'll be even better tomorrow. To me, that's about all we can really ask of each other. If we keep pointing out our shortcomings, or worse yet give up, we won't do so well at encouraging others to join us. That just makes me more sad and depressed.