raising godzillas

Sustainability

If there's anything we Americans value, it's our freedom- conditionally. One thing I have come to believe is that people from every side of the aisle want to be free to do what they want to, while disallowing those things they don't think others should do. Except for the most dedicated Libertarians, we all have things we think the government should step in on. For me, there is no issue I feel more strongly needs regulation that those regarding sustainability. I would like to think people could prevent government control in this area by CHOOSING to make more sustainable choices, but we are still far behind the curve on that, aren't we? And if we are to have regulations, I think it's much better to make them on levels as local as possible. As of the first of this month, the city of Seattle has required all food service establishments to serve their food in packaging that is either recyclable or compostable. I think this is a wonderful thing and that all cities should follow suit-now, before the state of the environment gets so crisis that federal governments have no choice but to step in and make drastic changes in our lifestyles.
Because here's the thing- it doesn't matter who has what rights, who is protected, if we can't breathe the air, if the water makes us ill ( that is, if we have any water). When it comes to the environment, we truly ARE in this together. No matter what we agree or disagree on, we all have to live here.
Let's make the choices, in our lives, now. To take it beyond recycling and carrying a few bags to the store. To compost, hang our laundry, cloth diaper, use hankies, use woman cloth, buy hybrid, buy used, borrow, freeganise and barter before buying new, walk or cycle whenever we can, to think beyond cheap plastic crap. Let's choose it now, before the choice is taken from us.

posted by gojirama @ 12:40 PM