Environmental Impact
In a society where trends come and go in the blink of an eye, the movement toward becoming more economically conscious is steadier than a fleeting trend.We all hear about the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. The importance of this begins with personal awareness. Do we understand the effects of our personal habits? In our area the focus is on recycling, but my thoughts are that we need to think about reducing and simplifying. Wouldn’t it be better if what we purchased could be less processed which would require less of a need to recycle?
When I was growing up, like most kids in the United States, there was a common place I headed to curb my hunger: the kitchen. The kitchen always had milk, juice, fudge bars and other food to satisfy my wants. Thankfully my mother always kept the shelves stocked. Many people in our society have the same feelings about the resources of the earth being in a never-ending supply, not understanding how truly limited they are. We need to understand that we can’t continue to use up natural resources without consequences.
We are part of a throwaway society. To change, we have to change our view. Is it better to plant a tree or reduce our demand for wood and paper products? Sustainability is what we should be focused on. We shouldn’t take more than we can produce. We shouldn’t pollute more than we can clean. How much of what we purchase has value? Usually the packaging holds a secondary value. We purchase the product inside the box, but the box is not used and then discarded.
I admire an individual who has built a business around taking discarded soda bottles and reusing them to package his product. He could have bought new bottles, but he has seen that these used bottles still had value. Others have turned used bottles into hand bags without melting and remanufacturing the plastics. We need to think about our purchases from the manufacturing process to final disposal and view our ownership all the way through the process.
Think of fresh fruits and vegetables, they come in their own packages. Take the banana for example; it’s a self-sufficient package. The outside or package can be composted then reused in the yard and never has to be taken out to the curb. Of course all of our purchases are not that simple. However, we can teach ourselves to look at our purchases and ask what will be the final disposition of our purchase. Maybe we will build within ourselves the habit of not buying so many plastic bottles, or reuse items for secondary purposes, then if needed we can send our items to be recycled. Still, go ahead and plant a tree, but consider a tree that produces a renewable product such as food and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
by david smith
2 Responses to “Environmental Impact”
totally agree with your opinion.
so bad ecological movement around the world has been a flag for collect money for those who are in asociations who promote reciclyng and for those who process the plastic but want society provide them for free, no money back for those people who collect materials at trash dumps , no money to research , to improve , to have new alternatives for packaging.
Im from mexico and its part of what i can see around me.
so happy to see this effort to change the attitude on this big issue for humankind.
we need to change the way we see.
lets begin to see inside us.
lets take a mirror in our daily activities, our daily thougts and everything about ourself and see whats wrong, what can be change , what can make a difference if we change it.
lets be critic with our selfe its so easy just attack , i see people here in my town ho has the speech about green think
but have 2 , 3 or more cars,see them at supermarket with 20 or 30 bags , instead of having something. i live in a little town its not so necessary more than a car, everything is near , i walk everyday to leave and pickup my son at school.for groceries also walk,tryng to fin an investor to stablish a franchise to have compostable cups,dish,and more , maybe it has his own discuss, but at least i want to do soething. its not just a speech its an atittude i begin a few months ago , iknow its much time , but ive decide to doit.
if we make a little change in our life , and this is made in everyone of us in earth .
then can be a change before that happen nathing will change.
best regards
willmer
Bahias de Huatulco oaxaca mexico
This is quite a thought-provoking article, and I was also most interested in the comments by Willmer. The bleak photgraph used for this article, is rather unlike most others used by AVANT. Obviously, they are trying to make a point here. It made me think, of what is sometimes called the “throwaway society”. In other words, many products are simply not made to last for long periods, these days. And of course, packaging is even more of a disposable item, but is this a new issue for modern societies?
Well, not really. After all, I can remember people in the media (and elsewhere), complaining about our wastefulness, many times in the past. However, consumerism is only a problem – so long as we allow it to be. Over time, most societies adapt and modernise, although some are more pro-active than others.
Sadly, the bleak images in your accompanying photograph, reminded me that even in a world of so much beauty, we may never escape from the ugliness of waste and how to process it. Also, our perception of it. In contrast to the grotesque sight of waste, we are in a world of natural beauty, fine architecture and the greatness of human achivements. In addition, there is the intrinsic (and natural) beauty of the female form – which we can see in quality photography & other art forms.
So long as society keeps a positive approach, and always manages to adapt to changing circumstances – then the beauty around us should always help to conceal the ugliness of waste. And in addition, provide inspiration and a welcome distraction to this grotesque issue. Thankyou, for reading my latest comments on the AVANT website.
http://www.twitter.com/JulianatDerby