52 Weeks: Week 28

Apparently our planet needs some TLC. With Earth Day coming up, and the popularity of movies like "An Inconvenient Truth," I am inspired to think of ways I can contribute to the cause. I will admit that I am very much a part of the "disposable culture" and I have not been a very "green" citizen of the Earth. I used disposable diapers on my babies, I tossed many things into the garbage that should be recycled, and I always bring home my groceries in those horrid plastic bags.

I DO care, I really do...I just haven't done much to go the extra mile and find ways to get around a lot of these everyday occurrences. Truthfully, it would be MUCH easier if everything was set up a certain way and made recycling more convenient. For example, right now, our garbage service does NOT have a recycling bin or system set up, so I would have to haul EVERYTHING to various places to get them recycled. BIG INCONVENIENCE!! And my local grocery ONLY has plastic bags, so that's what I use...I buy a LOT of groceries, so I accumulate a LOT of bags...it would be difficult to bring in enough cloth bags to contain all of my groceries each week. And the packaging of the things I buy?...you want the product, you have to deal with all of the packaging.

I would like to see, first hand, how some people get around these issues. America doesn't seem to be set up in a very ecologically sound way, and those who do things "green" must really have to do things in unconventional ways. Oh, and don't even get me started on the many miles I drive each week...I live in the suburbs of a large city, and EVERYTHING requires long commutes to get ANYTHING done...absolutely NOT walkable and NO public transportation anywhere near my home. SO...first I have to MOVE to a place that IS walkable and has access to good public transportation before I can fix THAT problem. Anyway, I am trying to find ways to be "greener," but it will require a complete and utter lifestyle change. I'll see what I can do!