I’ve been reading (and almost finished) a book titled Toxic Sludge is Good For You. It makes me despair*. They even say that blaming consumer’s behaviour is a PR ploy from the large corporates. To some extent I agree. Stuff is so excessively packaged that even if we wanted and tried to consume less, there’s no guarantee the amount of plastic we throw away will be reduced.
Talking about the environment, carbon emissions / footprints, and being green is so trendy now that I don’t want to be involved**. I am sick of businesses and politicians saying we can ‘save’ the environment by simply altering what we consume, but not changing how much.
I don’t need to spend more money on ‘ethical’ or ‘fair trade’ things just to show how good a global citizen I am. I’m not a good citizen. I like stuff. I don’t like waste, however (although Neil would disagree, judging by my ‘eyes bigger than stomach’ habit). It’s really up to genuine grassroots activism to cut pointless demand and, hence, waste.
So what I’m going to try to do is this***: save underwear, socks, and shoes, I will not buy new clothes. If I want to buy clothes, I will go to a charity (op) shop. I love a bargain, so finding something I like (and fits) at a charity shop will make me happy. I will endeavour to keep the clothes that I do own in good nick, either by mending, dyeing, or re-purposing them (I have been eyeing a jumper of Neil’s that’d shrunk in the wash for arm warmers).
I’m thinking of freecycling our non-working car stereo so someone can use it for parts. Assuming someone wants it, that is. But we’ll be getting a new stereo to replace it at some point.
Nothing revolutionary or PR-able. I just think I could be more thrifty.
* Even organic farms are being lobbied to use said toxic sludge on their land. Nothing is safe! AAAUUUGGGGHHHHHH! (The book is old, so for all you know, all your organic American food could be contaminated with heavy metals!)
** For example, all these car companies and their ‘low CO2 emissions’ and hybrid cars. If you say you’re concerned about the environment, don’t buy a car. Buy a secondhand bike or use public transport.
*** Like the (non) smoking journal, I’m making this public so I’ll be too embarrassed to renege.