Minor Impact Kim
I watched a documentary called "No Impact Man" (it's on Netflix, or youtube). It's a story about a man (Colin Beaven) and his family and their journey through a year of living a life that dosen't leave a negative impact on the environment. Which for them meant only buying local, not using anything disposable (including diapers, plastic containers and toilet paper), not taking the elevator, only using public transportation, not using electricity and not producing any waste. All in a small New York apartment. (www.noimpactman.com)
Two things: I love documentaries and I loved this documentary. I took a course last year on Society and Change and the rate of our consumption is overwhelming, the toll that we are placing on our earth is irreversible and could have been completely avoidable. I am a part of this problem. I don't want this to seem like I am standing on a soap box here, because I have no right to. Last summer in my family we EACH had a car, our driveway, when we were all home at the same time, looked like a parking lot. Here comes the excuse, my family does live in the middle of nowhere so I justified our number of cars due to location. But, there are alternatives - yes HSR dosen't come to Lynden but as a family we should have sat down and figured out schedules and carpooled, Tim could have taken the school bus to school - and I am sure there are a ton of other alternatives.
NOW
I live downtown with access to HSR (free access I should mention) and up until this past week, I still drove everywhere. After watching this documentary I am trying to make more intentional decisions when it comes to my impact. Being a student I won't be able to go as extreme as Colin did, I need electricity to power my laptop, a majority of my papers need to be handed in as a hard copy. But there are things that I can control and here is my list of how I am going to try and make a smaller environmental impact:
1. Take the HSR/walk when able - eventually sell my car
2. TURN LIGHTS OFF in rooms that I'm not in.
3. Buy local (I live so close to the market now!)
4. LESS PACKAGING! Re-use containers, bring my own thermos so I'm not using disposable coffee cups.
5. Get rid of paper towels - use rags to clean. (The toilet paper thing may take awhile)
6. Recycle, compost, garbage - really be aware of what I am throwing out and where it actually goes.
My ultimate goal is just to be fully aware of what I am doing and how I can minimize it as much as possible.
End rant!
- Kim
Two things: I love documentaries and I loved this documentary. I took a course last year on Society and Change and the rate of our consumption is overwhelming, the toll that we are placing on our earth is irreversible and could have been completely avoidable. I am a part of this problem. I don't want this to seem like I am standing on a soap box here, because I have no right to. Last summer in my family we EACH had a car, our driveway, when we were all home at the same time, looked like a parking lot. Here comes the excuse, my family does live in the middle of nowhere so I justified our number of cars due to location. But, there are alternatives - yes HSR dosen't come to Lynden but as a family we should have sat down and figured out schedules and carpooled, Tim could have taken the school bus to school - and I am sure there are a ton of other alternatives.
NOW
I live downtown with access to HSR (free access I should mention) and up until this past week, I still drove everywhere. After watching this documentary I am trying to make more intentional decisions when it comes to my impact. Being a student I won't be able to go as extreme as Colin did, I need electricity to power my laptop, a majority of my papers need to be handed in as a hard copy. But there are things that I can control and here is my list of how I am going to try and make a smaller environmental impact:
1. Take the HSR/walk when able - eventually sell my car
2. TURN LIGHTS OFF in rooms that I'm not in.
3. Buy local (I live so close to the market now!)
4. LESS PACKAGING! Re-use containers, bring my own thermos so I'm not using disposable coffee cups.
5. Get rid of paper towels - use rags to clean. (The toilet paper thing may take awhile)
6. Recycle, compost, garbage - really be aware of what I am throwing out and where it actually goes.
My ultimate goal is just to be fully aware of what I am doing and how I can minimize it as much as possible.
End rant!
- Kim
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