Posts Tagged ‘Earth Day 2011’

Recently my husband and I were in Olde Town Alexandria to hang fliers for GreenItUp!, eat, and just look around on a beautiful Spring day. Eric said he had seen a sign for a green adult store and that maybe I could hang a flier there. My immediate thought was, “exactly what resources am I wasting when having sex… sometimes the light is on? or the tv? the stereo? – do I have to feel guilty about that?” We joked with each other about solar powered toys and recycled condoms. We found the store, but did not go in or ask to hang a flier. It looked a little too ‘Laura Ashley’ to be really sexy or truly green.

But I was curious. So, I did what every normal person that is curious about ‘that stuff’ does – I went on the internet. Everything we had joked about is for real – only more than I imagined. High-five to the sex industry! My hat – and just my hat – is off to you! It is my impression that the sex industry has always been on the cutting edge of new technology and politics. I guess you have to be when your competition is almost 7 billion living, breathing people.

The link below will give you a taste of what is out there. My favorite is the Pfun Plug – it “saves the world’s butt.”

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-come-and-go-green-with-eco-friendly-sex-toys/

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For those that do not know about boiling frogs, I will explain. If you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water he will jump out immediately. If you place a frog into a pot of water and slowly bring it to a boil, the frog will not resist. The image is often used to explain how we can become comfortable with situations and environments that might otherwise cause panic. Watch the news, look at your personal finances, turn on the radio, think about your job, watch an Adam Sandler movie, eat fast food, remember who you wanted to be when you were 18 – do any of these things and you will see how we are a culture of slowly boiling frogs.

We are resistant to change – even when the change is good for us – simply because change (of any kind) is scary. So, for Earth Day this year I propose that you begin the process of slowly changing who you are as a consumer. You don’t have to throw everything away for a life on the Ranch with the Manson family.  Take it one step at a time. Change one thing this Earth Day and make a plan to make another change every month. On the 22nd of each month, change some aspect of your routines or consumption that will benefit yourself and your environment.

I have listed some suggestions for actions you can take now. Not all of these apply to everyone so be creative – look around your home and at your life and find solutions that fit you.

1. Carry your own reusable water bottle.

2. Make sure you are recycling everything your city or county supports.

3. Change your bulbs.

4. Turn off lights and electronics that you are not using.

5. Support local farms – buy as many of your groceries as possible from a Farmers’ Market.

6. Don’t buy meats and dairy products with hormones.

7. Limit junk mail – ask companies to take you off their mailing lists.

8. Reuse scrap paper, packaging materials and bags.

9. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.

10. Switch to cloth diapers and napkins.

11. Try to buy used items or repair broken items before purchasing new.

12. Drive the speed limit.

13. Give up paper-towels.

14. Wash your laundry in cold water and line dry.

15. Buy GreenItUp!’s MultiPurpose Cleaner!

Change can be scary but the alternative is far worse. Have you seen a weather report in the last two years? Heavy snows, crazy hurricanes, Japan, tornadoes everywhere, fires in Texas…  These are not changes that I am willing to accept. With Frankie’s arthritis, we would not make it very far on McCarthy’s Road…

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