See entire March 14, 2012 newsletter including upcoming radio show guests
Very hard to believe that the tsunami was only one year ago. On the one hand, we can honestly say that for most of us, life has gone on. It is sad but very true. The daily reminders are “over there.” We feel bad when reminded but the tragic event is not top of mind.
But then my friend Jim Godwin sends me a video and it’s like smacking me up the side of the head. Of course the tsunami happened “over there” but, depending upon which news source you look at, up to 20 million tons of waste washed into the ocean in one tragic fell swoop. And guess where it’s starting to show up? In Hawaii and soon on the west coast. Note to self and all readers: remember that we are all one, that there is one ocean the trashed washed into and that life on earth really is but ONE stream – that sealed envelope, one planet thing I talk about, write about and yes, even fret about quite a bit.
Before I go on, I encourage/ask you to take 2 minutes to watch this clip so the rest of my newsletter makes sense.
One of the most troubling quotes from the clip is what brings it right home for me. One of the scientists quoted says what bothers him the most are “the parts of everyday living – the plastic forks, spoons, plates and cups that were swept up during the tsunami and are now heading towards us.” Another scientist says it concerns him because the fish are confusing the waste with food, consuming toxic plastics and you know where I am going with this – people are eating the fish. Life is but a polluted stream in some cases?
Here’s what caused me the most angst, what made me want to scream (if I screamed in the forest and nobody was there, would that have been okay? I didn’t want to scream AT anyone.) and jump up and down and act like a crazy woman about getting rid of plastics. Why are they still parts of our everyday living? Why do companies who tout their green products hand out plastic water bottles when they greet you at the door or hold an event? Why do we continue to keep on doing what we are doing when it comes to plastic consumption? Because it’s easier? Ultimately it is not. Because it’s cheaper? Again – not really. Why don’t people stop for a single second before purchasing plastic anything or entertaining using plastic everything or going to the grocery store without their reusable bags, to think about the manufacturing costs, the foreign oil used in production, the shipping costs, the recycling costs and ultimately, the cost to the planet? (Like ending up in our ocean, lake and river streams.)
Of all the changes I have made in my journey as Mrs. Green I can honestly say that this area is the one which has resulted in the most change in our lives. Plastics are NOT a part of life in any significant way. I realize that real cups, real forks, real knives and real spoons are healthier for us, less expensive to use because of their reuse, and are actually much nicer to use. I realized that I could buy very nice glasses for entertaining from Goodwill Industries. I realized people like it when I use small glass and ceramic plates for entertaining. It begs the question: is there someone, anyone out there who would actually try to convince me that investing in reusable everything is more expensive, over time, than buying plastic? Bring it on, I say with love and respect!
Let’s row, row, row our boats GENTLY down the streams.
See entire March 14, 2012 newsletter including upcoming radio show guests