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The Green Generation... You in?

posted by Simmy on 8/5/2008 10:26:20 PM

Recently it seems like everywhere you turn there is some reminder telling you to go green. But have you changed your ways? Has your school?

These are green times. The radio informs you about the cash-saving, environment-saving wonders of the Prius or Civic. The TV lets you watch those squiggly light bulbs tell you that switching to environmentally friendly light bulbs is like taking thousands of cars off the road. Man, if only change were always this easy.

I don't know about you, but I've seen the "quick green fix" thousands of times—and no offense, but personally I'd rather get back to Grey's.

I mean, don't get me wrong, going green is something everyone should do, even if it's just a small conservation gesture here and there. But this hubbub makes me wonder—with all these reminders about going green, do you and the people you know actually do anything to help the cause?

Advocates of green living sure make you think that your friends all just hopped off a Greenpeace boat. You don't live green? You must still use VHS, too.

I have a few friends that are recycling enthusiasts (never use plastic bags, separate bottles from trash, refuse to get into an SUV), but the rest? Well, let's just say they love their big Suburbans and definitely couldn't tell you what the three Rs stand for (reduce, reuse, recycle, baby!).

But all shtick and sarcasm aside, there are little things we can do to live a greener life. With the new school year right around the corner, several sites are helping us out:

At TheGreenGuide.com you can greenify yourself for the new year with EcoWriter pencils and "Simple Shoes."

At RedApplesSupply.com you can buy… green apple school supplies. Looks like the green craze has even caused some identity crises.

So, go on – walk to your friend's apartment instead. Pick up some empty plastic bottles on the way and toss them into the recycling bin. And if you're really ambitious, buy school supplies made from recycled materials. A small amount of effort is worth staving off Al Gore for a little while longer.

Does your school take any measures to be green? Would you pay extra for green school supplies? What are some simple tips you have for the rest of us to do our part?

COMMENTS:

posted by Anonymous on 8/13/2008 9:25:30 PM

I agree that we must help developing nations improve their conditions, as I have read in "World Hunger" and learned about how those people are hopeless.

But I'm not just saying that conserving or "little green things" are the only things that will "save the world".

We need more people to be aware of the poor and the hungry outside of the US. The authors of "World Hunger" state that poverty and political tensions are the ones that kill the poor/hungry, and found out that just sending them food isn't going to help them so much. People everywhere should be aware of the causes of the worsening economy, and some of those are the poor not being able to improve their living standards (in terms of jobs, family stability and security).

Anyway, one of the main points of the book is that the poor still being poor and helpless contribute to the deteriorating global economy. For example, because companies can easily hire people in developing countries to do labor with very little wage, our companies here must compete with them, which leads to the downhill economy.

That means we must help them improve their living standards so that Americans can compete fairly economically.

Also, I never said that Mother Earth would be able to reverse our effects on this planet. That's why this generation must be able to think of ways to lower pollution, use less coal, etc. to SLOW DOWN the effects on earth.

If you watch "The 11th Hour" by Leonardo DiCaprio, some experts give suggestions on how to make a greener place, such as a carbon neutral city or inventing buildings that do photosynthesis. These ideas sound bizarre and possibly unrealistic to many people, but we are able to invent great things.

My last words for now: Spread the word about making this place greener. There's probably still a lot of people who don't give a **** about recycling or making an effort. But if everyone is aware and hopeful, we can really slow down the effects.

posted by Anonymous on 8/11/2008 5:13:26 PM

My view is I will never believe anything a politician says to the public because right now, Al Gore is a walking hypocrite. He is definitely earning money off Global Warming. Politicians will do whatever it takes to gain the support of the public and in this way the public is a puppy and is following every word he says.

Not only, the media is a way of propaganda, they choose what to put on the television and newspapers, in which the public reads and takes in as fact. These are a few things that I have realized because I am well traveled. However no one questions our Western Way of Life but when it comes to developing countries their always questioned for what they do. With the many organization scrutinizing develop countries it has become a pest for many developing countries. They question why is they are forced upo to do what the developed countries say when those developed countries never did it in their past.

For me, I believe it is good that we recycle and keep our world clean. But the problem is everyone is obsessed with this green view it has blown up on a large proportions where more people will die just to become greener. The developed nations should be become greener but we cannot put the burden on the developing countries today. They are suffering from more problems as of now than any developed country already went through. The last thing they need is another issue to save the world when they cannot even save their own people.

Thus I believe it is good for the developed countries to become greener but we shouldn't force developing nations into the idea of becoming green when they can barely support their own nation.I think it is best to let the developing countries develop into a 2nd world country before assimilating them into a greener world. Therefore helping the world into a cleaner and green world.

My high school does take measures to clean itself. I would definitely not pay extra for green school supplies sorry to say because in my province of British Columbia we are all burden with taxes.

How I see it, this earth sooner or later will no long support itself. There are limited supplies and even if we pull our socks together and try to conserve that problem will still exist regardless. So doing little green acts are good but it is also good to keep in mind that Mother Nature controls us, and we cannot control Mother Nature. So don't go jumping to conclusions thinking the thing we done will control Mother Nature to reverse the events she has done on the Earth. The problem is Mother Nature will destroy us, or we will destroy Mother Nature. There is no medium and will never exist

posted by Anonymous on 8/7/2008 12:56:26 PM

People don't understand that working together to go green isn't more effort than what they're doing. Right now, everyone's working together to trash this place. If they would just change their directions...

But no. Most of the time, people don't want to go green because of the initial price-tags some things have. You know what I say to that? What price do you put on your health and the lives of your children and their children and so on...?

It's so easy just do to little things like buying organic clothing (it's not so "hippie style" anymore. I have tons of green clothes that look just like "normal" clothes) or cleaning supplies. The market is becoming flooded with all these amazing new products that help just a little bit more.

It's not like anyone is really asking people to live in mud huts and stop driving entirely.

Eh. Maybe I'm just worked up because I live in a very close-minded community. :/

posted by Anonymous on 8/7/2008 12:05:10 AM

even though Al Gore may be a hypocrite, as the previous person said, I think we should still remind ourselves to do little green things.
i know our generation can make the change for a greener world!
my university has some environment/green clubs, so i'm going to check into those.

posted by Anonymous on 8/5/2008 11:17:31 PM

Al Gore? *pffft B.S.* isn't he supposed to be a big hypocrite?

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