I’m not sure why, but I have a really hard time saying we live a green lifestyle. All things being equal, compared to our old neighbors who drove a giant SUV, seemed to be trying to crank out as many kids as physically possible, and probably used their recycling bins as kindling to burn their leftover paint, we’re Ed Begley Jr. But I always have a moment of hesitation when someone asks me if we’re “green.” Maybe because we don’t have a wind turbine on our roof and still use Ziploc baggies once in a while. Maybe because even though we bought a hybrid, we still have a (non-giant) SUV. Maybe because I still sort of harbor some guilt from the Earth Day 2009 cell phone disposal incident (long story — suffice to say, the landfills are currently less safe).
Anyway, in the grand scheme of things, we really are a pretty green family (light green at least). We recycle and compost so obsessively that we’re actually shocked at the little amount of garbage we produce at the end of the week (it kind of bums me out to see our neighbors haul out their overflowing cans every Monday morning). The Honda hybrid is fun to fill up at the gas station (especially when I’m next to someone in a Hummer) even though it’s not the Nissan Leaf I was jonesing for. And my doctor-turned-gardener husband is building a green house so we (he) can grow more of our own food (I kill everything I have to take care of with the exception of — fortunately — the kids and the dog).
Still, it gets frustrating doing all of these little things, knowing they’re really a drop in the bucket when it comes to making a major dent in the climate change problem. I do strongly believe that if everyone worked together, we could pull ourselves back from the brink (and as sad as I am to say it, I think we really are on the brink). But it’s going to take more than just me composting and driving a hybrid. It’s going to take the “L” word. . .
Legislation.
So while I’m here today, cheerleading for everyone to do what they can this Earth Day — April 22nd — to make the world a better place, I’d also like to encourage you to really get on the band wagon and go kick your representatives in the ass. Remember the big budget hoo ha that just went down? Well $1.6 billion got cut from the EPA. Much of that will affect how much pollution gets into the air (something my hybrid can’t really counteract). And some of the cuts will kill a program that was kind of like the National Weather Service, only for climate change. Because what you don’t know won’t hurt you. . .
So here’s where we all come in. It’s my belief that if more and more of us start living a greener lifestyle and that lifestyle becomes “normal,” then more and more of us will begin to demand that these changes take place. And as our kids grow up and become adults and parents and voters, they’ll demand the same things.
So this April 22nd, go out and have a B Kind 2 Earth Day. Do something by yourself or with your family that shows you care about where you live. Even dogs know not to crap where they sleep. I don’t know why people haven’t figured that out (I’ve always held fast to the idea that my dog is smarter than I am).
Let me know what you’ll be doing: shopping with canvas bags, making sure lights are off, going on a picnic with the kids and packing the food in reusable containers. And take a minute to go “like” the B Kind 2 Earth Day Facebook Page. They’re trying to get a big ball rolling up a really steep hill. And past some wolves. And through some tar pits.
The thing is, if we all get behind it, I’ll bet we can push that sucker up there together.
Tammy Soong is a writer, wife, and mom from Reno, Nevada. She takes an absurd amount of pain medication, but not enough to have actually named her children "Newt" and "Elfie." She spends most days stressing out over clutter, writing stuff for this place, and working on podcasts with her gal pals, the Blogging Betties.