I'll be glad when the madness of end of year activities is over and the lazy days of summer begin. The end of June is a whirlwind of year end school parties, birthday parties, sports tournaments, dentist/doctor appointments and other assorted things that life throws one's way.
Barely having time to breathe, I haven't really thought about my next eco-change. But I have given a lot of thought about what I won't be changing.
I reviewed Vanessa's list this week, and realized that several of her items just aren't going to happen in my suburban family of 5. So to give my readers a chance to realize what I'm not capable of, I hope I'll be forgiven for the lack of major change in some areas.
1. Cancelling my cable - I rely on my electronic babysitter too much to give it up. "Please kids, mommy needs just 5 minutes to {insert item here}. Why don't you turn on the TV for a few minutes while I finish up here?"
2. Not driving my car on weekends - living in the suburbs, we don't have access to ready transit. Most things in our small community require some form of driving. Many of the kids' activities happen on the weekend, as well as DH needing to go to the hardware store or Canadian Tire for his latest household project. I just can't see how we can avoid driving on at least one day of the weekend.
3. Turning off my freezer - feeding a family of 5 healthy food while being cost-effective requires a lot of storage. This includes a freezer for bulk meat, bread, jam, and veggies. Turning it off? Not going to happen!
4. Turning my oven off for good - I use my oven for everything from dinner to baking to preserving foods. I don't think I'd be able to survive with out it.
5. Not using the air conditioning in my car - during the humid, sultry days of summer, I need to be cool. If I'm hot, I'm grumpy. And you know the old saying "When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".
6. Only using spices/herbs I grow at home - we cook a variety of cuisine at our house. If I only use herbs I grew at home, we'd eat a pretty bland diet. In order to try to encourage my kids to expand their culinary horizons, I can't, in good conscience, restrict my spice use just yet.
7. Unplugging my fridge - see my comments about the freezer
8. Selling the car - NOT!
9. Only staying at eco-friendly hotels - if they are inexpensive yes, but would they really cater to three kids and a dog?
10. Eat food straight from pot/pan - given that I'm trying to teach the little monkeys some manners, I don't think making this change would be useful.
11. Using hand-held fans instead of electric ones - only if the fan comes with some nubile young Greek god.....
12. Not wearing a gown at doctor's office - it would not be fair to subject my doctor to visions that might given him nightmares for weeks....
13. Reusing a fake Christmas tree from last year, not buying ornaments - we use a real tree, and part of our family tradition is buying a new ornament every year. Maybe I could switch to enviro-friendly ornaments.
14. Packing carry-on rather than check-in luggage - again, when travelling with 3 kids, not going to happen. Travelling by myself? That's not going to happen either!
15. Sleeping more - I wish....
16. Sleeping naked - not until the little ones are grown and out of the house. I can just picture the school yard or play date conversations... "Guess what mommy? So-and-so's mommy doesn't sleep with any clothes on." How do you explain that to 4 and 6 year olds in a way that doesn't make you sound like a creep?
So, readers, forgive me my sins. I'll try my best to make up for them in other ways.
Showing posts with label environmental education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmental education. Show all posts
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Start to be more politically involved (Change 121)
This change really takes me out of my comfort zone. I am the type of person that prefers to keep her politics private. I don't really like trying to change people's minds - I prefer to let them come to their own conclusions without my thrusting my opinions on them. If they ask for my advice, of course, I'll respond, but I would never venture to tell someone outright that I disagree with them.
But to really ensure environmental change, government has to become involved. Canada's current environmental platform leaves something to be desired. I am going to do something about it.
Among other organizations, the David Suzuki Foundation occasionally sends out form letters that you can email to prominent government officials (the Prime Minister, the Environment Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, for example). These letters always encourage the powers that be to take the environment into consideration when forming national policy.
I received one such letter this week, encouraging us to write to Environment Minister Peter Kent to ask for clean air and healthy oceans (http://action.davidsuzuki.org/oceans). When I originally received this notice, the goal was for 2500 letters to be sent. If you look at the link now, the new goal is 8000!
I usually delete these emails when I receive them - I am not comfortable sending these kind of letters to government. But this week, I filled the letter out and emailed it. What changed my mind? The knowledge that although my 366 changes are great, they are still on an individual level. We need national and global level action to help correct the environmental damage being done to our planet. I realize that I still have a long way to go - there are many "big" issues that I have not yet tackled on an individual level (such as owning two cars, buying green energy, eliminating plastic completely from our house). But I think that there are changes that need to be made that I can't do on my own.
It felt weird sending the letter, but in a good way. I am finally trying to influence government politics, instead of just complaining about how those in government can't get it right.
But to really ensure environmental change, government has to become involved. Canada's current environmental platform leaves something to be desired. I am going to do something about it.
Among other organizations, the David Suzuki Foundation occasionally sends out form letters that you can email to prominent government officials (the Prime Minister, the Environment Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, for example). These letters always encourage the powers that be to take the environment into consideration when forming national policy.
I received one such letter this week, encouraging us to write to Environment Minister Peter Kent to ask for clean air and healthy oceans (http://action.davidsuzuki.org/oceans). When I originally received this notice, the goal was for 2500 letters to be sent. If you look at the link now, the new goal is 8000!
I usually delete these emails when I receive them - I am not comfortable sending these kind of letters to government. But this week, I filled the letter out and emailed it. What changed my mind? The knowledge that although my 366 changes are great, they are still on an individual level. We need national and global level action to help correct the environmental damage being done to our planet. I realize that I still have a long way to go - there are many "big" issues that I have not yet tackled on an individual level (such as owning two cars, buying green energy, eliminating plastic completely from our house). But I think that there are changes that need to be made that I can't do on my own.
It felt weird sending the letter, but in a good way. I am finally trying to influence government politics, instead of just complaining about how those in government can't get it right.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Join the Guiding and Scouting Movement (Change 96)
I was a Girl Guide when I was a little girl. DH was a Cub Scout. It seemed only natural that we should enroll DD1 and DS in these activities when the time came.
What I hadn't realized was how these activities involved environmental change. Both programs have adapted from the ones we remember when we were little in the 1970s and 1980s. Yes, hiking, camping and other associated activities were part of the regular program, but I don't remember so many specific environmental actions taking place.
Move to the 21st century. There are now specific environmental badges the children can earn, from recycling, water use, and specific camping badges, to changes to the Mission Statements and other official policies of the two movements.
For example, the Guiding Movement sent delegates to the 16th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that took place in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10. The Scouts have a Position Statement on the Environment, "Scouts Canada believes that environmental stewardship is critical for future generations. Scouts Canada’s programs develop youth as environmental stewards. Through progressive experiential opportunities youth develop and practice sound environmental ethics. Active participation in our programs enables members to minimize their impact on the environment." (http://www.scouts.ca/ and http://www.girlguides.ca/)
I'm thrilled that these activities that my children participate in will help reflect and reinforce our home values. If we start teaching our children at a young age about how valuable and unique our planet and environment are, I can't help but think we are enabling our world to become a better place.
What I hadn't realized was how these activities involved environmental change. Both programs have adapted from the ones we remember when we were little in the 1970s and 1980s. Yes, hiking, camping and other associated activities were part of the regular program, but I don't remember so many specific environmental actions taking place.
Move to the 21st century. There are now specific environmental badges the children can earn, from recycling, water use, and specific camping badges, to changes to the Mission Statements and other official policies of the two movements.
For example, the Guiding Movement sent delegates to the 16th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that took place in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10. The Scouts have a Position Statement on the Environment, "Scouts Canada believes that environmental stewardship is critical for future generations. Scouts Canada’s programs develop youth as environmental stewards. Through progressive experiential opportunities youth develop and practice sound environmental ethics. Active participation in our programs enables members to minimize their impact on the environment." (http://www.scouts.ca/ and http://www.girlguides.ca/)
I'm thrilled that these activities that my children participate in will help reflect and reinforce our home values. If we start teaching our children at a young age about how valuable and unique our planet and environment are, I can't help but think we are enabling our world to become a better place.
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