ZEITGEIST: And Sustainability For All

Image by Juampe López via Flickr

And Sustainability For All by Mary Preiser Potts

Recently, I read Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", adapted for children, to my 7-year-old. He knows so many things at his tender age that I had no clue about until I was in my late teens, at least. We have lots of dinnertime conversations about how to conserve and how we can treat the planet more respectfully. My son usually begins with, "Get rid of the car! Get rid of the car!" Of course, he has never carried heavy grocery bags onto the city bus and then lugged them 1/2 a mile home, but at least he's thinking!

So, how can we turn things around on this planet when sustainable goods are priced out of range of the masses?

How can we back organic and healthy foods when, for example, organic cow and soy milks cost $5 a gallon?

Sure, it would be great if we all drove hybrid vehicles that got 50 miles to the gallon, but the fact remains that they are cost prohibitive for most people.

It would be wonderful if all new houses were built using sustainable materials and equipped with solar energy and efficient appliances, but with so much of our country (world) living at or below poverty, who can afford to be green?

And, how much better would it be if we all practiced good preventative health, like getting regular checkups, eating organic foods, getting regular exercise and taking high quality supplements - but with the stresses of just trying to survive and pay the bills, aren't cigarettes and alcohol just a cheaper mind-numbing means of escape? I don't mean to offend. I am an ex-smoker and regular user of small quantities of alcohol. It feels good to feel good, right?

One of my quests is to find out how "we the people" can create "sustainability for ALL" and heal our planet in the process. Perhaps part of the answer involves buying sustainable products in larger quantities by joining coops and coalitions so that we can eventually create a "sustainable" demand.

Mary Potts is a freelance writer who resides in Portland, OR. Her skills include copy writing, article writing and creative writing on a variety of subjects from parenting to health care for low income families. She also contributes a once a month blog about handmade home decor at http://www.designstyleguide.blogspot.com (she is a clock designer in her 'spare' time).

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