The "Green" Movement - getting back to the basics and off the fad

[kaliko]

Just wanted to hear some people's thoughts on this.

Naturally as avid fans of Avatar, a lot of us will easily acknowledge a growing respect for our environment, and a desire to preserve it and undo the ecological damage from the last few decades.

But have some of you questioned some of the "green" schemes behind marketing these days? It's become the word of the new millenium (okay, maybe next to iPod, Wii and some others). I think the whole concept is starting to get whitewashed in milked marketing which has less to do with the environment and more to do with jumping on bandwagons.

Example:

I've heard of this whole "green" wedding craze. Engaged couples will go up to a planner with the desire to have an Earth-friendly wedding. So the bride will go see these supposed eco-friendly wedding dresses, invitationals and so forth. I mean COME ON. Do you need to spend thousands on specialized recycled materials to have a green wedding? Buying "green" products doesn't always make sense, in fact it may do even more damage than good. Here's an idea: instead of wasting paper or "green" recycled paper on invitations, just make a wedding website and let guests RSVP there. Use e-invitations for your Save the Date card and thank-yous. Stage the wedding outdoors (natural lighting) in a backyard or church setting. Take a wedding dress from your mother, or good friend, or relative. Help your guests arrange for carpooling. Limit your guests to only those you truly care about. Choose give-aways that don't require wrapping or ribbon that will simply be thrown out. Properly compost the wastes and flowers after your wedding.

I think it's silly that people think, because they buy a notebook out of recyceld paper, that it's really changing anything. Big whop. The company that made it is raking in the dough of the latest fad, and the irony? It cost THEM less to make the book and YOU more to buy it.

I hope Avatar inspires a true generation of environmentally-concious individuals; people that can decide for themselves what is "green" and what isn't. Apple said that their latest release of Macbooks are the "greenest" Macbooks ever because of the materials they are made of. BUT if they don't offer a decent recycling program for their computers, those "green" macs will still end up in a dump one day. Many places don't have proper computer recycling facilities, and some of the toxic components in the computers may still end up shipped to 3rd-world countries where they can be legally dumped (at of course the extreme health risk of any nearby inhabitants). These corporations don't really care about the end result. But if you do, don't buy into thinking that "green" starts or ends by purchasing something. It's not about what you buy, it's about what you do. It's about what you research. It's about the laws and policies you can help change.

[Sik'Turi]

Amen. A lot of people have fallen into the "Well it's made out of green materials, so it must be good for the environment!" Well no, not if it was manufactured in a process that caused more pollution anyway. I'm a simplost maybe, I'm a big fan of going out, planting a tree, growing your own fruits and vegetables, even hunting your own food. I have actually planned for this year to eat no meat besides what I hunt, and that isn't really hard to do. One deer can feed a family for a couple of months if you mix in other meals with it. Obviously not many of us are going to be able to live off the land like we see in Avatar, but it is a great goal to aspire to without any side effects.

[Maras]

Yah, thanks for the info kaliko. It's sad to see some people have the purest intentions to start doing smthg eco-friendly, but due to lack of proper knowledge they get used by companies which take any opportunity and will milk anyone & anything. They're like rats; easy to adjust, and always staying a pest.

We need to educate more, so keep such posts coming!

[Neytiri]

Excellent point Kaliko. Because if you don't really understand the true meaning of being "green" then anyone can use this as marketing ploy to lure you in. And I think a lot of what going green means is DOWNSIZING. Downsizing our spending, downsizing our energy use. Not wasting the energy that we DO need to use. Taking care of the things that we DO buy, so that we don't have to buy them again next year. So yes, as Kaliko said, always beware of products and services claiming to be green, because if you really think about it, it's almost an oxymoron to advertise your product is green, when the greenest thing you can possibly do is just not buy the product at all. Remember kids, reduce, reuse, recycle! REDUCE If you don't really need it don't buy it, if you do buy it, try to REUSE it for something else (like a cracked mug can turn into a plant pot), and when you're really done with it RECYCLE it (an old mug in decent shape, it can be given to Goodwill). Once you remember that the basic premise of going green is downsizing material consumption, then it is easier for you to judge whether it is worth buying that "green product."

[Neytiri]

For anyone interested, please join the Environmentalism Group in the Social Groups section of this website. Click on the Community menu, and Social Groups.

[Ada]

Interesting topic. The phenomenon is commonly called greenwashing. Hey anything to make a buck, right?

http://www.greenwashingindex.com/ - Peruse please!

[KalaKuival]

I'd also add to this very good post by kaliko. Well you talked about the Macbooks and computer stuff and how these should be recycled. That's so right, but! i think that if they actually used better materials to make them, they wouldn't break down at all. At least not as often as they do now. Think if it will last for 15 years without any repearing. It would be possible if the materials used were better. Cux even as the recycling is good and useful, it still uses energy and it's better not to use that much waste after all....

[CrashingDoors]

All this "green" movement is... is a marketing tool to sell so-called "green" products. It's an easy way for businesses to make more money and to 'destroy' businesses that aren't green (ie: they aren't green, so lets cap-and-trade the hell out of them); it's also an easy way for consumers to feel like they're helping the environment without actually making an significant changes in their lives. You buy some special lightbulbs and special this and special that, but what are you really doing? Nothings for sure--but most likely you're just helping these companies assert more control over your lives, and there's no proof that you're actually helping the environment in the long run.

I just think it's all a load of crap, and I don't buy into it, and I don't allow the mainstream "greenies" make me feel guilty. Instead of buying tons more bags of chips because they're in "green" packaging, I just don't eat chips--I eat fruit! I re-use and re-purpose as much stuff as I can, and frankly it has nothing to do with the "green" movement. It's about being practical and frugal, and most importantly, about respecting what I have and not wasting it.

The environmental movement should be about respecting the Earth, by protecting what's been damaged and preserving/conserving what's still in its natural state. We seriously need work towards getting the global population under control. The planet was designed for an equal balance of all living things--not for 7 billion people tramping over everything else, along with all the buildings and parking lots that come along with it. If our population was under control (well, for one, maybe I wouldn't be here--eek) we'd maybe have a little less to worry about in terms of the environment. Scratch that "maybe", make it a "definitely".

[Ada]

@CrashingDoors: completely agree. There's a point where environmentalism becomes a tool for corporations to make money and for people to judge others. Until underlying attitudes change, there will be no solutions.

[Tsyal Makto]

Exactly, don't just trust a company when they say their product is green. If you want to go green, start from the homefront. Buy locally grown products or use public transportation. Eat less meat - it makes roughly 50% of greenhouse gas emissions and uses about the same percentage of vegetable production (imagine how many people that would feed).

Green's a fad, because most modern consumers do not live in areas that are effected by climate change, and are very passive on the issue (don't actually research the environmental record of the company they buy from). Sadly, I beleive it may take another hurricane Katrina in the developed world to make people aware of what the real effects of climate change are.

[DreamWalks]

I hope Avatar inspires a true generation of environmentally-concious individuals; people that can decide for themselves what is "green" and what isn't.

This above all else, this is one of the main ways I wish the film continues to change myself for the better. Like you have so eloquently referenced, the division between 'green' production and 'green' lifestyle has seemed to stay relatively the same(at least in the population around myself). And as good as the intent is in buying and driving a Hybrid vehicle such as the Toyota Prius, when it comes down to it, the manufacturing processes/pollution to create the batteries alone for the vehicle are horrendous. The new hybrids are terrific pieces of engineering, however it leaves us only half way to the 'green' lifestyle that I believe that most would desire to live like. And I am not trying to speak ill of Prius owners, it saves a significant amount of processed fuel, but it also is not a panacea to the environmental problems.

I'm sorry I have no way ( yet :wink: ) to promote a way to eliminate the other half of the issue concerning the manufacturing, but I believe the realization(and discussion) of the issue is the best way we can effectively fight the problem for the time being.

[The Na'vi]

True true. It's sad how companies are trying to get rich off people trying to protect and conserve the planet. Shows how corrupt things are getting..

[unil_mi_tokx]

perhaps you guys here might be interested in reading about The Na'Vi Movement (http://navimovement.com)?

[Death Korps of Kreig]

The Green fad will pass like all things do.

[Grif]

I hope Avatar inspires a true generation of environmentally-concious individuals; people that can decide for themselves what is "green" and what isn't. Apple said that their latest release of Macbooks are the "greenest" Macbooks ever because of the materials they are made of. BUT if they don't offer a decent recycling program for their computers, those "green" macs will still end up in a dump one day. Many places don't have proper computer recycling facilities, and some of the toxic components in the computers may still end up shipped to 3rd-world countries where they can be legally dumped (at of course the extreme health risk of any nearby inhabitants). These corporations don't really care about the end result. But if you do, don't buy into thinking that "green" starts or ends by purchasing something. It's not about what you buy, it's about what you do. It's about what you research. It's about the laws and policies you can help change.

Apple - Environment (http://www.apple.com/environment/)

[Prometheus]

I personally don't buy into the "green" fad precisely because most of it is a sham. If you want to do things "green" then you need to do it yourself and think about what you're doing and how you're doing it.

[Human No More]

I agree - so much stuff is marketed as 'green' just to up the price, or to get people to buy things unnecessarily. Completely missing the point really.

[HannahLynn]

wow. what a ****ing movie. those out there thinking that there is no life on other planets would be sorely mistaken if they even scrapped the surface of the study of astronomy. There IS life out there and it could very well be doing a much better job of reaping the benefits of their planet. Far more than we think we are with this whole "green" movement. All I could think to myself after that movie was: we need to get back to planet Earth. We need to reconnect with our fellow animals. We need to retie the bonds that have been forcefully torn to shreds by the sick rise of capitalism and religion and the better life in a supposed heaven. LIFE IS NOW. LIFE IS HERE>>ON EARTH. There is no time but now to regain the bond with the Earth that the "Native American" and African tribes thrive off of. That's truly what the Na'Vi were: a blend of Native American and African tribes. We need to lower our once upturned noses toward the "savage" lifestyle. We need to live that lifestyle. Now. Please. I know I'm not alone. What can we do to spread the knowledge and hope it burns like wildfire the buildings, bridges, airports, malls, everything manmade and leave nothing but our gorgeously generous Mother Earth. Please reply. I left Phillips Exeter Academy, the best boarding school in the country, maybe even the world, because I knew there was something more I owed to Earth than studying in red brick buildings above her. I want to be closer to her. I want to feel her beneath my feet. Help me and we can help our planet.

[MotoMakto]

Very touching, HannahLynn. I like what you feel, though I hope you meant figuratively burning it all down though ;-)
There are many ways to preserve the environment (even restore) as you describe. First and foremost, there needs to be some respect and unity between groups that share an interest in preserving the environment. Let me give you an example: What you describe as living like savages, or Na'vi, involves hunting as one way to get food. Yet, a huge percentage of the folks trying to preserve the environment are also trying to ban hunting. The problem, other than a lack of understanding of Man's place in the natural cycle of life and foodchain? Hunters, by paying their licensing fees and lobbying for land access, add a huge amount of money that goes toward sustaining wildlife habitat. But the anti-hunting efforts of the first group makes the two constantly at odds and suspicious of each other. What do you think could be established if the two groups spoke as one, focusing on the common interest of habitat preservation?
Another example: rainforests are being cut at an alarming rate. Why? money, plain and simple. Why not, instead of buying the lumber from the locals, sponsor trees or tracts of trees? So that, the locals would get a monthly check, as long as the forest isn't cut. A sustainable income for them, we help preserve the forest, and as a freebie bonus, now the locals will try to prevent illegal logging or other damaging activities as it would cut their pay.
Just a thought or two....