We Americans in particular are a very wasteful bunch. We waste time and money all in the name of convenience. Much of this comes from a bit of jealousy ("my neighbor just got a..."), bombardment of advertising ( nearly 40% of TV progaming is ads and print media has ads on every page), and the predominate thinking that some new product we have never needed before will improve our lives. Could it be that we need to modify our lifestyle to not only overcome this but also to improve our environment.
Our wasteful attitude begins with our government which wastes more money and time than any other entity on this Earth. Congress passes law after law after law to "improve" our lives. Then it allocates money (which it doesn't have) to institute these "laws". Result? More rules, more regulations, more bureauracy, AND MORE TAXES. The people's reaction is then spend more to get more (if Congress can do it, why can't I?). Ooops, the credit cards just got used.
And what are we buying? Hey, see that ad? There is a new cell phone out that can play games, see videos, turn on my lights, start my car. We exaggerated a bit, but you get the idea. Why get a car that gets 40 miles to the gallon if I can get that 16 cylinder, shiney monster that all my buddies will envy that "only" costs 2 years pay and only gets 10 miles to the gallon? Mindset, friends, mindset. We have a very poor mindset when it comes to our lifestyle and our world is suffering.
If we have the mindset that "going green" is too much bother, or too much work, or "it's not my fault" for the mess we are in, then folks, we are in real trouble and it's all down hill from here. The climate is changing and the weather is getting more extreme. The ice caps are melting and the ocean levels are increasing. The photo above was taken from our deck. We are only about 150 yards from the water. BUT, we were almost 200 yards from the water just 3 years ago. Yes, we have an ulterior motive for "going green" because we can see the effects every day.
You can bury your heads in the sand and continue to believe that it's not your problem or your fault. OR, you can change your mindset and start to help to reclaim the healthy world we had some years ago. A clean world is a healthy world and your health is directly related to how your environment is now and in the future. What can you do? Change your lifestyle a small amount to help.
Little changes will help. Turn off the lights when you don't need them. Get your kids to appreciate the outdoors and limit their use of the TV and computers. If a light bulb burns out, replace it with an energy efficient bulb. In fact, change all of your bulbs. Check out all of our posts about "Your Energy Diet" and begin to use our recommendations. What we suggest will save you money, help improve your health, and improve the world we all live in.
OK, we've been on our soapbox because the picture above illustrates where we are today. If the present situation continues, in a few years the row of houses in front of us will be gone. Just 50 yards more and the houses will be on the beach which violates Texas law and they will be removed. Our view will improve, but the beach will be much closer and it won't be that long until we will be "on the beach".
We need your help. We need cleaner air. We need to reverse climate change. We need less dependency on oil. We need to recycle. We need to be active in reclaiming a healthy life. Do join us in doing what you can on a daily basis to "GO GREEN". Your kids will appreciate it in the years ahead.
Our wasteful attitude begins with our government which wastes more money and time than any other entity on this Earth. Congress passes law after law after law to "improve" our lives. Then it allocates money (which it doesn't have) to institute these "laws". Result? More rules, more regulations, more bureauracy, AND MORE TAXES. The people's reaction is then spend more to get more (if Congress can do it, why can't I?). Ooops, the credit cards just got used.
And what are we buying? Hey, see that ad? There is a new cell phone out that can play games, see videos, turn on my lights, start my car. We exaggerated a bit, but you get the idea. Why get a car that gets 40 miles to the gallon if I can get that 16 cylinder, shiney monster that all my buddies will envy that "only" costs 2 years pay and only gets 10 miles to the gallon? Mindset, friends, mindset. We have a very poor mindset when it comes to our lifestyle and our world is suffering.
If we have the mindset that "going green" is too much bother, or too much work, or "it's not my fault" for the mess we are in, then folks, we are in real trouble and it's all down hill from here. The climate is changing and the weather is getting more extreme. The ice caps are melting and the ocean levels are increasing. The photo above was taken from our deck. We are only about 150 yards from the water. BUT, we were almost 200 yards from the water just 3 years ago. Yes, we have an ulterior motive for "going green" because we can see the effects every day.
You can bury your heads in the sand and continue to believe that it's not your problem or your fault. OR, you can change your mindset and start to help to reclaim the healthy world we had some years ago. A clean world is a healthy world and your health is directly related to how your environment is now and in the future. What can you do? Change your lifestyle a small amount to help.
Little changes will help. Turn off the lights when you don't need them. Get your kids to appreciate the outdoors and limit their use of the TV and computers. If a light bulb burns out, replace it with an energy efficient bulb. In fact, change all of your bulbs. Check out all of our posts about "Your Energy Diet" and begin to use our recommendations. What we suggest will save you money, help improve your health, and improve the world we all live in.
OK, we've been on our soapbox because the picture above illustrates where we are today. If the present situation continues, in a few years the row of houses in front of us will be gone. Just 50 yards more and the houses will be on the beach which violates Texas law and they will be removed. Our view will improve, but the beach will be much closer and it won't be that long until we will be "on the beach".
We need your help. We need cleaner air. We need to reverse climate change. We need less dependency on oil. We need to recycle. We need to be active in reclaiming a healthy life. Do join us in doing what you can on a daily basis to "GO GREEN". Your kids will appreciate it in the years ahead.
