Material from the UUCB Retreat class, 2000-05-05
The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices
Michael Brower and Warren Leon. Three Rivers Press, New York, 1999.
PhD's from Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
"Too many people drive their Land Rovers to the grocery store and
think that "paper or plastic" is a meaningful choice.... distinguish
the crucial from the trivial.... make choices that are congruent with
your values." (Denis Hayes, Chair, Earth Day 2000)
Alan Davis: My daughter Allison, whose professional life centers
around problems of economic development and cultural change, says
that this new book is the best thing available on the topic of
responsible consumption.
4 most significant consumer-related environmental problems
Global warming
Air pollution
Water pollution
Habitat alteration
I would add depletion of resources - fuels, fresh water, farming acreage
7 most harmful consumer activities, spending categories:
Cars and light trucks
Meat and poultry
Fruit, vegetables and grains
Home heating, hot water, and air conditioning
Household appliances and lighting
Home construction
Household water and sewage
11 priority actions
Transportation
Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive
Think twice before purchasing another car
Choose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car
Set concrete goals for reducing your travel
Whenever practical, walk, bicycle or take public transportation
Food
Eat less meat
Buy certified organic produce
Household Operations
Choose your home carefully
Reduce the environmental costs of heating and hot water
Install efficient lighting and appliances
Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy
7 rules for responsible consumption
Give special attention to major purchases
Become a weight watcher (heavy things have more impact)
Analyze your consumption quantitatively
Don't worry or feel guilty about unimportant decisions
Look for opportunities to be a leader
Buy more of those things that help the environment
Think about nonenvironmental reasons for reducing consumption
Additional ideas: get involved, join a group
Do I need it? reduce reuse recycle
Think full cycle, 7 generations
Spend on people, not stuff
High-Impact Activities
Powerboats
Pesticides and fertilizers
Gasoline-powered yard equipment
Fireplaces and wood stoves
Recreational off-road driving
Hazardous cleaners and paints
Products made from endangered or threatened species
Four key government strategies
Make the marketplace work for the environment (e.g. don't
subsidize pollution)
Set high standards
Invest in the environment
Make land use an environmental issue
Other reading:
Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things by John C. Ryan and Alan
Thein Durning.
UUCB study groups based on Northwest Earth Institute - source of
discussion guides for Voluntary Simplicity, Deep Ecology, and others.
Our UUCB Environmental Web is a group in the church and we maintain
many more references, church activities, etc:
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/uuc/env/
To join the email list see http://www.egroups.com/list/uucb-env/
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