I was listening to NPR’s Talk of the Nation the other day (yes a middle class white hippy listened to NPR, shocking) and there were a couple of ladies complaining that being green is too expensive and really just a moral luxury for the suburban rich and out of reach for those in the inner cities. A part of me can see what they’re saying I can’t afford a Prius, shop at Whole Foods, or to install solar panels on my roof either. But I think “being green” is really more about the things that you don’t do and the things you don’t buy rather than the things that you do. For example, it’s sure as hell greener to not own a Prius at all, to not buy biodegradable bottled water, and to not use plastic or paper when you get your groceries (whether or not the contents are organic).
So, instead of saying that being green is too expensive and a only for the rich I would argue that its really only the trendy green stuff that’s out of the hands of the poor (like this $200 earth composter) while abstaining from doing things that harm the environment is free and in some cases saves you money. According to CNN, city dwellers on average produce fourteen percent less carbon waste than their suburban counterparts by virtue of NOT having cars and NOT living in an abundance of square-footage and the poor, in general, produce MUCH less waste than the well-to-do. How many of you have to fuel four jet-skis, a fleet of cars, and your own jet? I know I do, but I use biodiesel for my lambo.
So, lady from NPR whining about how green is beyond the reach of poor city dwellers stop your complaining and stop doing something.
Thing I’m wrong or just an ass? Say so below. I would appreciate it.
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July 21st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Ass, but I like it.