Comments on: Can ‘buying green’ save the planet?

By: apc

apc — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:00:48 +0000

i agree with u anu
as the famous quote goes EVERY PENNY COUNTS the same way little effort from all of us will certainly make a diff. Its not just not using a poly bag when u could avoid it, its a habit what counts. its very easy to use sticky notes just to make a smiley but its tough to make a habit to keep unused back of used paper and the list goes on.

By: Anu Chandwani

Anu Chandwani — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:14:00 +0000

Agree with Vanesa7, its about personal behavior that will eventually lead to small business behavior and to the large cos. behavior and eventually countries’ behavior that will bring a change to what has happened to earth. If everyone of us takes a pledge that they will make effort to go and stay green there will no need for corporations to create products that harm the earth while producing and also when discarded. Poly bags are great example, they cause so much carbon release when produced and take years to decay in landfills. If all people stop using poly bags walmarts need not carry them anymore. We should be willing to pay 5 cents for a hand made paper bag than poly bags. Same goes for home recycling.

Hopefully the change will come from people to corporation to countries and we all will be able to breath easy on our mother earth.

Anu

By: Organic Mom

Organic Mom — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:44:22 +0000

Buying Green can make all the difference! I only buy green produce and cotton products! If we can each convince ten people to do the same and get them to convince 10 more….and so on. It is truly a grassroots mission, don't you think?

By: Aran Seaman

Aran Seaman — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:34:29 +0000

Great points here. Identifying consumerism as a major part of the problem is very important. We need to become more intelligent, responsible consumers, who buy less trendy junk and more high quality, long lasting products. The 'replace-your-wardrobe-every-season' mentality fuels a wasteful society. I think it's important to value our "stuff" more: buying less and appreciating what we have. The Story of Stuff, addresses this well:http://www.storyofstuff.com/

By: Greener Every Day

Greener Every Day — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:14:23 +0000

I think you've got it almost exactly right: Changing our personal choices is integral to changing the world. And buying green is just one among many personal choices that "may get the ball rolling" towards broader change. But it also may not. It is very easy for those of us who are immersed in rampant consumerism to believe that a different sort of consumerism can solve our bigger, social and environmental problems. It can not.

Consumerism itself is a major part of the problem. To the extent that buying differently helps to raise awareness of the need for us as a society to shift away from consumerism that's a very good thing. To the extent that buying green simply assuages feelings of guilt without prompting a radical reduction in consumerism, it's not such a good thing.

If we're trying to effective broader change, there are far more important choices we need to make–like the ones you refer to at the end of your piece. Choices like volunteering and becoming politically active. And in the meantime we can all buy a lot less. And, oh yeah, when we do buy, we can support companies and products that mesh with our commitment to sustainability.

If you're interested: I've written several times on this issue on my blog. Here are a couple of links:
http://greenereverydayconsulting.com/the-greenest…
http://greenereverydayconsulting.com/the-impact-o…

By: vanesa7

vanesa7 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:48:01 +0000

Changing personal behavior and making a stand on what you belief could really add in saving the planet. What is really effective is to help educate the people what is happening to Earth. Global warming and Climate change is really a big issue. Happy Earth day.

By: JJ

JJ — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:17:11 +0000

Change on the individual level is essential, and the only way significant global change will happen.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:15:42 +0000

Inspiring article! And very timely for Earth Day. I commit to think of a new, higher way to serve the Planet.