Appreciate this. 100% with you on using less, consuming less. Late stage capitalism and its consume at all costs be they environmental or human, shows us the error of thinking more is better. To what end? Who suffers, who sacrifices, who serves? We keep believing we have to tackle the whole instead of thinking what small things each of us can do to reverse damage. There’s something genuinely pleasing in moving about this world with the intention of always making a smaller footprint. Our every day choices determine the world we have. I think we need to rediscover what the idea of sacrifice means. Are we willing to do so for a better future? Thank you for this work. ❤️
I appreciate this very much. We take far more from this home than we return to it, except waste that is. We need to be less, in more ways than one. Thank you for your post!
Sometimes I look around at so much of the "sustainability" rhetoric that's just about re-engineering the status quo and covering it with green paint, and say, "But how come nobody is talking about simply consuming less?" The overemphasis on green energy, green technology--greenwashed consumption--is missing the point: they key is to consume less. Thank you for keeping this conversation alive.
I think that a lot of people simply don't know how much damage our consumption causes. For example, they think electric vehicles are cool, but they don't know that mining lithium for the batteries will destroy habitat, habitat that in many cases was left alone safe until now. Or they don't realize that solar arrays in the desert kill wildlife, including the Desert Tortoise. It's all very human-centric.
It's true! The real cost of consumption is conveniently whisked away from view. I'm continually curious about how to bring it to the attention of consumers in a way that makes a lasting impact.
You’ve given my broken heart some ease. Beautifully discerning. Thank you. Thank you for providing an alternative to despair that is not just sprinkling it with saccharine. (Or Stevia or agave.)
I'm obsessed with this very issue--the ways we talk about what is possible or impossible and what drives those beliefs. When we assert something is impossible, we're just helping that be true. And I appreciate your friend's perspective on hope = enthusiasm.
Kollibri, thank you for this. Positive outlooks are much needed at present. I do feel that there is something inside us that 'knows' another world is possible/doable. It's not a belief which for me is just a thought but it's actually something more visceral. I've written about this in my article here. https://vincentmcmahon.substack.com/p/the-lightness-of-change-a-pathway
I believe another world is possible, and think we need to do all we can to bring it about, and with joy in our hearts.
Living lightly can be so much fun, and I don't understand how we're not all compelled to do everything we can to stop the genocide in Gaza.
Both living lightly and a green energy transition seem important now, and that seems to be what works for me. Yes, and...
Something that would make so much sense would be solidarity between those who want peace and the environmental crowd. They're so linked and we'd be able to do so much more if we worked hand in hand.
Let me tell you about CODEPINK's War Is Not Green campaign, which is working toward that very aim, especially from the climate angle. CODEPINK is a 20+ year-old peace group founded after George W. Bush began declaring the "terror threat level" in color. Through satirical and serious actions, this feminist organization has continued to see how naked the emperor is.... We want to expose the horror of the environmental damage of military bases and the global climate consequences the consumption of fossil fuels by the U.S. military and its allies. https://www.codepink.org/wing
Appreciate this. 100% with you on using less, consuming less. Late stage capitalism and its consume at all costs be they environmental or human, shows us the error of thinking more is better. To what end? Who suffers, who sacrifices, who serves? We keep believing we have to tackle the whole instead of thinking what small things each of us can do to reverse damage. There’s something genuinely pleasing in moving about this world with the intention of always making a smaller footprint. Our every day choices determine the world we have. I think we need to rediscover what the idea of sacrifice means. Are we willing to do so for a better future? Thank you for this work. ❤️
So glad you appreciated it, SHR! Thanks for saying so.
I appreciate this very much. We take far more from this home than we return to it, except waste that is. We need to be less, in more ways than one. Thank you for your post!
You're welcome Eric! Yep, we need to practice more reciprocity in our relationships for sure.
Sometimes I look around at so much of the "sustainability" rhetoric that's just about re-engineering the status quo and covering it with green paint, and say, "But how come nobody is talking about simply consuming less?" The overemphasis on green energy, green technology--greenwashed consumption--is missing the point: they key is to consume less. Thank you for keeping this conversation alive.
Thanks Andrea, you hit the nail on the head.
I think that a lot of people simply don't know how much damage our consumption causes. For example, they think electric vehicles are cool, but they don't know that mining lithium for the batteries will destroy habitat, habitat that in many cases was left alone safe until now. Or they don't realize that solar arrays in the desert kill wildlife, including the Desert Tortoise. It's all very human-centric.
It's true! The real cost of consumption is conveniently whisked away from view. I'm continually curious about how to bring it to the attention of consumers in a way that makes a lasting impact.
You’ve given my broken heart some ease. Beautifully discerning. Thank you. Thank you for providing an alternative to despair that is not just sprinkling it with saccharine. (Or Stevia or agave.)
I'm glad to hear that, Annie! You're very welcome. And I wrote it as a reminder to myself too, just so you know.
I'm obsessed with this very issue--the ways we talk about what is possible or impossible and what drives those beliefs. When we assert something is impossible, we're just helping that be true. And I appreciate your friend's perspective on hope = enthusiasm.
Very helpful framing, thank you!
Kollibri, thank you for this. Positive outlooks are much needed at present. I do feel that there is something inside us that 'knows' another world is possible/doable. It's not a belief which for me is just a thought but it's actually something more visceral. I've written about this in my article here. https://vincentmcmahon.substack.com/p/the-lightness-of-change-a-pathway
I like that article a lot. I shared it. Thanks much!
I believe another world is possible, and think we need to do all we can to bring it about, and with joy in our hearts.
Living lightly can be so much fun, and I don't understand how we're not all compelled to do everything we can to stop the genocide in Gaza.
Both living lightly and a green energy transition seem important now, and that seems to be what works for me. Yes, and...
Something that would make so much sense would be solidarity between those who want peace and the environmental crowd. They're so linked and we'd be able to do so much more if we worked hand in hand.
Let me tell you about CODEPINK's War Is Not Green campaign, which is working toward that very aim, especially from the climate angle. CODEPINK is a 20+ year-old peace group founded after George W. Bush began declaring the "terror threat level" in color. Through satirical and serious actions, this feminist organization has continued to see how naked the emperor is.... We want to expose the horror of the environmental damage of military bases and the global climate consequences the consumption of fossil fuels by the U.S. military and its allies. https://www.codepink.org/wing