Sustainability
The Recycling Industry is TRASH
You've gathered a trove of plastic this week. Triumphantly, you parade over to your blue bin and plop it inside with a satisfying thwack. You dust your hands and pat yourself on the back - you're a good person; you care enough to recycle.
By Olivia L. Dobbs5 years ago in Earth
Artists can do better
There's something hugely exciting about a newly purchased sketchbook. It seems to offer unlimited hope and potential, opportunities and exploration. But all too often the pristine white pages of a new sketchbook stay exactly that way, often for months and even years, as the unused sketchbook gets added to the ever-increasing pile of other unused art supplies. As an emerging artist, I understand the deep need for my art supplies to become my closest companion and to be employed regularly to record, interact with, and document the world around me. I know undeniably that they are my best friend and faithful ally in providing the self care, mind distraction and creative expression my heart yearns for; but more often than I would care to mention, my stacks of unused art supplies have become elements of excessive clutter and unnecessary consumerism.
By Monique Green5 years ago in Earth
My GUPPYFRIEND
Finding ways to keep the earth clean and ways to stop the ozone layer from deteriorating has been important to me since the moment I dropped my iPod into the recycling liquids bucket in sixth grade. To be honest, it was not because my Apple product failed due to sticky mixed liquids but because the bucket was so full of liquids after children had not finished their juice or milk, only threw the plastic into the bin. I did not realize the impact that wish-recycling has on the recycling process but I ensured to finish my beverages from that day forward as I was disgusted.
By Tia Hendricks5 years ago in Earth
Bodies Of Water
My first step toward making waves of transformation was a scary one. I listened to my heart pound every night like the rhythm of the waves crashing violently on the beach as I lay in bed anticipating my new life adventure and leaving behind my old life as a carpenter and a painter. I began to recognize through the years, that this feeling was my aliveness coming to get me like a swinging trapeze bar, according to Danaan Parry in Warriors of the Heart.
By Arieal Pearl Healy5 years ago in Earth
You Start With The Middle Tray
My mother has excellent taste. While I would never admit that to her face, I'm sure there's no harm in confiding this well-kept family secret here on the internet. Ever since I was very small, she has consistently recommended what would become my favorite books, recipes, movies, TV shows, musicals, restaurants, day trips, and random experiences. Being a headstrong child, followed by an impossible teenager, and finally, a cheeky adult, each one of her recommendations has been met with a firm, "No thanks!" That is, until someone else offers their own acclaim.
By D M Alvarez5 years ago in Earth
The Economy of an Old Shirt
Consumerism is the fundamental divide between our current societal model and the bitter cries of our suffering planet. On an individual level, each time we opt out of buying something new to suit our need or perhaps greed, we spare our vote to cast another day.
By Samantha Joy5 years ago in Earth
"Build it and they will come"
This morning as I sat on my back patio looking around at the back garden drinking a coffee, a butterfly almost landed on my head. How delightful that sensation was once I had got over the initial shock response! I watched it fly away and cross the path of two other butterflies in the process. As I reflected on the growing number of insects I have been seeing in my garden lately I was reminded of a conversation that I had with my sister yesterday. Somehow the conversation got around to the praying mantis egg case that I had discovered before and after hatching. She commented on how lucky I am to have that happen in my very own garden and told me that her husband’s brother had just bought a praying mantis egg case because he couldn’t seem to attract them to his garden. She asked me what I was doing that I thought might be helping them thrive in my garden. The truth is that I am not really sure. I think that a garden is such a complex system with such an abundance of variables that it’s hard to isolate one or two things that make a difference, but here are the things I think are making a difference.
By Jane Grows Garden Rooms 5 years ago in Earth
It's been 13 years, where's Wall-E?
In 2008 the world was gifted an incredible film by the name of, Wall-E. The premise being; humans have left earth hundreds of years of years ago leaving behind; thousands of "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class" aka "Wall-E". Wall-e's are robots designed to help clean up the earth for us. We currently have some machines, that are kind of like Wall-e except they're in the ocean. Which I love and appreciate, but I want wall-e!
By Dyllon Rodillon5 years ago in Earth
Sustainability is Like Learning Math
I write as my recent laundry load is swaying in the early afternoon sun - hang-drying as the water slowly evaporates into the warm air. Below, my plant babies extend their limbs & leaves to maximize surface area for photosynthesis. Bees buzz in the distance. And above, my hummingbird feeder hangs as a popular brunch spot for thirsty guests. Sitting at my desk I take a drink of water - *ahhh* life is good as I too quench my thirst, but not from a toxic plastic bottle - rather from my reusable bottle.
By Sustainable Shane5 years ago in Earth
