MARCH 12, 2006
Every
day you and I can do something to make a difference in the quality of the life of the planet. The gesture may be as grand as installing solar panels on the house or purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle, or refusing to buy cotton grown conventionally instead of organically, or it may be a gesture of kindness in the community.
It is often the simple gesture in life that turns one's life around, if that simple gesture becomes habit. Habits can have a great effect on the whole especially if we all were to adopt certain environmentally responsible habits.
What is an environmentally responsible habit?
- If you smoke, not throwing your cigarette butts on the ground.
- If you drink water use a reusable container rather than always buying a new plastic bottle.
- If you brush your teeth using a non-toxic toothpaste.
- If you dispose of your waste in a responsible manner you use non-chlorine bleached toilet paper.
- Buy compact fluorescents for home us.
- Purchase food grown locally.
Each of this need to be habituated; that is getting in the habit and repeat the habit.
Here is a habit that can help your surroundings, your neighborhood to look cleaner overnight. Can you imagine if everyone picked up one piece of trash a day? No more litter in our streets and the exercise would reduce the waistlines of millions. Sounds simple, is simple, but who stoops to pick a piece of trash a day?
There is an old African American spiritual that goes something like this: "You gotta jump down, run around pick a bale a cotton, jump down run around pick a bale a day." That work crippled even the strongest of men, but all of us can take responsibility for that which we see in our own neighborhoods.
"We've got to bend down pick a piece a trash a day, bend down pick up a piece a day - only one, but every day and the beauty of our world would improve over-night. Try it, you will like. And yes it is a band-aid, but sometimes getting in the habit helps promote systemic change.
--Peter