I’ve already blogged my driving resolution to death (and once my driving log template is complete I will add it to my sidebar and it can be blogged into the afterlife) but I also made a few other environmental resolutions this year.
* I’m not allowed to use paper cups anymore. If I don’t have an insulated mug with me, I have to either drink my beverage at the coffee shop or go without. Tough titties.
* Ditto for canvas bags when I go shopping. If I don’t have one with me I have to carry my groceries in my arms or put them in my purse. This is only when I am shopping by myself. I won’t impose my weird rule on my friends. (On a side-note, my favorite Kyoto-oriented law in Ireland was the plastic bag tax. If you needed a bag at ANY store in Ireland, you had to bring your own or pay a 5 cent tax. So simple, and yet EVERYONE used canvas bags, or their purses or hands. I got such a kick out of seeing big tough dudes walking down the street carrying a carton of milk and some grapes.)
* Stop using paper towels in public bathrooms. I am actually shaky on the sterility of this choice, and I’d love to be educated. But I feel like the shake vigorously/wipe hands on pants approach is sufficient and doesn’t waste paper. Is this gross? Please let me know. This has, strangely, been the hardest resolution to keep so far.
* Cook at home more. Okay, this isn’t exactly an environmental goal as much as a financial one, but it does have a relationship. When I cook myself I use mostly local, organic produce. Most restaurants don’t. So eating in has a positive environmental impact. And if I eat out less, I can afford to go to nicer places that DO use local, organic stuff.
That’s pretty much it. 2006 is the year for weird/silly environmental goals for me, I guess. I know I’d be making a much bigger impact if I stopped driving altogether, composted regularly, had a vegetable garden, did more activist work, gave more money to sweet non-profits, etc, etc, etc. Maybe that will happen in 2007. Baby steps, you know?
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bathroom paper towels resolution does seem pretty weird.
i don’t know about grossness but i often do the shake-off and then wipe hands on pants when there are only paper towells. it seems like a big waste to me. maybe, you could carry canvas bags for that too? to dry hands on?
this looks like a good list. this is so much better than my “no more cookies! ever!” resolution. pretty impossible.
Aw, you are SO Portland. :-)
Willow, I read your resolution on the transport site, but just wanted to add a comment that didn’t feel serious enough for them: have you tried to carry less teacher-stuff home with you? As a fellow first grade teacher, I know the temptation, but it may be worth spending a bit more time at school so you don’t have to shlep it. Then it’s easier to use some of the transportation alternatives. (And remember, if it’s too hard to leave it there every day, just do it once a week…baby steps are still progress!)
If you start a grass roots movement to instate a plastic bag tax, I will SO be with you on that! In Germany, you’re charged for plastic bags, so everyone brings their own. I get a lot of weird looks in the grocery store with my plastic bin… but I get weird looks all the time, so whatever.
Good goals!!!
Thanks, Momcat, you’re right. I should leave more of my schoolwork at school. Not only would it help with my transportation goals, it would also not spoil my weekends! As a new teacher it’s hard to leave school at school, but for my sanity I’m going to have to figure out how to do it!
European, I would totally be into a grassroots bag campaign! I don’t really know how to go about it though! :)
Momcat is my mama, btw! She is a web-savvy lady.