Cultural Creatives

Are you culturally creative????

I don't know about this one. The questions seem loaded. Every questions seems completely reasonable. It's a perfect example of my ideal self in a way. If I dont necessarily act on each of the topics, I at least feel that way so it is hard for me not to agree with everything in the questionnaire.

Showing Some Improvement

I'll start off by saying I havent done anything too significant, but I guess its better than nothing. Living and acting sustainably is difficult, and takes some serious planning. I can do things like turn off my computer when im not using it, and using my own grocery bags, etc. But how much does that really do in a week? In the next few weeks I would like to make a more long term plan for a better lifestyle which could potentially have a bigger impact on my carbon footprint than some of the minor things I first took not of.
And on to the small things. I have actually been turning off my computer everytime I leave the house and no longer use it. Lights is another thing. In the past when I was feeling lazy I would fail to turn off the lights when I leave the room. Not anymore! I;m not sure if its becasue I feel like I'm saving the planet, or becasue I knew that if I did I would be able to brag about it in my blog. Either way I have been good about lights. I still need to buy a nifty reusable grocery bag, but I did take our houses years worth of plastic bags that we have accumulated to the Haggen recycling box. Not sure what they do with them, but hopefully it is not entail dumping them in a landfill. I usually ride my bike whenever I get the chance, but I havent for the last few months becasue I lost my bike lock. I bought a new one and am now riding my bike whenever possible as an alternative to driving.
I convinced my boss at the restaurant I work at to become a member of Sustainable Connections. In the long run I think it should be good. We now have posters and stickers up in the kitchen encouraging employees to be conscious of their waste habits. Reminders to recycle, use less water by running the dish washer only when absolutely necessary. In the long run, we are now part of an organization which promotes eating local/organic, so I hope to see the restaurant buying better food products, etc.
Thats about all!

The Other Side of the Story

An organic farmer’s perspective on the meat/climate change debate

http://www.eartheasy.com/blog/2009/08/an-organic-farmer%E2%80%99s-perspective-on-the-meatclimate-change-debate/

I found this article on Eartheasy.com, which seems like a really cool website. Check it out, explore a little, because I think there are some really interesting and possibly helpful tips for people trying to reduce their carbon footprint!
This article seems relevant to some of the issues some of the carnivorous students had with the ecological footprint calculator.
Let me know what you think!

Learing about my lifestyle

Last week I calculated my ecological footprint. many activities impact one's "footprint," and I found that if everyone lived the way I did, we would need 3.9 planet Earths to provide enough resources. This obviously means that I am not living sustainably.

The consumption category which contributes to my footprint the most are services (51%).

To support my lifestyle, it would take 17.4 global acres of the Earth's productive area. (Energy land comprises the majority of it).

Commitments:
1.) I will turn off my computer when I am not using it.
2.) I will shower once per day (I usually take one in the morning and one after working out)
3.) I will use my bike as my dominant means of transportation. (I drive to work. In the warmer days I will bike, and on colder days take the bus).