Comments on: Going Green

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Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:17:04 +0000

[...] Can't tell you how proud I am, writing down things I don't understand – Blair [...]

By: Bob McInnis

Bob McInnis — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:51:21 +0000

Julie, Thanks for the post. I used it as inspiration for my message this past Sunday. The 'go green movement" has picked up so much steam that the environmentalists and enviro organizations that I support are becoming irrelevant with their current missions. Seems like they may need to reevaluate their place just like so many churches are doing.

I concluded that it doesn't matter how we change our behaviours unless we " Love God and love people" and allow that worldview to impact our actions, it isn't sustainable. We will continue to steal from our neighbours, other creatures and future generations. As with so many questions about " how to think" or " how to act" it begins with how we love.

Thanks for the inspiration.

By: real live preacher

real live preacher — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:12:02 +0000

I say, count it as a cost (or sign) of growing awareness. Every reality has its cheesy easy side. But something has to be in our awareness first. I like that environmental issues are becoming a part of our culture – maybe this is a sign of it.

By: UTO

UTO — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:36:53 +0000

Wow. You know you hit it at the core. So much of what is wrong about the right causes that are championed are how they are all about me. That is sort of the whole thing Jesus calls us to get over–it being all about me. Great post, Made me think!

By: mel

mel — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:33:26 +0000

That thing about organic has driven me crazy for years! It really pushes my buttons when media doesn't even address the impact food production has on the earth when they're deciding the essential items for organic.

I don't suppose any of those magazines hopping on the green wagon mentioned the single biggest (and most necessary) lifestyle change we could adopt to make a real impact: STOP consuming so much? No? I didn't think so.

By: Matt Scott

Matt Scott — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:37:40 +0000

I run up against this kind of mentality all of the time. People can't quite seem to understand that when I talk about eating organically (as you said) I'm not just trying to eat healthier, or when I talk about energy conservation, they think I'm just trying to save money. While both of these results are great bonuses (except eating organically somewhat cancels out the monetary bonus of reducing energy expenditures) they really can't grasp the fact that they're secondary.

We live in a world all about personal benefit, so when something counter-cultural to that idea comes up it must be quite confusing for the adherents of the old philosophy.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:19:34 +0000

I so hear you on this one!! We've been in the process of going green in our home over the past year and a half and that's what it is- a process. I think what bothers me, on top of the ongoing theme of "me" and serving self, in these articles is the "easy" mentality. The whole "in 5 easy steps you can ease your conscious while making little sacrifice"((rolls eyes)). Not to say that martyrdom is the answer but these articles feed in to this mindset of the "easy" way. Want to save the earth? Press "RED easy" button HERE…….

By: Rachel H. Evans

Rachel H. Evans — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:07:40 +0000

Great post. Anyone who doubts that materialism and commercialism are forces to be reckoned with need only look to the magazine racks.

This sort of reminds me of the Red campaign, launched by Bono and Oprah. The idea is that you buy cool shirts and cell phones and shoes, and a percentage of the profit goes to help fight AIDS. (I wanted one of the t-shirts, but couldn't bring myself to fork out the 40 bucks…My husband pointed out that we could make a direct donation and make a bigger impact with the same amount of money.)

However, I can hardly blame charitable organizations for taking advantage of consumerism. If it helps clean up the environment, help an AIDS orphan, or shelter the homeless…why not? If materialism is the inevitable vice of our time, perhaps it makes sense to take advantage of it.

Again, great post.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:51:17 +0000

Your post reminds me of the one magazine I'm always tempted by at the grocery checkout — Real Simple. But from what I've seen flipping through it, real simple usually involves some real expensive gizmo or gadget. I don't think a publication that pays the bills through advertising can be relied on to tell us much of use about simplifying our lives or living "green" for that matter.

By: josh

josh — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:13:47 +0000

i agree with what you're saying. but my larger comment has to do with the horrible quality of magazines at the baby doctor's office. i was there for 45 minutes and just about jumped through a window. i would have killed for a highlights magazine.