apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

$2000 for a 9.22 cubic foot Italian fridge?
No thanks.

The "passing trend" of green - it's a lot of work to be sure. There's always the promotion of it, and then someone uncovers the lies. There's also the compromising - I do this much, but my neighbor does more, should I feel ok about that or how much more do I need to put myself out before it's just inconvenient or expensive? Is being green a competition, like other housekeeping and entertaining?

I have learned a lot just by reading comments on AT. I strive - to replace the old crummy furniture I've had for ages with long-lasting non-junk, but the old stuff had its day and gotta go. I recycle. I don't own a car. I'm trying to put my gear in order and replace the cleaners I was using with eco-friendly ones. I'm relieved that I like Ecover as much as Dawn, but an article linked above is part of the "green overload". You've gone green and it's still hazardous! Same with the lightbulbs. Dilemmas about the more right thing to do today really wear people out. When you're doing your best and realize it's all been some sort of lie (I guess called "greenwashing"?) kind of makes a lot of people say fuck it.

I do remember the last big wave of eco-consciousness in the late 80s and early 90s when I was in college, when everyone got plastic water bottles and were encouraged to purchase plastic reusable beverage mugs, and that was really before I saw a lot of bottled water to begin with. Bottled water caught on (but nobody liked it and eventually added flavors), and limited but not enforced recycling persisted everywhere I've lived on the east coast in the last 15-20 years. Not so much with the reusable bags except in the last year. The building where I work does not supply paper recycling. All our soda bottles go to housekeeping, but that's for the deposit, they won't take your water bottles. Styrofoam is used with abandon in every sandwich shop and cafeteria in the walkable vicinity from my office. There are certainly people who are too bothered to bother, and people who decide to give up and ignore it.

Yes, it is a fad because it poses obstacles. Some people do it to be groovy and feel good about themselves and make an exhibit of themselves. Some of the obstacles are put there by choosing products that aren't genuinely green and feeling betrayed by denying yourself what you really wanted. Time-consuming to research everything to be sure. There's another philosophy in the world that something's going to kill you, but it's probably not going to be this water bottle or that dish soap. You're a being in the world, and you can isolate yourself and insulate yourself from the dangers of dependency on others to supply you with your needs, but that's no guarantee of your safety. Take a chance!

Also, steep and pretty fridge!

I said it before and I'll say it again: dr. Bronner's for all your household washing needs.

okay buying a contraption to store plastic bags definitely defeats the purpose of re-using them in the first place.

ideas like that are why it might almost be a good thing if the go green attitude fades ever so slightly.
the media and companies are going way overboard.

1. if you have not taken basic biology, you miss the entire point of 'green.' it's easy to find a course. biology is where the rubber meets the road. if it does not sustain and nurture--not just sustain--life, it is not green.

2. paper bag holder made of metal...madness, in 'green' terms.

3. olga, many thanks for repeating the dr. bronner news. they have a great website. i may have to switch now.

4. keep this up. good discussion, thanks AT.