I watched a documentary today on someone called "The No Impact Man".
A lot of what he said was REALLY inspirational and didn't seem too far fetched.
There are a few that I want to try that I'm going to list here and would like to here peoples opinions...
1. Giving up toilet paper/tissues/kitchen paper toweling. I already use 100% recycled non-bleached versions of this stuff but there is still heaps of water used in the production so I'm going to move from toilet paper to a damp cotton cloth (if you think it's unhygienic think about it... You're wiping yourself with paper. How is this THAT much different?) which I'll obviously wash between uses; a handkerchief instead of tissues and not going to buy paper toweling anymore but just stick with the biodegradable (it's cotton and hemp) wash cloth.
2. Stop buying cleaning products. I only buy Earth's Choice at the moment but it is still creating waste and the plastic isn't recyclable truly (he explained in the documentary that no plastic is truly recyclable as it breaks down until it creates toxic waste each time it's processed). Instead I'm going to use a mixture of bi-carb soda (packaged in recycled paper); vinegar (sourced from a drum at a co-op near by) and lemon juice. I'm going to keep the spray bottle I've currently got and just refill that each time.
3. Only buying local, non-packaged ingredients. I'm trying to stay within 500 kilometers of where I live. I already buy only Australian grown fruit and veg but I'm talking EVERYTHING I eat (so no more eating out) including tofu which can no longer be prepacked (I've found a place that makes their own and has it in big vats that they chop up and put in a container that you can keep reusing).
4. Not using a clothes-washer/dishwasher anymore. I'm going to wash by hand in cold water everything and just let my clothes soak through out the day before hand washing at night. Same deal with the products I'm going to use (I've got like 6 months of Earth's Choice washing powder stored though...).
5. No more automobile transport. I'm going to bike/run/walk everywhere I possibly can. Obviously the occasional long trip is different but otherwise. No more automobile (I don't drive but I do bus around in Canberra).
6. Minimize on lighting. Use locally made organic candles where I can and only use my computer for an hour a day. Oh, and no more TV.
7. Give up disposables. No more disposable razors, deodorants, shampoo, conditioner etc. Once I've run out of razor blades I'm going to learn how to use an "old fashioned" blade with soap (local and organic); deodorant I'm going to stick with the crystal (they last for 12 months and are just a rock salt basically after that onto bi-carb); shampoo etc I'm going to just use the same soap as my body. Toothpaste/brush I've got a few environmental toothbrushes (they're made from bamboo) stocked up which will last for awhile and then just bi-carb and water for toothpaste.
8. No new clothes. I'm not going to buy new clothes until they're falling off me.
9. No more "wasted" electricity. No more lifts when there are stairs, no escalators when there are stairs etc.
I already do a lot of other things like composting; "navy showers"; yellow it's mellow brown flush it down; veganism (no dah!) but I REALLY want to see how far I can take this before it overtly negatively impacts my life.
If you can think of anything else let me know! I'm very open minded about giving it a try! Also I'm SURE that some other things will occur to me which I'll add to this post...
sounds like an interesting project, i'd like to see how it works out.
But dont beat yourself up if you cant stick to it.
I always say that if your animal rights/ environmental tactics would be best achieved by killing yourself then you need to change tactics.
I suggest that if you want to use resources (which is always destructive) try to give back to your land base.
Reducing your carbon footprint hey. A suggestion (just for personal record interests): from the moment you wake up, record everything that you do/use/eat etc and then go through the list at the end of the day and figure out what you could have done differently. Obviously it's better to do one of these lists on one of your more active days.
But it's the simple stuff that you never realise: like washing your hands after the loo- where'd the water come from? Using the computer: the electricity needed, the parts used to make it... etc.
I also have a couple of psych tips for you... at least I think I did, where's your blog:
4. Not using a clothes-washer/dishwasher anymore.
Even though you are saving on some of the energy. If you have one of those energy-efficient washers, then it might even work out to be more reserving if you just bulk wash your clothes once a week or every two weeks, or what have you. (Obviously i'm only assuming what your hand-washing skills are like here)
5. No more automobile transport.
Public transport will always be fine, because if you think about it: those busses/trains/etc will keep on truckin' whether you are personally on it or not. So you can use the system whilst being environmentally conscious. And if you were to ever take a car- then car pooling is the way for the future.
6. Minimize on lighting.
Just for health reasons: ask if the wicks have lead in them? I shouldn't think so if it is an organic shop. But it is quite common to find. And you know the usual power saver tip, i'm sure- turn off anything you're not using, or anything on standby (that little red light on your tv set, for example).
7. Give up disposables.
This one's for me- do let me know where you get that shaving blade from please =) And a beauty tip, for anyone interested. It is better for your skin to use a soap-free wash. It overides anything with soap, even organic (Or so I'm informed).
8. No new clothes.
Op shop.
9. No more "wasted" electricity. No more lifts when there are stairs, no escalators when there are stairs etc.
The escalator system is the same as the bus: it's going with or without you. But the idea is nice for your physical status. Something that you will start to notice- the wasted energy used in major shopping centres. Or any shopping centre for that thought.
I have a question for you (pure curiousity here):
Why are you doing this?
Reducing your carbon footprint hey. A suggestion (just for personal record interests): from the moment you wake up, record everything that you do/use/eat etc and then go through the list at the end of the day and figure out what you could have done differently. Obviously it's better to do one of these lists on one of your more active days.
But it's the simple stuff that you never realise: like washing your hands after the loo- where'd the water come from? Using the computer: the electricity needed, the parts used to make it... etc.
I also have a couple of psych tips for you... at least I think I did, where's your blog:
4. Not using a clothes-washer/dishwasher anymore.
Even though you are saving on some of the energy. If you have one of those energy-efficient washers, then it might even work out to be more reserving if you just bulk wash your clothes once a week or every two weeks, or what have you. (Obviously i'm only assuming what your hand-washing skills are like here)
5. No more automobile transport.
Public transport will always be fine, because if you think about it: those busses/trains/etc will keep on truckin' whether you are personally on it or not. So you can use the system whilst being environmentally conscious. And if you were to ever take a car- then car pooling is the way for the future.
6. Minimize on lighting.
Just for health reasons: ask if the wicks have lead in them? I shouldn't think so if it is an organic shop. But it is quite common to find. And you know the usual power saver tip, i'm sure- turn off anything you're not using, or anything on standby (that little red light on your tv set, for example).
7. Give up disposables.
This one's for me- do let me know where you get that shaving blade from please =) And a beauty tip, for anyone interested. It is better for your skin to use a soap-free wash. It overides anything with soap, even organic (Or so I'm informed).
8. No new clothes.
Op shop.
9. No more "wasted" electricity. No more lifts when there are stairs, no escalators when there are stairs etc.
The escalator system is the same as the bus: it's going with or without you. But the idea is nice for your physical status. Something that you will start to notice- the wasted energy used in major shopping centres. Or any shopping centre for that thought.
I have a question for you (pure curiousity here):
Why are you doing this?
Hey!
The list sounds like a cool idea. I'll definitely do one of those; I don't plan to implement them all at once but get going over a period of a month.
I buy my razors (my current disposables) from The Cruelty Free Shop and they're the Wally Razor and replacement blades. They're the only razors that I know off that are endorsed by PETA and that don't test on animals (like Gilette does).
I'm doing this because I can. I firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that if you can make a difference you should. I want to be the change that I want to see in the world.
I was happy reading that list! Because i already do almost all of that (yay)! Including number 5, which is really hard in Canberra! But lol i don't do one and i don't think i will any time soon lol..... i do use the recycled office paper toilet paper though.
