Comments axis42 has made

  • Been thinking about it

    I read all of the insightful comments that came after mine yesterday and started thinking about this subject in earnest. Then I went to do some food shopping.

    Now, it is important to know that food shopping is not a light affair in my life. In fact, shopping in general is about more than spending money. I look at every single thing I buy and wonder if I need it enough (or want it enough) to justify the additons to the waste stream. I notice also, the other people around me and how easily they consume without regard for the planet (or so it seems to me). So, when I go shopping, I am aware of my impact already.

    Anyway, yesterday when I walked into the local Trader Joe's where they have pretty good quality staples for lower prices (because, unfortunately, I can not shop exclusively at my local co-op... it is just too expensive for me to do that) I looked even more closely at the packaging, the quality of the food and, more importantly at the origin of it all.

    Then I went to the co-op, a block away, and shopped for the things I have to get there (produce for sure and bulk items) and looked at the same things... I noticed that there are a lot more local choices there (obviously) but, unfortunately, most of those local choices are much more expensive than the larger scale organics (and I am talking everything from porduce to ice cream to cheese to beer). It occurs to me that if we are really wanting to force the market to provide for us in a fair way (based on economics) we should support locally grown and produced goods. And yet you all contend that simmply buying local isn't going to do it.

    Well what can I do then to make locally produced goods affordable for all because, dam it, rich white people like me are not the only ones who should have access to these goods, no matter how hard it is for small farmers to stay afloat. If not for their health, then for the health of the planet, because there are a lot more poor, folks at Wal-Mart than there are of you and me. And giving them the chance to eat well and locally will help the planet a heck of a lot more than if just you and me do it. no?On Big buyers make organic farmers feel smaller than ever posted 3 years, 3 months ago 25 Responses

  • man oh man

    First I gotta eat organic. Then I gotta fork over an arm and a leg to do so while I'm told to be patient because as organics penetrate the market, prices will drop. Then organics penetrate the market and I'm told that to be politically correct, I gotta keep paying (now artifically) high prices in order to help keep the little guy in business.

    I am ALL in favor of the little guy. I hate Wal-Mart, don't go into Whole Foods and shop at a local food co-op and am proud of it. When I remember on the right day, I go to the local weekly farmers market. I believe in eating locally produced foods as much as possible. I do all that because it's good for me and the planet and because I have a disposable income that allows me to do so.

    But you know what? The folks that shop at Wal-Mart because it's cheap and that's what they can afford, they're the little guy too. And because what they can afford right now is generally twinkies and frozen dinners chock full of fat and sugar, they have a higher incidence of diabetes and weight problems then the rich people like me who read Grist do (we're all rich compared to most of the country and you know it). Those folks should be able to afford to eat organicly (healthy) too.

    It's not a perfect world and I don't want my co-op to be overrun with organic tomoatoes from Chile since being shipped by massive boats spewing diesel hardly conforms to my idea of organic or my politcial ideals. But you guys, the price of organics has to come down. If not for my pocketbook (which is hardly bottomless) but for the health of the industry in the long term. And if the little, local guy can't do that, you've got to find another reason to charge the prices you feel you deserve and convince me and all the other people like me to do so.

    Your bottom line isn't going to do it for me, since I need to look out for mine at some point.On Big buyers make organic farmers feel smaller than ever posted 3 years, 3 months ago 25 Responses

  • Apprently, industries love this idea

    A friend who edits a major national advertising trade magazine told me that all sorts of companies are chomping at the bit to try out this type of marketing. Along with Chevy, Mastercard is pretty hot to trot too.

    He says the concept is that by "interacting" more closely with their products, a relationship will be built between consumers and the company.

    Which, if you think about it, makes sense. If those of us who are making the above-linked videos weren't green minded and thoughtful, but still interested in screwing around with the technology or looking at pretty pictures of cars, Chevy would have had all of us staring at their products (not to mention thier logos) for free. Add to that the "cool" commercials some are making and sending to their friends and you have a lot of viral marketing going on.

    It's a sad thing, but let's remember that most people in this country aren't conscious of global warming or anything outside of themselves and their little worlds and are willing to do anything that looks like it might be fun on the Web. So all Chevy has to do is post this site, get the word out on a few choice Car-oriented bulliten boards and bam! you've got Chevy commercials being made for free and emailed around the Web. Pay one guy to watch for anything anti-chevy and to remove as fast as possible and it's probably worth it.

    Pathetic, huh? (maybe one of us should get hired as the person who watches for anti-chevy stuff!)On Make your own Chevy Tahoe commercial posted 3 years, 8 months ago 47 Responses

  • Just put in bamboo

    I just put in bamboo floors and let me say for the record that they are gorgeous, supposed to be long lasting and sustainable!

    I went to the Environmental Home Center here in Seattle (environmentalhomecenter.com) and purchased EcoTimber Bamboo (ecotimber.com). They raise their bamboo on farms in China making it sustainable, and pay their employees fair wages, provide them with housing and health care and generally do things right. Look into them.
    On Umbra on flooring options posted 3 years, 9 months ago 7 Responses

  • Oh good god.

    While I laud the person who wrote this letter for his intention to live a green life, I have to wonder why Umbra is answering this question. Isn't it Umbra who freaks out every once in a while about people focusing on the little things instead of asking her questions about big, world changing things we could be doing.

    Video games are big and world changing?

    PLEASE, Grist, Umbra, someone, PLEASE get some consistency down there and decide what is okay to send in to ask about. I mean, is it okay for me to ask you questions about issues and choices I face in my life everyday, or is the choice to re-use or recycle my office products too small for you?On Umbra on video games posted 3 years, 10 months ago 2 Responses