An Honest Confession About Being Green

On a scale of 1-10 for environmental consciousness and action (1 being someone who clubs baby seals for sport and drives from their garage to the end of the driveway to put out the trash, and 10 being someone who never showers to save water and eats meat only if its carrion) I would put myself at a 6. I am well aware of environmental policy issues (cap and trade, etc.), try to recycle when possible, bike when possible, turn off lights and appliances when possible, and even though it hurts like hell because its like sand paper, I often buy recycled toilet paper.

But there are tons of things I don't do. I actually lied. I drive a lot because it is so convenient, and because I am always late to things. I take long showers because hot water feels so nice. Sometimes at night I have bad dreams and then sleep with the lights on. I have an air conditioner, and eat all kinds of earth destroying fast food. I once strangled a panda to death.

This morning I read an article about how youth these days are part of a new Green Generation, where six-year-old kids are telling their Earth-hating-parents to unplug unused appliances. Then I read another article that says the Green Generation isn't very green at all. Then I read another article about how young professionals these days want to work for jobs that matter, i.e., environmental sustainability.

It seems to me that there a number of factors that contribute to the youth and young adult population being more environmentally conscious than previous generations, and there are also a number of factors I can think of that somewhat cancel out higher consciousness in the name of self convenience. Most people I know personally fall somewhere around a 5 or 6 on my completely arbitrary scale of environmental consciousness and action. Which makes me feel a little bit better about myself, though I feel shameful that that makes me feel better about myself. Where might you put yourself?

More to come.

-Tim