Being a good green blogger, I asked, “A plastic bottle?”

My Dad looked at me oddly. (Granted, the water bottle was not the point of the story, the nine-inch-across bear track was.) “I was probably being more ‘green’ than you are because I was eating the clean snow right from where it was!”

He laughed and I frowned. “You know you could get a good stainless steel container that you could keep with you for cheap.”

“I know, I have a thermos for my coffee!”

“Yes, Dad, but I mean for your water too.”

“But how would you refill it?” my brother piped in. “You can just take a couple of extra plastic bottles with you but what would you refill the steel container with?”

“A sink?!” I said.

This is a typical conversation with my family. My father does not believe that global warming/the climate crisis is a fact. He firmly believes that it is put out by the left wing media to… but I digress.

I am not a political animal, Internet, I’m really not. What I am is an artist and a philosopher. I think about specific circumstances, dilemmas of the individual, and personal solutions. I happen to firmly think that no change can come about unless individuals decide to change. And while, yes, you can influence people en mass in media platforms (like blogging), political change and the like, I don’t write for the masses. I write for YOU (yes, you, switching tabs in your web browser between this and MSN’s Wonderwall).

So, for those individuals who happen to believe that the climate crisis is a ploy by the <insert group here> to <insert dire and horrible controlling action here>, I want to ask you: Does it matter?

Does it matter if the scientists and liberal media et alii are wrong and the climate is just doing its thing? What would be wrong with conserving your (I’m assuming) hard earned money and the resources we have? Abundant or otherwise, shouldn’t we wisely use as little as comfortably possible so we do not tax our resources unnecessarily and spend more of our personal resources (time, money, energy) than necessary to live a comfortable life?

I guess my point is here at Green Your Apartment, I do not advocate any political party or agenda. I hope you have learned to think for yourself and have your own opinions.

What I use Green Your Apartment to advocate is ways to, yes, save our natural resources, but also ways to save your time and money. Ways to enhance your life instead of dampening the senses. Ways to set you free of harsh (and unnecessary) chemicals, expensive habits, and wasteful modern mindsets that fly in the face of pre-20th century thinking. To live well and tread lightly.

So Dad, if you’re reading this, don’t be surprised if you find a BPA-free, stainless steel water bottle like Kleen Kanteen’s 40-ouncer in with your Chanukuah or Christmas presents this year – I don’t think anyone will doubt who it’s from. While I respect your opinions, please just use the damn bottle so I won’t dream of its disposable plastic counterparts choking our landfills and littering our forests. And Mom, I swear it’ll save you at least $20 a month on groceries. (I knew you’d like that!)

EDIT: 9 Dec 09

I have been informed that canteens do indeed exist at my parents house and plastic water bottles are rarely used. I will still be razzing my father about using them and I’m sure he’ll come back with some witty, smart aleck response that I will roll my eyes at. Ah, the family dynamics.

And my Mom would like the record straight: only $5.99 a month is spent on bottled water, if that. Consider the record straight.

Happy drinking!

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It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

I am asking you to participate in this global statement. On March 29th, 2008 at 8 pm in your local time zone, turn off all the lights and electrical equipment for one hour. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same and see what a difference the flick of a switch and one hour can make.

To declare your participation, go to EarthHour.org.

Do you?

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