Join Me: Low Impact Month of January

Americans are consumers. Just look at the rhetoric that surrounds the current economic crisis. We have the opportunity to reevalute as a society what our values are and to restructure our economic system so that it is more responsible (environmentally and socially) as well as more sustainable (because let's face it, an ever-increasing cycle of production-and-consumption has to crash at some point). But instead, we're concerned with how much people are spending.

However, we can each make a difference individually by our consumption habits, which is why I am inviting anyone and everyone to join me in a month of responsible consumption for January 2010. This doesn't have to be huge: it's as much about making yourself more aware of your spending as it is about anything concrete. So join me. I'd love the company.

I'm hoping to go big here - or maybe more aptly labeled "go really small" - but that isn't necessary for you. You can make a difference in your consumption patterns and your awareness just by working on one element of you consumption for a month.

You could commit to any or all of the following:

• Not buying anything besides basic groceries



• Bringing your own bag to the grocery store



• Bringing your own reusable cup to your favorite coffee shop



• Recycling more - not just cans and bottles - recycle those items you don't use anymore by taking them to FISH (or other local charities) or joining Freecycle.



• Along those same lines, recycle electronic goods. Computers can go to Computer Corps.



• Carpooling/biking/walking as much as possible



• Buying only shade-grown, fair-trade coffee beans



• Turning off lights when not in a room



• Turning off your computer when it's not in use



• Unplugging electrical items and/or cords when not actually using them



• Buy only used items



• Choose products that are more responsible - less packaging, American made (less energy in shipping with strong labor laws) - or made by conscientious companies as suggested by Responsible Companies.Com



• Not buying fast food



• Using cloth napkins



• Put a stop to your junk mail



• Buy only from eco-friendly co-ops like this one



• Volunteer in a community clean-up activity



• Volunteer for a local organization that promotes environmentally or socially responsible behavior, such as Muscle Powered; a local charity, such as Advocates to End Domestic Violence; or a national organization, such as Grassroots Recycling Network. (I'll talk more about this later, but much of our consumption habits come from shopping being a hobby. Finding other, more meaningful activites to engage us promotes more responsible consumption.)
  


• Buy organic whenever possible



• Eating vegetarian a couple times a week



• Buy from local artisans, especially for gifts



• Get others involved. Kids love projects, so consider getting a child to commit to one of the above with you and make it a fun family project.

Got any other ideas? Let me know about them.