I do use toilet paper. Perhaps the fact that I have an environmental studies degree has made me a cynic and bitter about saving the environment. I respect what everyone does in their own houses to feel like they are helping the environment but those little things don’t allow me to sleep at night. I do bring my cloth shopping bags to the store, I do recycle (if it actually gets recycled is another story), I do shut off lights, I hang my clothes outside all year long, I haggle litterers and then pick up their trash, etc, etc. But I am an environmental cynic.

The problems are big business, the government, and consumer demand. It is my opinion that large scale environmental changes will not happen without the government and big businesses stepping in to take action. And with our current president nothing will be done. Hello, Kyoto Protocol? Our current smoking ban laws are proving to show that people are becoming less and less tolerant of smoking and that fewer people are starting to smoke.

I use rags and dishclothes….paper is expensive in Ukraine. I don’t want to waste money on paper towels.

Tags are cut up Christmas cards, and we just put them back in the tin box, because “the elves” always bring presents, Santa visits, and Mom give gifts to J-man and the daughter, etc.

Two years ago, I took it one step further. As my husband has only the use of one hand, I’ve started making Christmas bags with drawstrings or some other closure for him to receive his gifts, or wrap for us. Each year, I add more sewn bags. We’ve never given fabric-wrapped gifts outside the family, but I’m thinking we may start using simple fabric bags for that purpose as soon as I get enough made up. Maybe that will encourage our friends and family to start doing the same, and save the trees cut for wrapping paper.

And I’m sure that not using plastic bags is better than letting the dump burn them; I doubt they could possibly produce as much energy as it requires to produce them in the first place.

Glad to know that some dumps are doing that, though, for everybody that does use the plastic bags.

Unfortunately, it’s not a viable option for many people–especially those who don’t live in major metropolitan areas with extensive public-transportation systems.

Outside of big cities, most people in this country live in decentralized settings. Grocery stores, libraries, schools, places of worship, workplaces, etc., usually aren’t within walking distance of peoples’ homes. Sure, sometimes you can cobble together three or four bus routes to get where you’re going, but a one-way trip of ten miles could take two hours, and time has value, too. And in some places (where I live, for example) using public transportation can cost significantly more than owning a modest car that’s infrequently used.

Sure, people who don’t really need cars to get around (like a crazy friend of mine who insisted on owning–and paying to park!–a car while he was living in MANHATTAN!) should give serious thought to getting rid of them if they can. For those who are car-dependent, however, there are lots of other things they can do: choose smaller, fuel-efficient cars; consolidate trips; don’t use the air conditioner; use fuel-efficient driving techniques; share rides with others; etc. Yes, they are small things. But small things–that are meaningful–DO make a difference.

*It’s interesting to note that small-combustion engines (particularly home lawnmowers) generate far more greenhouse gases than automobiles. Manual reel push-mowers for everyone!