Going Green

Everywhere I look, the "Let's be earth-friendly movement" seems to be advertised. Disney Channel has its own song "Send It On" with tween stars Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and the Jonas Brothers. The message to "send it [the message to be environmentally friendly] on" is repeated throughout the song multiple times - repetition is key to remembering things. Even in fashion magazins such as Teen Vogue, there are eco-friendly beauty products, bags, and clothes advertised by celebrities. I wonder if these people actually care about the environment, or they like being advocates of such helpful movements and of course, being paid for the advertisements. I hope it's not the latter.

I'm quite enthusiastic about being environmentally friendly, but only to a certain extent. Yes, I recycle often and don't leave lights/running water on, but I probably won't be standing on the streets holding up "GO GREEN" signs during a protest. However, while waiting for my mother outside of Whole Foods the other day, I saw a group of people wandering around, asking for people to sign petitions and give donations to an environmental group foundation. As I saw these people, I asked myself - I wonder if they own anything made from animals/hides, or if they use animal-tested make-up/hair products. For me, I think that if you stand for environmental protection, then it's only fair that you protect the creatures of the environment, too - just my opinion.

But I digress. What I mean to say is that these environmental movements are slowly getting repetitive and annoying. Yes, I know it's important to conserve energy and not destroy the ozone layer anymore, but it's not going to happen suddenly. Over time, people will all come to realize how important it is to preserve the earth; but I don't believe in the idea that the world will dramatically end (especially anytime soon). It's true that one person can make a difference, but having protests and making people feel angry and creating tensions probably won't help the cause. Aren't there any other way to get the message across? I'm sure there are.

So, will I unplug the plugs that I don't need tonight? Yes.
Do I try not to use non-biodegradable styforoam objects? Yes.
Will I help to plant trees with Key Club this year? Yes.
Will I stop using automobile transportation alltogether? Probably not.

However, I definitely encourage you to initiate and incorporate any changes into your own daily lives - I commend you!!
Have any interesting ideas about the environment, and what we can do to help it? E-mail wwatcher21@yahoo.com.