Well change is inevitable, but where do you start. Do I change the products I use? How do I achieve Green? I have always believed that in order to accomplish anything you must set a goal. Something that is measurable and attainable.
Where do we start? Google is as good a place as any! Typing in “go green” returned over 226,000,000 keyword hits or around 83 pages of results.
But after looking at a few of the sites I still don’t have a definition. Yes there are sites on light bulbs, heaters, windmills, car, organic food, but nothing on how to go green and when do you arrive.
Trying this from a different angle, will use Wikipedia! Typing in "go green" returned some excerpts from my search.
Wikipedia returns: "Environmentalism can also be defined as a social movement which seeks to influence the political process by lobbying, activism, and education in order to protect natural resources and ecosystems. In recognition of humanity as a participant in ecosystems, the environmental movement is centered on ecology, health, and human rights."
So does Environmentalism mean to "go green", must be something here so let's look a little deeper into the Wikipedia article. Three definitions of "Green".
Light Greens see protecting the environment first and foremost as a personal responsibility. They fall in on the reformist end of the spectrum introduced above, but light Greens do not emphasize environmentalism as a distinct political ideology, or even seek fundamental political reform.
Dark Greens believe that environmental problems are an inherent part of industrialized "capitalism", and seek "radical" political change.
Bright Greens. This group believes that radical changes are needed in the economic and political operation of society in order to make it sustainable, but that better designs, new technologies and more widely distributed social innovations are the means to make those changes. Ross Robertson writes, "[B]right green environmentalism is less about the problems and limitations we need to overcome than the "tools, models, and ideas" that already exist for overcoming them. It forgoes the bleakness of protest and dissent for the energizing confidence of constructive solutions.
We now have a definition or three to be exact. Light, Dark, or Bright seem to be our choices on how to go green. I have in my short lifetime seen many changes with most revolving around the development and use of new technologies. The new technologies have slowed the need for new power plants, improved farming, advanced medical break throughs, defined new ways of transportation, and shown us how to conserve. So I like the Bright green.
So let's see if any companies are onboard "How to Go Green".
In another article from Wikipedia: "Green Companies are companies which act, or claim to act, in a way which minimizes damage to the environment. As global warming continues apace and becomes an increasingly "hot" topic amongst world governments, more and more companies in the USA and abroad are doing their part to become environmentally more responsible or "green". Companies such as apple have showed some steps towards moving to a greener production environment by phasing out dangerous chemicals and other such materials."
Well it seems we have two views; conservation can be achieved through technological with the development of new and better products and protection of the environment through education, information and the wise use of current product, and better laws and tax incentives to enhance conservation.
Now we have a base to stand on. So how do we know what products or services to use? It seems the next article in "how to go green" will involve the concept and definition of what a "carbon footprint" is and its effects on the environment.
Until Tomorrow.
See Wikipedia, Environmentalism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism (as of Mar. 31, 2009, 17:26 GMT)
See Wikipedia, Green Companies, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green Companies (as of Mar. 31, 2009, 17:30 GMT).
