Flourish Online has a great article to help each of us think beyond the green commandments. Here’s Dave Timmer:
Recently I watched a news clip of a woman plugging her new book on “green†living from a faith perspective. Like so many others, her book gives ideas for living a “green†lifestyle and, of course, doing it affordably. We’ve all seen this a hundred times: buy the reusable tote bag that doubles as a wine holder, buy clothes second hand, change light bulbs, make good organic choices at the grocery store. We definitely need to be aware of what we buy, but this particular author lost me when she held up the avocado.
Apparently, avocados are OK to buy non-organic because their tough skins keep out the chemicals. So you’re safe. Watermelons fit in the same category. I guess as long as my wife and kids are safe when they eat avocados, I don’t have to worry about the skin of the farm worker who picked them.
Don’t hear me wrong, this “living green†mentality is good, but this plug is feeling more and more shallow and legalistic. Buy this, buy that—just make sure it aligns with the “green†commandments and is affordable.
But attempting to live up to a certain “green†standard is a setup for failure.
Read the rest of the article here. He discusses green legalism, and just as importantly, provides examples of how to ‘dig in’ right where you live and make a difference.
For me, it’s one reason I’m involved in our local food action coalition.
