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Earth Day, April 22nd, 2003
SustainableWays.com Newsletter #1
::A PERSONAL NOTE::
Happy Earth Day!!! As many of you know, I've been working like a dog to get my website, www.SustainableWays.com up and running for Earth Day. I've spent hours in front of the computer. I've taught myself HTML, learned to use PaintShop Pro, and bent over backwards to create a website that I can be proud of. But the one thing that surpasses the sense of accomplishment in what I've done is my gratefulness to all the people who've been supporting me thus far. If you're receiving this newsletter, it's because somehow you've shown an interest in what I'm doing, and in doing so you've been vital to the creation of this site. So the first thing I want to say to everyone is THANK YOU.
::ABOUT SUSTAINABLEWAYS.COM::
I define SustainableWays.com as being "The SENSIBLE Guide to Everything Sustainable." The emphasis on the word "sensible" is no accident. I'm a firm believer that if you're going to try to change things for the better (which, given the direction our environment is heading, I think you should), you need to really think about what you're doing and whether or not it's REALLY making a difference.
While there are a lot of websites, people, and organizations out there urging you to do whatever you can to "save" the environment, I think that people can make a much bigger difference if they concentrate on figuring out what "saving the environment" really means. For example, a lot of people think that recycling makes all the difference in the world. But like my environmental science professor said to us one day, "When you recycle, you're not saving trees. You're saving space in a landfill." As long as old-growth trees are being harvested for paper, the only way recycling will change things is if EVERYONE recycles all the time. And that's just not going to happen. So recycling, in that respect, is NOT sustainable.
::LEAVES VS. ROOTS::
I often quote Henry David Thoreau as having said "For every thousand hacking away at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root." The other day someone wrote to me that sometimes he isn't sure whether he's hacking at the leaves or striking at the root. It made me wonder, how can we tell?
The main difference between roots and leaves, and between problems and their symptoms, is that leaves keep growing back. When you're sick and you take medicine to make the symptoms go away, the problem remains; so if you stop taking medicine, the symptoms return. If what you're doing to make a difference requires your constant and indefinite effort in order to work, then what you're hacking at is probably a leaf.
Roots are usually much harder to destroy because they're often hidden and buried. But once you do, the problem is solved. For example, you might be sick because you're under too much stress at work, because you don't really like your job, because you only took it to pay your college loans, because your parents pressured you to go to a prestigious college, etc, etc. In this case, solving the problem (striking at the root) might mean making a major change in your life. It's no wonder that people are content hacking at leaves, if they do anything at all!
But I, personally, don't want to spend my life cutting idly away at leaves, and if you're reading this, my guess is that you don't, either. That's why I put together this site--to help people get to the root of the problem. And it's not something I'll pretend to have perfected. I've only just begun. And I'm hoping to find others who want to do the same. If we help each other out, I think we have a better shot at changing things.
::WHAT YOU'LL FIND AT SUSTAINABLEWAYS.COM::
Home/Guestbook
To begin with, there's the home page, where you'll find somewhat of a "table of contents." I've also posted a guestbook, which I'm REALLY hoping you'll sign (hint, hint) if you haven't already.
Purpose
The purpose is the backbone for my website. I highly recommend that you read it before you visit any other section of the site. You'll also get to find out just a little bit more about me =)
Sustainable Homes
If you own a home, or are hoping to buy/build one, this section is for you. I believe that designing our homes with respect for the environment is one of the most effective things we can do to live sustainably. In Sustainable Homes, you'll find a book review of Mortgage-Free! Radical Strategies for Home Ownership by Rob Roy, as well as a piece on Oikos.com, an incredible site on sustainable architecture. I've also mentioned The New Cottage Home, by Jim Tolpin.
Sustainable Work
This turned out to be the beefiest section of my website this month, thanks in part to Tom Kemper, president of DolphinBlue. Here you'll find an in-depth interview on how he established a successful company that offers recycled office supplies. The questions were based on excerpts from The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken, which I also reviewed. In addition, there are two websites that you might be interested in...GreenBiz.com and EnviroEducation.com.
Sustainable Lifestyle
I've long been fascinated by hybrid cars and finally I got to do a piece on them. I hope that's not the closest I ever get to one!!! Along with information on the Green Car Club, you'll also find a sustainable gift idea.....check it out!
Newsletter
Well, you really won't need to visit this section. Since you already know how wonderful and enlightening this newsletter is, I don't have to spend any more time convincing you to sign yourself up (which you can do by e-mailing me at Krystle@SustainableWays.com because, just as a reminder, you won't be getting it again unless you ask to be subscribed). Oh, and did I forget to mention that you can subscribe to this newsletter by responding to this e-mail? :o)
Take care, everyone!
-Krystle C.
www.SustainableWays.com - The SENSIBLE Guide to Everything Sustainable
"For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau