Brazil 2014 World Cup

Brazil 2014 World Cup

With World Cup 2014 at its peak, we would be remiss to omit mentioning the ugly business of “the beautiful game.”  The truth is that The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer, has been embroiled in controversy for many years.

Perhaps the greatest complaint about FIFA is its failure at sustainability.  When we think of sustainability, most of us consider natural systems, i.e., the environment, natural resources, energy, etc.  Often, we ignore the key ingredient of sustainability, namely people or the human factor.

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it ain't easy being green

While “certified green labels” used as a mark of sustainable practices are familiar sites on many of the items we purchase, it is important to note that often these labels are used as marketing tools.  Theoretically, eco-labels were “designed to elevate products with higher environmental protection standards than the government requires for the status quo.” [1]

 

Perhaps a major issue with “certified green labels” is that their profits drive approval.  Over the past few years, we have witnessed an increased market demand for “green” or “sustainable” products.  Any business that promotes a product as green or certifies a product as sustainable potentially stands to make a huge financial gain by maintaining recognition in its industry as a “green” company or by consistently introducing new “sustainable” products into the market.  Additionally, increasing demand for green products creates the untended result of lowering standards for the award of green labels so as to fulfill the demand, thereby saturating the market with suspect products. Read More →

Spring garden

Spring garden

Spring has finally arrived, signaling great opportunity to spring forward to a new commitment to sustainability.  It is time to shed the winter doldrums and complacent attitude, clean out our living spaces and our heads and enjoy and get engaged in Nature’s annual rebirth.

We here at LGBG hope that our readers and supporters will commit or recommit to living a green and sustainable life.

The first step to achieving a sustainable lifestyle lies in the adoption of a mindset of sustainability.  We all need to recognize that since the industrial revolution, people in western societies have erroneously held the belief that we could keep using the Earth’s resources for goods and services without concern for the environmental or social impact of these activities.[1]  Now it is important for each of us to understand that we must use the Earth’s natural resources responsibly with the understanding that they are a loan and must be returned to the earth through a circular process that permits life on Earth to continue.  In fact, we should aim to ensure that our life cycles cause no harm to the environment and actually improve it. Read More →

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration of the successes of women globally, which really needs a dose of reality as it is a major failure in terms of sustainability.  It is important to honor trailblazers in the women’s movements who have overcome major challenges and prevailed against adversity and apathy relative to sexism and the lack of economic parity, especially in the United States. However, it is equally important that we remain mindful of the plight of so many people globally, particularly women and children in emerging economies, working in sweatshops under horrendous conditions without receiving a living wage.

Women's History Month

In recognition of Women’s History, we choose to recount the tragedy in New York at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911 in which 123 young women and 23 men died in a factory.  They were unable to exit the building primarily because of locked exit doors.  This fire and loss of life sparked and outrage that prompted factory workers to organize and demand safe working conditions.  By 1938, the United States was free of sweatshops.

The outrageous part of this story is that despite this tragedy, sweatshops still exist in other parts of the world, such as Bangladesh.  The workers in many of these sweatshops work 12 to 14 hours a day, 7 days a week and only get 1 day off per month.  Their wages are significantly less than $1.00 per hour.  Just think– these people are making the garments that are exported to the United States for companies such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Gap.

Bangladesh Factory

Bangladesh Factory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What We Can Do

It simply is not enough to commemorate the past successes of women during the month of March or Women’s History Month.  We each need to do out part to adopt an awareness of the plight of women and children in emerging nations who are forced to work in sweatshops to provide for their families.  We should commit to sustainable living, which first and foremost includes the “human factor.”  We are all connected in this world.  We have the option of buying food, clothing and other necessities from businesses that endorse principles of “fair trade.”

fairtrade1_10369282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We owe it to ourselves and the world community to support legislation that bans the import of child labor goods to the United States.  With all the information available on the Internet, we encourage you to do a little homework before going out to shop to ensure that you are dealing with businesses who support fair trade.  Also, when voting in elections, please consider the candidates’ stand on fair trade legislation before casting your vote.

So, today in honor of the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, we hope that each of you commit to a life of awareness and sustainability.  It is up to each of us to destroy the global sweatshop economy.  To do so is to live green, be green.

________________

Resources:

1.  http://www.upworthy.com/over-100-years-ago-123-young-women-working-in-a-factory-never-came-home-it-changed-our-country?c=ufb1

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Today, right now at 1657 UTC (12:57 p.m. DST), spring has arrived, ushering in a welcomed opportunity to adopt a life dedicated to sustainability.  I say this because we have had a rough winter here in the United States with torrential downpours, mudslides, snowstorms, tornado strikes and warnings with significant periods of freezing temperatures all over the country.  We know now, more than ever, that we need a game change.  Whether or not we believe in climate change and global warming, maybe if we do something different, we can turn this weather thing around.  Also, we have been secluded at home due to bad weather days so much over the last few months, unable to go to work, school or just to get out to enjoy the outdoors, that our brains need to shift into high gear again.

think spring

This is the perfect time to spring into sustainability.  After all, spring is about rebirth and awakening.  We look forward to the green things growing again– plants, trees, fresh fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers, etc.  Animals (including us humans) awake from hibernation, take to the outside and enjoy nature.

I have to admit that often the whole notion of living a green and sustainable lifestyle is presented in a way that is burdensome and onerous.  Who really wants to make homemade cleaning supplies and soap? That hardly sounds like fun.  Also, there is so much information out there in terms of “facts” that it is difficult to figure out what sustainability really means or how we can incorporate it into our already over-booked lifestyles.  After all, the human factor of sustainability is important too.  As with any movement, there are extremes that make us shy away from getting involved.

On this first day of spring, we here at LGBG invite you to watch a video by The Natural Step.  This two-minute clip does a remarkable job of explaining sustainability in terms of care instructions, similar to those found on labels  attached to clothing or that accompany the products we purchase.  Think about how we value our prized possessions and carefully follow their care instructions so that they last a long time and maintain their value.  Now imagine how much better the world would be if we adopted a similar approach to its preservation with a few simple but powerful instructions.

stock-vector-children-taking-care-of-planet-earth-65384452

So we wish everyone a very happy first day of spring, and we invite each of you to join us on a journey to sustainability aimed at a life of simple abundance.  To do so is to live green, be green.

Academy Awards.  Credit: blog.livingroomtheaters.com

Academy Awards. Credit: blog.livingroomtheaters.com

Over the past years, the Oscars and sustainability have proven to be an award-winning combination.  On Sunday, people globally will tune in to the 86th Academy Awards presentation to celebrate the best movies over the past year.  It is important to salute the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Academy) for its commitment to “green” living.

It does not come as a surprise that the organization would have sustainability as part of its agenda considering that so many of its members are outspoken supporters of the green movement, and they often lend their faces and financial support to environmental, health and social concerns.  The popularity of many of these celebrities, including, but not limited to George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Selma Hayak, goes a long way to raise awareness of and garner support for environmental, health and social issues.

The commitment of the Academy to raise awareness of environmental issues and garner support through example also is noteworthy.  This effort begins with the selection of the Dolby Theater, formerly the Kodak Theater, as the venue for the annual event.   With this long-term agreement to be the home of the Oscars, Dolby is committed to environmental sustainability.

Dolby Theater-- Home of the Oscars.  Credit:  www.cnn.com.

Dolby Theater– Home of the Oscars. Credit: www.cnn.com.

Global Green Oscar Week Kickoff

The Academy validated its commitment to sustainability with its annual kickoff by Global Green USA.  This year the celebration was “dedicated to rebuilding communities subject to environmental degradation.”  This organization now is the green event of Oscar week.  It seeks to raise “conscience” about energy conservation, and this year included celebrities speaking about driving to the Oscar celebration in hybrid cars.  This party featured a zero-waste plant-based dinner followed by a live auction that raised more than $20,000 to support its causes.

Red Carpet Green Dress

Second only to the actual awards ceremony, the highlight of Oscar night is the fashion displayed on the red carpet, and here some designers are featuring green dresses.  Perhaps the most notable is Red Carpet Green Dress, who is marking its fifth anniversary for this event.  This organization is the brainchild of Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of James Cameron, who, during press tours for Avatar (a Cameron film), sought to draw attention to the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry.  Mrs. Cameron notes that “[w]hile there are still great strides to be made, it’s important to point out that there are a greater number of sustainable resources available to designers today than there were five years ago.”[1]  This year’s Oscars Red Carpet will feature actress Olga Kurylenko wearing the design by this organization.  Olga’s accessories also are selected with concern for ethical consumerism.  Her limited edition vegan Red Carpet shoes are supplied as a result of a collaboration between PETA and Beyond Skin.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Kellan Lutz (Legend of Hercules) will be wearing the first sustainable tuxedo for Red Carpet Green Dress.  This tuxedo was designed by Jomnarn Dul for H Brothers and was constructed from recycled materials.

James and Suzy Amis Cameron.  Credit:  the highlow.com

James and Suzy Amis Cameron. Credit: the highlow.com

Dining with a Conscience

This year’s Governor’s Ball, the official dinner held following the award ceremony, will be created and officiated by Wolfgang Puck (celebrating 20 years in this role).  To the delight of the green movement, the theme will be the transcendent wonder of nature, with a display of lush vertical gardens under the stars that invite guests to mingle and celebrate nature.  The menu includes a prominent focus on vegan dishes.  All of the food will range from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees.  Once again, these choices are indicative of the Academy’s concern and focus on the need to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability.[2]

The Academy Awards is one of the most popular events globally and is viewed by many people, thereby creating an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about green initiatives and sustainability.  We are proud to present background information on the efforts of the Academy to make a difference in the movement for sustainability.

__________________

Resources for this article:

1. http://redcarpetgreendress.com/home/olga-kurylenko-to-reveal-the-fifth-design-from-suzy-amis-camerons-red-carpet-green-dress-on-the-oscar-carpet.
2. http://fbworld.com/2014/02/24/starring-role-for-master-chef-wolfgang-puck-at-86th-academy-awards-governors-ball.

Today is Valentine’s Day and we hope that each of you will celebrate green.  Many of you reading this post have not finalized your plans for Valentine’s Day celebrations.  Although some people procrastinate in making plans until the actual day, this year is different.  The severe weather occurrences with heavy snow and ice storms over most of the United States for the past week considerably hampered many people’s ability to get out and shop.  A lot of families are still snowed in with no power.  Additionally, gifts that were supposed to be delivered by mail may not come in time for the holiday.

Credit:  www.designbolts.com

Credit: www.designbolts.com

The most important thing to remember is that Valentine’s day is about love, and materialism is not necessary to convey love.  While Valentine’s Day often is criticized as being a man-made holiday, it still is important to us as humans.  As we journey towards sustainable lifestyles, we learn that while investment in the environment is important, it is crucial that we include the investment in human lives as essential to achieving full sustainability.

The History of Valentine’s Day

In reality, this “lovely” holiday evolved from a very violent history.  Valentine’s Day is named after a Roman priest under Emperor Claudius II during the third century.  In this tumultuous era, the Roman Empire was divided into three competing states, with constant threats of invasion by one faction or another.  The survival of the Empire became so threatened that Claudius struggled to maintain war power.  Under the belief that unmarried soldiers fought better than their married counterparts, Claudius banned marriage among young people.  However, the priest Valentine, held high marriage as a God-given sacrament and began officiating these unions in secret.  He eventually was discovered, imprisoned and then beheaded.  Later Valentine was martyred by the Church for giving up his life to perform the sacrament.  Thus, Valentine’s Day is about love– love of God and love for each other.

St-Valentine-Kneeling-In-Supplication.  Credit:  en.wikipedia.org

St-Valentine-Kneeling-In-Supplication. Credit: en.wikipedia.org

Celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

The true spirit of Valentine’s Day should be reflected in our celebratory choices, and sustainability should be a driving concern in making these choices.  Why buy chocolate candies produced by workers who are underpaid and treated unfairly when we can purchase guaranteed fair trade products?  Why buy cut flowers that wilt and die in a matter of days when we can purchase potted plants and flowers that can be maintained in containers or  transplanted outside to thrive and be enjoyed for years to come?  Why spend long hours working to make money to buy “stuff” that creates clutter, especially when most families are starved for time together?

Emotionally-drained-love-valentines-day-ecards-someecards.  Credit:  someecards.com

Emotionally-drained-love-valentines-day-ecards-someecards. Credit: someecards.com

Green is the way to go.

So as you ponder ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, please be sure to remember that the day is about love and sustainability.  Celebrate a green Valentine’s Day.  To do so is to live green, be green.

__________________

Resources for this article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/valentines-day-bloody-history_n_4768652.html

Credit: gambling911.com

Credit: gambling911.com

Now that Super Bowl 2014 is over, it is time to do a sustainability assessment.  It is important to do this because the super bowl is the largest annual event held in America, and effort must be undertaken continuously to ensure that all aspects of this event are sustainable in terms of environmental and human impact.

Venue: MetLife Stadium

The NFL’s selection of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey was appropriate in terms of the facility in and of itself.  MetLife Stadium is the home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets.  It is deemed “the greenest stadium in the US.”  This stadium was constructed on a parking lot between the old Giants stadium and Meadowlands Raceway.  The construction of MetLife Stadium had absolutely no impact on greenfield land or natural habitats.[1]  MetLife Stadium seats 82,000 people and has 13,000 parking spaces, each costing $150 a piece for Super Bowl 2014.

MetLife Stadium has excellent public transportation links (for normal Giants or Jets game day traffic), and a considerable percentage of football fans use public rail and bus networks to travel to and from the stadium on game days or to attend special events, i.e., concerts.

MetLife Stadium’s 82,000 seats are constructed from 80% recycled cast iron and 20% recycled plastic.  There are 2100 HD monitors throughout the facility with a sound system that boasts 2,500 speakers.

MetLife Stadium’s partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency successfully crafted a facility worthy of the designation as one of the most energy-efficient stadiums in the U.S.  MetLife Stadium also owns bragging rights to the first certified green restaurant in the world.  Some key green facts about MetLife Stadium are:

  • Water:  Reduced annual water consumption (in comparison to the old Giants stadium) by 25% with savings derived from low flow toilets and waterless urinals, synthetic turf and natural plants.
  • Power:  Its solar ring has produced 350,000 kilowatts of energy as of February 2013, and it uses 30% less energy by employing Energy Star equipment, automated lighting, efficient windows and biodegradable fuels with reusable fluids in outdoor transformers.
  • Construction materials.  Made from 80% recycled cast iron and 20% recycled plastic.
  • Reduced carbon footprint:  Since opening in 2009, MetLife Stadium has avoided 3,176,250 vehicle miles and reduced its carbon footprint by 268,828 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
superbowl_mobile_herospace

Credit: social.quintevents.com

Drawbacks and problems

MetLife Stadium is a state-of-the-art facility.  Perhaps its biggest drawback in terms of hosting an event of the magnitude of Super Bowl 2014 is its physical location.  The NFL dodged a bullet Sunday for the Super Bowl with clear, unseasonably warm weather for the game (temperature at game time was 49 degrees).  Bad weather did move in by the end of the game,  with rain, sleet, snow and icy roads making travel on Monday a horrific experience for many of the fans.  Many people found themselves stuck in the New York area as a large number of flights were cancelled.  Hopefully, the reality of climate change in planning huge events will become a major consideration of the NFL.

Secondly and perhaps most important, the location of Super Bowl 2014 in New Jersey with reliance on public transportation to move people proved to be an epic failure.  The public rails and buses were ill-equipped to deal with commuter demand.  Additionally, the high level of security warranted for an event of this magnitude severely hampered the flow of people into MetLife Stadium, even to the point of people collapsing from exhaustion during excessive wait times at Secaucus Junction.

Secaucus Junction Jam

Super bowls clearly are momentous events in the United States, and as such, the NFL must incorporate sustainability in the planning of this annual event.  To date, the NFL has proven that it can deliver an environmentally sustainable product in terms of facility or “stuff,” as witnessed by MetLife Stadium.  However, the human components of sustainability must be given equal consideration.  In its attempt to host the first mass transit Super Bowl, the NFL had a duty to thoroughly evaluate the human factors and to have contingency plans in place to avoid a transportation debacle.  Also, the NFL’s Fan Express pre-ticket coach bus program plan needs to be evaluated and fine tuned to flawlessly control people movement.

In conclusion, with all the hoopla about Super Bowl 2014, proponents of the green movement really would have appreciated it if the NFL had done more to showcase its efforts at sustainability.  With 111.5 million viewers tuned in, it would have been nice to see commercials highlighting the NFL’s commitment to commitment to green business and sustainability.  This really presented a teachable movement to younger viewers.

Now the NFL will go back to the drawing board and incorporate lessons learned from Super Bowl 2014 in its plans for future super bowls.  Hopefully, in its plans, green keywords, such as climate change, environmental impact, transportation, people moving, etc., will be central in the dialogue.  To ensure the sustainability of future super bowls is to live green, be green.

_______________________

Resources for this article:

1.  http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/metlife-stadium-home-years-super-bowl-may-be-greenest-stadium-us.html.
2. http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-02-03/2014-super-bowl-television-ratings-record-most-watched-television-event-of-all-time-seahawks-vs-broncos.

Credit:  www.wochenblatt.de

Credit: www.wochenblatt.de

Today we here at LGBG would like to remember and honor Pete Seeger, folk artist, rebel, activist and environmentalist, who truly sang songs in the key of life.  Seeger died as he lived, peacefully, on January 27th at the age of 94.

Seeger will be remembered for his contributions to society largely through his music.  After dropping out of Harvard in 1940, he was introduced to Woody Guthrie, with whom he toured.  As a believer in communal singing, Seeger is credited with the rebirth of folk music in America.  This music embraces people as a whole and generally is an expression of a way of life, historical and personal events or impending tragedies or natural disasters.

The importance of singing together

“We all go to different churches or no churches, we have different favorite foods, different ways of making love, different ways of doing all sorts of things, but there we’re all singing together.  Gives you hope.”

Seeger’s songs generally had simple lyrics that provided a verbal analysis of current social and political situations.  Rather than preaching a stance on the environment, civil rights or politics from a podium, Seeger stood before his audiences, young and old, with his banjo and engaged them in songs that voiced a protest while uniting the groups of people present., who often were from very different backgrounds.  His music helped us to learn to think for ourselves and to question the powers that be.  While many political leaders and conservative pundits try to convince us that climate change is a myth, Seeger urges us to observe our surroundings and to question “where have all the flowers gone.”

We all should get in the game of life.

“There is something about participating.  It is almost my religion.  If the world is still here in 100 years, people will know the importance of participating, not just being a spectator.”

Pete Seeger’s songs were important to many movements in the 20th century.  Perhaps the most notable is the civil rights movement.  Seeger is credited with introducing and leading protesters in the singing of “We Shall Overcome,” which became the signature song of the civil rights movement.  This song consistently has brought together protesters from various backgrounds, summoning emotion, strength and courage to continue the struggle for human rights in the face of all types of adversity, including legal, educational and physical.  In fact, Seeger introduced Martin Luther King to the song and even suggested that the civil rights activists form a group to be known as Freedom Singers.  He stated that these “songs have accompanied every liberation movement in history.  These songs will affirm your faith in the future of mankind.”[1]

Seeger also joined in the anti-war protests during the sixties.  Over the years, he lent his voice and support to protests for workers’ rights, world peace and environmental conservation.  He remarked that “a good song reminds us what we’re fighting for.”

As a result of his stance on most political and social issues, Seeger’s life was not without controversy.  In the early fifties, he and his singing group, the Weavers, were named as Communist Party sympathizers in a magazine called Red Channel.  When subpoenaed to come before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer to charges of Communist influence in entertainment, Seeger declined to invoke his constitutional right of protection from self-incrimination.  Rather, this gentleman of high principle chose to discuss his music, and he even offered to sing some of his songs.  In response to the questions posed to him, he remarked, “I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this.”[2]

Credit: blogs.loc.gov

Credit: blogs.loc.gov

Seeger was convicted of contempt of Congress and sentenced to four years in jail.  However, his conviction was overturned due to a technical flaw in his indictment.  He was not retried.  He saw the curtailment of offers for his group, The Weavers, to perform.  He later apologized for many of his early thoughts on Stalin, but he maintained his ideas on socialism, stating that “I ask people to broaden their definition of socialism.  Our ancestors were all socialists:  You killed a deer and maybe you got the best cut, but you wouldn’t let it rot, you shared it.”[2]  Throughout his life, he maintained the right to free thinking and inquiry.

This land is your land.  This land is my land.

Folk music witnessed a resurgence in the 1960s, and with the many political struggles, the war in Vietnam and other social ills present at the time, Seeger found himself back in business with his simplistic approach of using music to encourage people to participate.  He lived on 17-1/2 acres on a mountainside in Beacon, NY where he became very active in environmental efforts, including cleaning up the Hudson River.  He founded the Clearwater Sloop Project, which he supported until his death.

Seeger’s commitment to the environment and sustainability through music was infectious as evidenced by the admiration and support he received by many entertainers, notably Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen.  These singers support and appeared with him at Occupy demonstrations and other events for social causes and some even adopt Seeger’s easy enticing and uniting style in their songs.  Perhaps one of the most popular is Browne’s song, Stay, which reminds us “people you got the power over what you do.”

It’s all about love.

Perhaps Pete Seeger sums his life up best in his description of his songs in the key of life.

I call them all love songs.  They tell of love of man and woman,
and parents and children, love of country, freedom, beauty,
mankind, the world, love of searching for truth and other unknowns.
But, of course, love alone is not enough.[2]

Rest in peace Pete Seeger, and thank you for a job well done!

__________________

1.  http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/28/pete-seeger-man-brought-politics-to-music.
2.  Barnes, B. (2013, January 29).  Pete Seeger:  He sang of things as he saw them.  The Washington Post, pp. A1, A15.
3.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music

Size is a featured component of many topics of conversation, and in living green, the question as to whether or not size does really matter is entertained often.

Size is mentioned in discussions of many facets of life, including, but not limited to portion size, clothing size, family size, house size, sexual endowment and so on.  In each case, the reference of size is important when it comes to living green.

Why is size important?

So many decisions that we make are influenced or should be influenced by size.  The very size of a paycheck and budget determines an individual’s ability to live and function in society.  The size of one’s indebtedness contributes to a person’s happiness, stability and the ability to raise a family, get an education and live a wholesome life.  The size of a family’s food budget determines their ability to eat nutritious food.  The size of one’s ego impacts his/her self perception.

Credit:  www.toprosters.com

Credit: www.toprosters.com

Of course, we know that serving size is a very important component of a healthy diet.  To that end, we can find specifications on the amount of food we should eat in a meal, as well as the actual size of the plate that should be used to limit the portion size.  Consideration of portion size also can be applied to control the percentages of meat, vegetables and carbohydrates that should occupy our plates at any given time.  The subject of size has led to a criticism by nutritionists of the fast food industry and its practice of advertising “super size meals” for a small additional price.  Also, moviegoers are familiar with the policy at most theaters whereby the purchase of giant size bags of popcorn and drinks earn patrons free refills.  The increase in the size of our meals has led to weight increase and ever-expanding abdominal girth in so many Americans, along with the accompanying adverse health consequences of obesity, diabetes, back and joint pain, infertility and hypertension.

Credit:  fitmapped.com

Credit: fitmapped.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clothing size and body size also are major topics of conversation in the fashion industry.  Shopping for clothes often is difficult because there is no uniformity in clothing sizes.  Sizes of clothes, particularly for women, vary widely by brands.  This forces consumers to spend considerable time, energy and fuel traveling to different stores trying to find clothes that fit.  In that living green includes being healthy and stress free, the dilemma of clothes size negatively impacts those efforts.

Credit:  fitmapped.com

Credit: venusvision.com

Also, the issue of body size must be considered in any efforts to live green.  Perception of a healthy body size is important, and we need realistic guidelines, both to achieve and maintain this.  Unrealistic expectations for body size can be emotionally and physically damaging, leading to harmful practices such as unhealthy dieting, binging and purging, and even psychiatric problems of anorexia that can be fatal.  As we are constantly bombarded with visual images of thin models and beautiful clothes only available in small sizes, many people struggle to achieve these looks and fit those clothes, not realizing that often the people depicted in these pictures are airbrushed and images are electronically altered to give an appearance that is false.  It is important to accept that body size is important, but that we must be realistic and acknowledge the major contribution of genes to our appearance.  We should adhere to a healthy diet, exercise and maintain a balanced weight but not go to extremes to look like models in the media.

Another area where size is a major concern is in the housing industry where builders keep constructing larger houses and mass marketing efforts constantly remind us that we need more living space in our dwellings.  As a result, we cut down more trees to clear areas for houses.  We build more roads and supporting structures for our new larger communities, reducing open green space.  We assume larger mortgages to pay for our more expensive houses.  We endure higher energy bills to heat and cool our super sized houses.  We buy more furniture and objects to fill our houses.  The bottom line is that we are drowning in debt and working longer hours to pay for all of this.  Sometimes we feel like hamsters on treadmills, and that is neither healthy nor green.  This is an instance where size does really matter.  It can make the difference between a wholesome fulfilling lifestyle and sheer misery.

.Credit:  www.designboom.com

Credit: www.designboom.com

 

 

Family size is important in green living.  In modern times, families are smaller than they were many years earlier.  Increased housing and other costs of living have forced most families to rely on both parents as wage earners.  As a result, people tend to have fewer children due to time and money constraints.  Some countries, such as China, have legally enforced limits on family size for purposes of population control.  Clearly when it comes to family, size does matter.

Lastly, size often comes up when discussing sexual relationships.  Hollywood and popular culture have forced sexual endowment to the forefront of relationship issues.  Living green includes healthy and satisfying interpersonal relationships.  In choosing a mate, it is important that such selection include character, morals, values and compatibility and not just physical attributes such as sexual endowment, breast and hip size.  Here size matters but should not be the primary consideration.

It is important that we learn to live green, and from the examples given, we can see that size does really matter.  In our efforts to adopt a green lifestyle, we have a lot to consider.  As we look at ways to live sustainably, we have to take time and size up the situation carefully.  To do so is to live green, be green.

_________________

Resources for this article:

1.  http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/09/ralph-lauren-gap-ent-tech-cx_tvr_0109sizemeup.html
2. http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=4294967941
3.  http://www.askmen.com/dating/vanessa_60/87_love_secrets.html
4.  http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3015997