Conservation Note for January

Conservation Committee Note for January

Happy New Year TCO’ers!

Here is a list of New Year’s resolutions for climate activists.  See whether one or two seem relevant to your life, or post your own suggestions on our FB page.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE ACTIVISTS

DRIVE LESS: WALK, BIKE, USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

BUY LESS, USE LESS, WASTE LESS: MEND, REPAIR, RE-USE

SUPPORT LOCAL: BUY LOCALLY GROWN FOOD, LOCALLY GROWN WOOD (BLA=BUILD LOCAL ALLIANCE) LOCALLY PRODUCED CLOTHES 

GET PLASTIC OUT OF YOUR LIFE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE:  USE WAX PAPER, CLOTH, RE-USABLE GROCERY BAGS, WASHABLE NET PRODUCE BAGS

EAT FOR THE PLANET’S HEALTH AND YOUR OWN HEALTH: EAT A MORE PLANT-BASED DIET WITH LESS MEAT, AND TRY TO FOLLOW THE JAPANESE RULE OF EATING ONLY UNTIL 4/5 FULL;  EAT SMALL SERVINGS ON SMALL PLATES GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION FOR SECONDS, THIRDS, FOURTHS UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR 4/5 FULL, CLEANING YOUR PLATE EACH TIME. PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU SHOP, AND BUY ONLY AS MUCH FOOD AS YOU WILL EAT.

TAKE THE NO PESTICIDE OATH

PAY ATTENTION TO HOW MUCH YOU ARE USING: WATER, ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND WORK ON USING LESS.

GET OUTSIDE TO HIKE, WALK, BACKPACK, CAMP:  PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL , EVERYDAY BEAUTIES OF THIS PLANET, AS WELL AS THE BREATH-TAKING WATERFALLS, MOUNTAINS, AND VISTAS, SO YOU KNOW VISCERALLY WHAT IS AT STAKE.

DO ONE BIG THING: CHOOSE ONE THREATENED PLACE YOU CARE ABOUT TO FIGHT FOR, OR ONE ENDANGERED SPECIES NEEDING PROTECTION, OR ONE ORGANIZATION TO VOLUNTEER WITH.

AND YES, WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND TURN YOUR FACE TO THE SKY, AND REJOICE IN THE LIFE-GIVING WARMTH AND LIGHT.  BUT ALSO, WHEN THE RAINS COME, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND TURN YOUR FACE TO THE SKY, AND REJOICE IN THE LIFE-GIVING WATER WE SO NEED, OPENING YOUR EYES TO THE BEAUTY OF THE RAIN-WASHED WORLD.  OUR STREAMS REMAIN LOW, AND OUR SNOWPACK IS WAY BELOW WHAT OUR STREAMS AND FORESTS NEED. WELCOME THE RAIN WE OREGONIANS LOVE TO LAMENT!

May this a a good year for every one of us, and may it be the year we reverse the trend of worsening global warming, and begin the healing of our beautiful earth.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!!!