Focusing In (on plastic)

It's not an easy task, taking on the responsibility of making conscientious choices to reduce our impact. In fact, it can be overwhelming to think of all the ways in which humans need to change our unsustainable habits to ensure a livable future for generations to come. However, like any large, seemingly impossible task, when we break it down and focus on it step-by-step, it becomes achievable. Putting some extra thought, time and energy into overcoming one issue at a time (or however many we feel we can take on) until, eventually, our overall mindset shifts to thinking sustainably and less-impactfully by habit, all the time.

Let's begin with the complex issue of 'plastic use' as an example. The severe over-usage of plastic in our world is out of control. Specifically and especially single-use plastic, because it's a one-time use of a substance that either never decomposes, or that eventually breaks down into toxic chemicals which leach into our water and food. As intelligent humans and consumers, how did we let it get to this point? There are many factors, but a big one is because our waste, in general, is an out-of-sight-out-of-mind concept. Nearly everything we consume these days has some form of packaging that's usually petroleum-based plastic, and once we get to the item we desire, its wrapping becomes garbage, which we discard and forget about forever. But the effects of that action will ripple, continuing to do no good, only harm, for the rest of its long lifespan. There's a good chance that one of the pieces of plastic trash that any one of us has discarded in the past and never thought about again, is currently wreaking its own little havoc on this environment we share with every other living thing on this planet. Together, we're slowly poisoning the oceans and destroying the environment that sustains us and all life, simply out of convenience for ourselves. So what can we do to reduce the inevitable damage done from plastic?

A few ways to reduce plastic waste immediately:
- Invest in reusables and actually use them. Use things like cloth shopping bags, cotton cloths in the kitchen (they can be washed, as opposed to sponges), bamboo to-go utensils, stainless or glass water bottles, insulated to-go cups, glass containers (for to-go food, leftovers, etc.) and anything else you can think of, in order to replace disposable plastic items with reusable ones.
- Find ways to reuse any plastic that would otherwise be tossed out after one use. Such as; to-go cups and containers, straws, bottles, plastic produce bags, sandwich and freezer bags, bubble wrap, etc. and push yourself to get creative!
- Buy food from farmer's markets and in bulk as often as possible to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging waste.

Several more involved ways to reduce plastic waste in general:
- Do your research! Most of us have a library and/or the internet easily accessible and we shouldn't take that for granted because information is powerful. We can search out solutions and get the facts of who (companies/organizations/people) and what (products/ideas) are contributing the most (positively and negatively) to the plastic problem.
- Vote for officials and legislations which support the reduction of petroleum-based products, etc. and write to already elected officials if they need to be informed.
- Call or write to companies of products that you may love but that overuse plastic, and urge them to create other packaging options so they won't lose your business.
- Invent solutions. There are innovative minds of all ages across the globe that may just need a bit of inspiration in order to spark an idea that could bring necessary change. If we put our mind to it, any of us are capable of creating solutions to plastic pollution.
- Educate others and spread knowledge of plastic pollution. When we get those around us involved, and they get those around them involved, etc., it makes a bigger and bigger difference.

**Put It Into Practice**

Ever have a difficult time seeing all the viral photos and videos circulating social media that expose the harm and destruction humans cause? Things like dying, homeless orangutans because of palm oil extraction, islands covered in waste and animals dead from plastic, or polar bears starving and their population declining due to climates changing; they are, indeed, hard to look at but we need to see it so that we understand what's happening, so we feel emotionally moved and responsible, so that we want to help change things in any way possible. We must focus more time and energy on actually doing something about it - not just reposting, sharing or commenting on it - but taking action to start a change. The ways in which we can be ECO-MAD are unlimited! We can EXERT CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS and MAKE A DIFFERENCE on so many levels! We don't have to make extravagant lifestyle changes if we don't want to, but we can absolutely focus on one issue at a time and we must begin immediately, there's no excuse not to and at least 7 billion reasons to try. Check your habits, tweak your actions, make all those little sustainable choices that will add up over time, then spread your knowledge with others to multiply the effect even more. Help create the movement, because we don't want to be the ones in history who let our unchecked consumption and greedy destruction ruin it for everyone and everything else...

Remember, We're the Solution

Throughout history, essential change and vital progress across the globe has been accomplished by movements of masses of people. Currently, we're at a pivotal point in the lifespan of our civilization. As our species keeps procreating at an exponential rate, it will only become more difficult to keep our planet livable, let alone beautiful and naturally diverse. The more we populate, the more space and resources we require as a species, and the more we selfishly seem to destroy anything in our way. If we continue down this path - devastating land, over-using limited natural resources, killing off the planet's biodiversity - we're basically destroying the very reasons we're so incredibly fortunate to be alive and conscious beings in this world. We need a movement away from this pattern of destruction.

Luckily, with high numbers of people, also comes more intelligence, influence and power, we just have to realize that our individual choices and actions collectively matter in the long-run. It's possible and necessary to shift our current, consumer-based, convenience-driven habits toward a much more conscientious and sustainable way of living. The shift starts with you and me, with those of us who already understand, and from here it only spreads.

If we have children, we should be extra sensitive to how the choices we make now will determine the quality of their future (not to mention that they learn about how to live from our example). The youth of the future will be inheriting a world that the we're creating today, so it's essential they are not only prepared but that they have all the advantages they can get. Each and every one of us has control over what we think, say and do, so there are no excuses to be made for continuing to take unconscious, destructive actions on an individual level. Recognizing our unsustainable habits, changing our consumptive ways, making less-impactful choices, leading by example, educating and inspiring others, pushing ourselves to be more innovative in long-term planning, these are ways to begin an ECO-MAD movement.

If individual actions seem irrelevant, think about an entire town, city, state or country of people collectively taking the same action and it becomes much more significant. This has never been more true than it is in the reality of our current world, where the collective actions of billions of us are causing negative consequences on our surroundings. Whether it's cigarette butts, plastic, over-packaging, over-processing, littering, food waste, resource depletion, or anything in between - we can help solve the issues if enough of us choose to be aware and conscientious of our decisions. Just because we may be able to avoid much of the turmoil in the world by turning a blind eye, that doesn't mean we should, because there will always be ways we can improve the global environment and society with our actions. Our power in numbers is especially important in a time where legislation may not act to protect the future of our natural world, those of us who care must step up to the task. We are the solution to the problems humans have created.

We, human beings, are the only creatures who have power in our choices and in every action we take, to create the sustainable future that all life on this planet deserves. We just have to make the decision to go ECO-MAD; EXERT CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS - MAKE A DIFFERENCE. It may begin with a few of us, but it can become a movement of many, a movement of purpose and progress, a movement for our future.

**Put It Into Practice**

Take some time to connect with yourself, to comprehend the magnitude of your individual choices and actions and the impact they have on others and our environment. How can we lessen our impact? How many ways can we tweak our habits and practices to make them even a tad more sustainable? There's a post on this blog that gives examples, but don't stop there, you're extremely intelligent and you can come up with your own solutions, too! It's going to take us all, trying our best, spreading the word, and working together, to really make a difference - a movement - and I know we can rise to the challenge. 

Forethought, Action, Follow-through

The previous post (below) contains links to two videos that present certain concepts and represent bigger ideas relating to the ECO-MAD message. The first is a 20 minute video titled "The Story of Stuff", which explains, simply and thoroughly, the devastating, unsustainable production/ consumption practices of our current, capitalistic society. It reveals an unhealthy, distracted and ultimately self-destructive habit that we've all grown too comfortable with perpetuating - mindless consumption. The (hopefully not conscious) practice of buying and disposing for convenience without regard for where stuff comes from, how long we really use it, where it goes after we discard it, or how all these things add up when multiplied by millions to create serious consequences.

Luckily, the second video provides some good news, the concept that our brain can form new habits. We hold the power in our own minds to change these detrimental ways, and once we break through that first barrier, the possibilities are endless. We can begin by forming new ECO-MAD habits like conscientious forethought, practical action, and thorough follow-through, so that no matter where we are in life or at any given moment in time, we can effortlessly EXERT CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS to MAKE A DIFFERENCE that could mean (literally) the world to future generations.

Forethought: careful thinking or planning about the future.

This is like setting goals and figuring out the steps to get those goals done. The more aware of ourselves, our habits, and our surroundings we are, the more we can plan goals to substitute convenient, unsustainable practices with more thought-out, conscious, sustainable day-to-day choices. Taking the time to think about what we'll be doing later in the day, week, year etc. allows us to be more prepared for, and capable of, making ECO-MAD choices.

Planning for the future before we make our daily decisions helps cut down on consumption of unnecessary stuff in all aspects of life. Forethought can be especially effective in improving sustainability of our day-to-day decisions and actions; like once we realize what disposable items we use daily, we can think of how to replace those things with reusable items, bypass them altogether, or at least cut down on waste by recycling, reusing, composting, etc. Things like reusable bags, reusable bottles and cups (insulated or not), reusable napkins and straws, reusable tupperware and utensils for leftovers or to-go food, are all great solutions for cutting down on daily wastefulness.

There are also concepts like recycling, buying second-hand possessions (reusing), composting, gardening, DIY, and many more that, with some forethought, can become part of our lifestyle to make a positive difference on an even bigger scale. We may even be inspired to put forethought into global issues, on an even more macro level. For example, with this blog I'm trying to tackle all of the above. Much forethought went into my creating ECO-MAD, and it's my way of trying to help alleviate some of what I believe to be the world's most severe problems, by raising awareness of all things, big and small, that humans can do to exercise the collective power we possess when we are more conscientious in our individual thoughts, choices, decisions and actions.

 Action: Something done or performed; act; deed.

Action is when we put our forethought to good use. Like when we hear there's rain in the forecast, so we make sure to pull out our umbrella so we remember it when we go out. We can put reusable bags in our vehicle or our school/work bag so we remember to take them into the store and use them; we can keep a reusable, insulated cup by the door or in our bag or vehicle so we can ask for our morning smoothie/coffee to-go in a sustainable way (unless we make it ourselves at home, in which case we most likely already use a non-disposable vessel); we can take our reusable bottle of water, possibly infused with fruit or herbs, so we aren't tempted to buy plastic throughout the day; we can make our own lunch and put it in reusable to-go containers, remembering to grab our reusable utensils/napkin and maybe carrying it all in a reusable bag, so that we don't have to buy any unhealthy or over-packaged food out of desperation or convenience (and if we do plan to eat out or get food from our favorite takeout place, we can still take our reusable to-go containers so we can try to get our takeout in a more sustainable way). These are all actions we consciously have control over in our lives and taking them regularly can help us collectively break out of any sort of disposable lifestyle. We must always keep pushing ourselves to find new ways to avoid wasting stuff and creating waste, even if it seems like more effort for us at first, it's urgent that we move away from a lifestyle based on convenient consumption.

Action can be taken on a bigger scale, too, because things like separating recyclables from our trash to cut down on waste, creating a compost to ease the effects of our food waste, or making our own products and buying things second-hand so less stuff gets used and wasted, are all helpful and within our control. Some of us may choose to take on topics that are more out of our individual control but still highly possible, like starting a local trash cleanup in our area to stop the spread of micro trash and litter, creating a non-profit or socially responsible business that positively affects society, or creatively finding solutions to ecological problems due to global demands. We can make positive change happen on many levels. If we are inspired and passionate enough about something, and we're willing to put in the time and energy, we can take action to improve our world in many ways and for generations to come.

Follow-through: the act of completing an action or process.

In the hopes of creating a cycle conducive to less consumption and lower-impact living that is also applicable to any daily regimen, we come full circle when we follow through. This is when we collect the sustainable, non-convenience items we've used throughout our day to rinse/wash them and put them where we'll remember them the next day or time we need them. It's using our compost for fertilizer to grow food in, it's taking used clothes to the second-hand or thrift store for others to reuse, it's reducing our plastic use and waste altogether instead of just recycling because if we follow-up we realize that even recycling isn't done everywhere or in the most sustainable way.

This is also where we take it another step further. Following through is about the end game and beyond. Like in sports - taking the shot, catching the ball, swinging the bat - all these actions are vital to the game but what's just as or more important is how the athlete chooses to proceed after those actions are taken. After our initial intention or goal has been carefully planned, acted upon, and met, what can we do to continue implementing the ideas, etc.? How can we maximize the potential, push the limits and continue to achieve positive, favorable outcomes? Once results have been realized, we followthrough in order to keep getting results and maybe even improve them. Followthrough is finding new ways to be more sustainable or less impactful, leading by example to educate and inspire others, and digging deeper than the surface to find information and facts when making decisions.

**Put It Into Practice**

We can put this into practice all the time - choices and actions big and small, all lifestyles, all people. Forethought, action, follow-through. We have the ability to make conscientious decisions about what we spend our time and energy on, the resources we use, the things we consume, what we discard and how. We can make informed, sustainable choices in all areas of our lives. Break any unsustainable habits and form better ones.
As an example, we all feel good intrinsically when we give back to others. In fact, many of us do this regularly and can easily do it in an ECO-MAD way. Whether we're volunteering, gift-giving or donating to a cause, it's important we put in the effort to research pertinent information. What does the organization stand for? Is my gift made in an ethical/sustainable way? What is my donated money used for? What is actually needed? (ie.Haiti, Indian Ocean, Katrina) If a company, organization, non-profit, etc., is legitimate then it should be transparent and these questions should be easily answered. Forethought, action, follow-through. Practice, practice, practice.

Using Conscience with Purpose

Nature is complex and methodical in its ways. Billions of years of trial and error, learning, growing, perfecting. Each and every thing within its realm serves a purpose, including that which we may not yet understand. Plants, minerals, animals, and every molecule in between, doing what they're meant to without question, without ceasing. Their processes are primal, intrinsic and significantly relevant; they've become rhythmic with the universe like the tide and the wind. Then there's us, modern-day humans. Our current process looks something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=youtu.be

Stuck in a man-made rut, we are capable of infinite possibilities using the influential teachings of nature, yet we are struggling to learn from its ancient wisdom. Humans possess the ability to conscientiously comprehend the extraordinary miracle of this world, and we are the only ones who can save or destroy it. So what's our purpose?

A baby salamander photographed among the redwoods of Northern California.

Are we to be overly consumed in material securities and superficial luxuries to the point that we're basically making a conscientious decision to remain unaware of what our lifestyle costs others and the planet? Are we too comfortable in our current ways of life to care about making changes that will benefit ourselves, others, and Earth in the future, before it's too late? For our children's sake, and their children's sake, let's hope not. It is possible to transform our habits, but we have to put our mind to it.

Or are humans meant to do something much more intentional, intelligent and positively life-changing with our unique abilities? All of us can conscientiously make choices and take chances that affect real, positive change in today's world. We are the only ones with this purpose, the only ones with the power. What's stopping us? We must quit acting on impulses of selfish convenience so we can take control of our decisions and actions. The more we spread the ECO-MAD message and the more we EXERT CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS, the more it will all add up to MAKE A (HUGE) DIFFERENCE!

**Put It Into Practice**

Many of us are privileged in that we have access to education, information and resources that many others don't have. Because of this advantage, we are provided with more opportunity to seek out facts, make our own connections and inferences, form our own opinions on what we know to be true, and base our decisions on them. We also have a responsibility, to lead by example and spread the knowledge to those who unfortunately have no way of knowing better (lack of education, information, resources, etc.). A movement; making as many conscientious, sustainable choices and changes in our everyday lifestyles as we can, no matter how big or small, and urging others to do the same. Learning, as a global society, to take each action with the utmost regard for its impacts and consequences on others and on nature's ability to function, instead of working against and destroying the natural process that's been in the making for billions of years. Thoughts, ideas, actions, communications and shared wisdom that add up to a purpose much bigger than all of us.

Some information on nature as inspiration for creative innovation: https://biomimicry.org

See the Big Picture; It's the Little Things

It's not about an extravagant lifestyle change for everyone. What we can all do is become much more conscientious of all the little decisions we constantly encounter and adjust the choices we make to be less impactful on the world. EXERTING CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS. This can be learned and integrated into any lifestyle, and it really does MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Take into consideration each and every action an average person, or family, makes throughout a day or week. Waking up and getting ready to go to school or work, afternoon activities, chores, dinner, after dinner activities, getting ready for bed. There are ways to tweak tiny details of these routine actions (concentrate on the little things) so when they add up over time and multiply by global population (when we look at the big picture), our collective actions have a more positive, sustainable outcome than they otherwise would.

• Getting Ready for the day - Think about all the things we do to get ready each morning and how we can practice conscientious awareness as we do them. 
• Showering, brushing teeth, doing hair, washing face, doing makeup etc. - Try to always be conscious of things like water usage and how much you use of your products. Cutting down to the minimal amount necessary also ensures you get the most out of the well-earned dollars you've spent. Pay attention to the ingredients in products used on your body, what the products are packaged in, where they're made and by whom, if they're tested on animals or not, where they're sold, these sorts of details are important. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, shave cream/gel, face wash, toothpaste, lotion, cream, gel, wax, deodorant, cologne/perfume, makeup, sunscreen; most of these soak into your body (to some degree) and many of them are made with chemicals or ingredients that aren't so good for your body or the environment. Making your own products is the best way to avoid intrusive or inhumane ingredients (since you know exactly what's in it and how it's made) and pesky packaging (because you can use reusable containers and buy ingredients in bulk). If it isn't possible to substitute some, or even one, of your daily products for homemade, then try to support companies, products and people that are environmentally/ socially responsible. Educating yourself on - and being conscientious of - the important details of the products you make or buy can help you choose the more sustainable, healthier option for you and the planet. The Environmental Working Group has a database on their website that rates and verifies 'eco-friendly' products, and their site has some interesting info.: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ (for toiletries specifically). The following website has a list of some 'green' brands and suppliers:  http://www.greenchoices.org/green-living/toiletries-cosmetics/some-brands-suppliers. The Permaculture Research Institute website has a great article on 'DIY hygiene' for 'greener grooming':  http://permaculturenews.org/2014/06/19/diy-hygiene-greener-grooming/. And here's a blog that has collected over 100 do-it-yourself recipes for personal hygiene care:  http://dontmesswithmama.com/100-diy-beauty-recipes/.
• Getting dressed - Note the fabric of your clothes, which companies make them, where they're made and by whom, and where they were bought. Organic cotton or hemp are good choices, from ethical companies certified sustainable or 'green'. Made in the USA (not China, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.) is a good thing to support, or fair trade, and anything bought or made completely from smaller, local shops (co-ops, family-owned, for example) or individuals is best because in addition to other advantages it also helps stimulate your local economy. Sourcing or making your own material to make clothes yourself is a nearly 100% sustainable option, but maybe a little extreme for some. Don't forget to note the same details about shoes, jewelry, accessories and anything else possibly needed for the day (hat, umbrella, book bag, etc.) because they all come from somewhere, made out of something, by someone! Again, putting in some extra effort to research the details will assist you in making more conscientious choices about your consumption habits. This video, The Story of Stuff, perfectly explains the current situation of our consumption-based, earn-and-spend, capitalism economy and the threat it poses to the future of our planet (it has animation and is great to watch with kids!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=youtu.be. This article has information on more ethical clothing companies:  http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing. Here's a site which touches on many 'eco' and 'green' topics. It has a specific section with Sustainable Clothing Solutions but the site is full of all sorts of info to explore and learn:  http://www.globalstewards.org/clothing.htm.
• Eating breakfast and making lunch - As with the first two categories, it's important to question yourself about the details of your food consumption habits. Where did I buy it? Who grew/produced it? What's in it? How is it packaged and how is it disposed of? As with other products which affect the body, even more so with what you eat, it's crucial to know what exactly is in your food and to avoid harmful toxins and chemicals. Eating whole foods means less ingredients, less toxins and less packaging - especially if you grow or make whatever you can yourself. There are many food items that can be bought in bulk, too, for the things you must purchase. Supporting local farmers' stands and markets helps the local economy, as well as offers a variety of locally sourced food that is healthier (fruits, veggies, free-range meats and eggs, often with grass-fed and organic options) less-impactful (less packaging, less distance traveled for distribution, can use reusable bags) and money-saving (no transportation or middle-man costs means low prices for great produce). Remember, locally owned co-ops or natural food stores will often have more conscientious options than bigger, chain stores. This website has information about conscientious eating practices, among other things:  http://beyondfactoryfarming.org/get-informed/consumer-choice/conscientious-eating.  Here's a Time article with over 30 tips on eating in a more enviro-friendly way:  http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/24/33-ways-to-eat-environmentally-friendly/.  And this article has some eco-friendly eating tips for families:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-earthday-greeneating.html. 
• Going to school, work, etc. - To be conscientious of details throughout even the busiest times of the day, like during work or school, is tough but it's also meaningful and possible. Keep in mind resources and products consumed in this time and how much of them. Can you walk, bike, take public transportation or carpool with others to save fossil fuels? How/what can you turn off/power down to conserve energy? What can you do to create less food waste or any waste throughout the day? There's also intrinsic human values to be aware of such as being helpful and kind to others and the earth, assisting those in need or doing a good deed (like picking up trash) for instance. Even our attitudes towards things like other people, work or school, and all the little details in between, are something we can be conscious of and improve on if we choose. Here is an interesting post by Leo Babauta emphasizing similar ideas: http://zenhabits.net/conscious/.
• Afternoon activities, hobbies and chores - It's good for us (humans) to have these things, and it's even better if some extracurricular activities are beneficial to, not only ourselves, but others and the environment, as well. Things that make people happy and healthy like music and exercise are important, but so are things like volunteering or picking up trash, which also helps the earth and our fellow humans on it. From activities like gardening and art, to chores like loading the dishwasher, and everything in between, they all require decisions which can be made in a way that produces a more favorable outcome for all. Gardening can be done as often and sustainably as possible to conserve resources while getting more plants in the ground (for food, oxygen, beauty, etc.). Art in all its forms can be done in eco-friendly ways and is often an impactful way to raise awareness of issues. Chores can always be done in ways that are more conscientious, too. For example, loading the dishwasher, space should be fully utilized in order to conserve water, energy and product. Also, certain companies sell biodegradable dishwasher soap that comes in a cardboard box, or you can even make it at home pretty easily. When doing laundry, try to recognize anything that may not actually need to be washed (maybe it was only worn once and has no smells nor stains, or, if you have kids, maybe worn only five minutes and then strewn onto the floor), hang dry whenever possible to really conserve energy, and be cautious what you're using to wash the clothes that sit on your skin for hours at a time. Again, avoiding toxins and chemicals is ideal for our bodies and for the water which eventually flushes back into the environment. Here are more chore-efficiency ideas: http://www.enerchange.org/2012/10/greenify-your-household-chores/.
• Dinner - Same applies as with breakfast and lunch. The more you can conscientiously prepare for your day or week or certain situations, especially with food, the less waste you will create. For example: using your reusable cup for your morning coffee, tea, juice or smoothie; remembering the reusable bags (also rinsing and reusing the plastic produce bags) for grocery trips; buying whole foods that come in less packaging (bulk, grains, fruits, veggies) from local farms/markets/grocers; using reusable containers for leftovers (glass Pyrex is great); eating out at restaurants less to save money and avoid things like food waste or needing a to-go container (of which you can always bring your own); setting up a compost, even a small one, and maybe pots or beds with fruits or veggies (depending on climate and space availability) so you have free fertilizer and don't have to buy as much produce.
• Evening activities, events - What is it you choose to spend your money on or your time doing? Can you make whatever it is more conscientiously helpful in any little way? Or less harmfully impactful? 
• Bedtime - Just like getting ready in the morning, and being aware of all the same things. 

No one can be perfect about this stuff one hundred percent of the time and, again, that's not the point. The goal is to realize that each new choice (little things) is another chance to lessen our negative impact, and to make this world a little better somehow, not worse for future generations (big picture).

**Put It Into Practice**

What we choose to buy and where we choose to buy it (the little things), really has impact. In mass numbers, which the world clearly has, consumers have purchasing power that can determine  production practices (the big picture)! When the demand is high for companies and products that are conscious of the important details, it can become trendy and popular, others will want to follow suit and then, hopefully, it becomes the norm. This can happen with baby steps; becoming aware of our daily decisions, educating ourselves on our options and what our choices mean, and slowly integrating that knowledge and conscientiousness into our daily lives as much as possible because we are all consumers. We may not be able to be ECO-MAD all the time but that shouldn't stop us from trying to go ECO-MAD any chance we get. Remember, each action we take as individuals, and its consequences good or bad, collectively adds up and really matters in the long-run. We have control over our choices, and our future depends on us. 

Waste Not, Want Not

At any given moment, how many people in this world are littering? How many people are buying something with unnecessary (probably plastic) packaging? What's the number of people buying something they don't actually need? Or using an item of convenience that will shortly end up in a landfill and possibly never biodegrade? How many are doing more harm than good this very second because of one unconscious decision? Thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? Consumption and waste is a choice; you can choose to NOT be a wasteful person.

If everyone in the US picked up 10 pieces of litter today,
there would be 3 billion less pieces damaging our environment!

It's time humans use our evolved intelligence to check ourselves and our priorities when it comes to our lifestyles. It's past time we ask ourselves, what's really important in this world? What's really necessary in my life? We all possess the ability to make impactful, yet small, daily choices based on what's most sustainable for our future - and if we consider the other millions or billions of people making the same types of decisions every day - it's essential we train ourselves to exercise this power of conscientious choice a.s.a.p. If we keep choosing out of pure convenience, what cost will it have on our future? The corporations creating the products make profitable gains while the health of our planet and our species declines. Yes, the informed, more conscientious choices may require more effort at first, but when the future of our planet or species is at stake (whether it's now or in the distant future) I hope you feel the effort's worth it. There is always something more we can do to reduce our waste.

Enjoy what you already have. Encourage simplicity. Want less. Need less. Waste less. Pick up trash. Recycle as much as possible. Always choose reusable over disposable. Reduce plastic use in any and every way. Eat real, whole foods. Buy in bulk in glass containers. Support local farmer's markets and stores that buy from local farms. DIY. Grow your own food. Create your own things from scratch. Make products yourself. Inform yourself. Educate others. Choose wisely. Don't support cheap, unnecessary, single-use convenience (you're better off without it and so is the earth). Do what you can to lessen your impact and inspire others with your example. EXERT CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS - MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Go ECO-MAD!!

A quick, educational, inspiring video about a woman producing seriously minimal waste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYDQcBQUDpw

She also has a blog (Trash is For Tossers) and a TED talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF72px2R3Hg

Once you begin searching, there's a movement of people across the globe trying to live their lives in zero-waste fashion. Not only are they succeeding at producing nearly zero waste in today's world, but they're also setting examples, educating others, trying to change laws and minds of those in government office, and they are building a foundation for a healthier future. 

**Put It Into Practice**

Credible websites, independent news articles, objective documentaries, non-fiction books, and peer-reviewed journals, are some ways to get information, like where our 'stuff' comes from (don't forget the importance of fact-checking using multiple sources). Any extra effort is worth it because that knowledge gives us power. The more true facts we know about our products and the companies that make them, or our food and what's in it/where it comes from, the better we can understand the effects of its production and waste on our health, the earth's health, and the well-being of all those involved. The point this blog is (mainly) emphasizing is that every choice we make adds up so we must educate ourselves about our options and be conscientiously aware when making decisions of all kinds. If we are to ensure a quality future for ourselves and for generations to come, we must each assess our individual impact throughout our lifetime and truly understand the implications of sharing this earth with a constantly growing population of over 7 billion.

List of reusable alternatives: http://www.trashisfortossers.com/2013/08/zero-waste-alternatives-ultimate-list.html

Informative ways to reduce carbon footprint (lessen energy waste and pollution): https://www.carbonfund.org/reduce

ECO-MAD Eating is Caring

Humans waste a lot of food. Trust me, it's way worse than you could imagine and the consequences of food waste have lasting effects. About one-third of all food produced worldwide, worth around (US)$1 trillion, is lost or wasted according to a recent report by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Resources Institute. Every year, they say, consumers in industrialized countries waste almost as much food as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (222 million vs. 230 million tons)!!! The good news? You can help. You have the power to choose. You can decide what you grow, what you buy, what you cook, what you eat and what you waste.

EXERTING CONSCIENTIOUS OPTIONS when it comes to our eating habits MAKES A DIFFERENCE not only for our personal health, but also largely for the planet. Food consumption is a habitual action we - all 7.4 billion of us and counting - take 3 to 6 times daily. It's what sustains our energy and it directly affects the health of our body; not to mention, what we choose to eat has a serious, often permanent impact on the earth. The more people our environment must provide for, the bigger the burden on its resources (and the worse the consequences when so many lives are at stake).

This site has compelling, graphic, easy to understand information about the constantly, rapidly growing population:
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

What I hope this post encourages you to understand is that you have the power to make changes that can strengthen your own well-being and help the health of our world. Maybe you feel like you alone won't make much of a difference for the planet, but you're not alone. There are millions of individuals who share this environment and when many of us make the same sustainable choices, we are a powerful, instrumental force. Here are just a couple examples of the influence individuals can have when their efforts are multiplied... If everyone in the U.S. ate no meat or cheese just one day a week for a year, it would be like taking 7.6 million cars off the road, according to Environmental Working Group. Or if 150 million people (half the U.S. population) eliminated seafood from their diet then about nearly 34 billion (yes BILLION) fish would remain in the ocean every year! This is a simple math concept but here's my source website for this stat.

Cuba waters teeming with life.

Oceans are most vital to our balance of life on this beautiful blue planet, and this is a fantastic documentary (from 2012) with amazing high def cinematography and essential information about the relationship between humans and the earth. Everyone should watch this and take its implications seriously, because whether or not we choose to be conscientious and take some personal responsibility, serious and destructive forces of human nature are constantly at work.

**Put It Into Practice**

In order to really create change, we must individually educate ourselves on what is best for our bodies as well as what eating habits support a more sustainable lifestyle so as to benefit our exponential population growth. If you have children, which most likely means at some point you will have grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren and so on, then it is even more important (and highly necessary) to educate them on these issues so pertinent and imperative for their future. It is ideal to teach children about all aspects of food and health, as well as, help them learn to be inquisitive, innovative, and interested in seeking the truth so they know how to empower themselves with knowledge. There are many websites, books, articles, etc. dedicated to helping people make choices that are healthy and more sustainable for themselves and this planet we call ours, we just have to decide to pay attention. We can do it, spread the word!

These websites are a good start to educating yourself on the issue, though there are countless resources:
http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/food_waste_the_facts
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf
http://www.endfoodwastenow.org/index.php/resources/facts
http://www.thinkeatsave.org