Recently, I finished reading "No Impact Man" by Colin Beavan. For one
year, Colin Beavan swore off plastic and toxins, turned off his
electricity, went organic, became a bicycle nut, and tried to save the
planet from environmental catastrophe while dragging his young daughter
and his Prada-wearing wife along for the ride. Together they attempted
to make zero impact on the environment while living right in the heart
of Manhattan, and this is the sensational, funny, and
consciousness-raising story of how they did it. With
No Impact Man, Beavan found that no-impact living is worthwhile--and richer, fuller, and more satisfying in the bargain.
I would
recommend it to anyone who wants to live more lightly on the Earth. The
author isn't a guilt-tripper...He's funny, self-reflective and inspiring
and, as my Mom says, "I
heartily recommend it to any and all of you...it's extreme, but one
picks up practical ideas from this tale of intentional living that someone at any level
of 'sustainable living' will find useful."
Though the author makes the point that unless our society collectively makes
the decisions to move towards a more earth-friendly agenda, individuals
have a steep, uphill climb trying to do it on their own. At the same
time he says that every bit helps/matters and encourages people to get
involved with volunteer opportunities that align with their values so
one doesn't feel so alone. Great book!
And, for a shorter read on the topic of reducing one's household waste, here's an inspiring article from the Washington Post which interviews several people about their attempts to become a zero-waste household.
