Thanksgiving Thoughts

Here in America it's Turkey Day. Nearly everyone will either be playing or watching football and fighting the sleepy effects of the tryptophan naturally found in their every bite of gobbler. Since laziness will rule the day it's appropriate to share thoughts of thanks prior to partaking in these gluttonously fulfilling festivities.

What a year it's been. Volatile? Yes. But that's what happens when a massive shift is underway in the world. Global power is being traded, our financial systems are in complete overhaul under the weight of a collapse fueled by greed, and governments are being challenged in ways they didn't quite expect just ten years ago. In Thailand the people are protesting (hope none of you were trying to get in or out of Bankock today as airports are closed). In India an organized terror attack was carried out yesterday. And in the US so many people are going broke, food banks were having trouble filling turkey orders (some serving chicken).

Although events like these are worrisome, there is still so much to be thankful for. Shifting and progression are natural. Life is nothing more than change. All structures are temporary.

It's certain some of what we will go through in order to come out on the other side of these challenges will suck. Yes, even we have lost money in various markets this year. But we'll pull it together. In fact, we'll all just have to pull it together. The good thing about challenge, whether it's a family issue or a global restructurization, is that it causes people to think deeper; think bigger. Deeper reflection will help guide the way. For this, there is a great deal of thanks to be given. Have a wonderful thanksgiving, everybody.

Tips For Thanks And a Conservation Christmas

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we march toward the Christmas holiday. Contemplating an appropriate post for a dramatic year, an unexpected e-mail arrived. A reader shared with us that she commends our attempt at cutting back our oil use/dependency. Lamenting her own inability to give up her “bus” as required by the needs and safety of her children, we pointed out that conservation efforts can occur on a multitude of levels, and that her methods needn’t specifically mirror our own. Anyway, in this inspirational e-exchange, our reader asked us to post a few ideas, as well as one of her own. This is no way constitutes a complete list, but this being a great idea, we’ll continue to post interesting finds. As the holidays continue to unfold, we thank all of you for your kind words, kudos and the appreciation some of you have shown for the conservation efforts of two small people in the world.

Happy Holidays to all! Good luck implementing any of the following conservation tips:

Install fluorescent light bulbs to ensure reductions in energy use.
Install adequate insulation in your home to ensure reductions in energy use.
Buy recycled products when available, i.e. recycled paper towels.
Recycle your glass, newspaper and plastics in areas where recycling is available.
Reduce use of plastic bottles - mountains of plastic bottles end up in landfills.
Investigate personal product choice – use your dollars to cast favorable VOTEs for companies practicing conservative production methods.
Designate an area of your yard for compost.
Install a rain barrel and use it for yard watering. Reductions in water use also reduce energy use in areas where hydropower is the source of electricity generation.
Repair dripping faucets or leaky toilets.
Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth and shorten showering time.
Carpool.
Use public transportation just once or twice a week to reduce use of fossil fuels, and still keep your car for really busy days.
Turn off the lights. You’ll look foxier by candelight anyway.
Don’t buy a fake Christmas tree. Think lead dust and crowded landfills.
Plug TV, VCR, DVD, Stereo system, computers, etc. into a surge protection plug. Power the whole mess off at the surge protector to stop electrical “leak” into the electronics.
Turn off your car and curb pollution while waiting at the drive-thru, school pick-up area or bank drive-up ATM.
Buy locally grown foods to combat fossil fuel use in long distance food shipments. Check out this cool mashup from www.GoGreenCharleston.org to find local food sources.
Last, simply buy less.

Still haven't had enough? Here are ten more.

As always, feel free to post your comments and include other green tips or conservation ideas we’ve not listed here. Ya’ll take care!