There's no question that "going green" is officially trendy. How many times have you encountered the term "eco chic" or been hipped to the fact that "green is the new black"? Of course, this is one seriously high-stakes trend; if it doesn't stick, the earth is pretty much screwed. And while I'm somewhat encouraged by consumer fascination with non-toxic cosmetics, organic designer clothing and restaurants serving up local, seasonal fare, I can't help but be skeptical about how much good the commercial aspect of the green movement can actually achieve, narrowly targeted as it is toward upper-middle-class, well-educated and image-conscious consumers. As I see more and more high-end eco-friendly boutiques, spas and salons popping up around town, I can't help but feel that people are missing the point: Going green isn't about acquiring more stuff, regardless of how sustainably produced that stuff may be.
This, of course, presents a dilemma for those of us who have settled into a comfortable consumerist groove. Buying new things couldn't be easier. "Honey, we're almost out of toilet paper." "No problem -- I'll go to Target while I'm out today. What else do we need?" The next thing you know, you're coming home with multiple plastic bags full of mass-produced stuff: clothing, cleaning supplies, cereal, maybe some plastic toys to placate the tyke, etc. This is how most of us have grown accustomed to operating. It's instant gratification of the most mundane sort.
I myself have trouble breaking this pattern. Sure, our house has solar panels and I drive a Prius. But I've forgotten my reusable bags on plenty of occasions, I sometimes pick up food to go in Styrofoam containers, and I don't use cloth diapers on my baby. As carbon footprints go, mine is still looking pretty damn American.
To get my butt in gear, I'm telling myself that "green" is the new punk. I'm talking real green, not that eco chic BS. Here's how I see it: The punk rock movement and living a low-impact life both embrace the DIY spirit, and when interpreted in their purest form, both essentially reject the conventions of society, e.g. a big suburban home and all the convenient trappings that come along with it.
I'm not so sure my punk rock proposal is going to make tree-hugging converts out of my luxury SUV-driving compadres (hell, my own husband falls into that category, and I'm not kicking him -- or the adjustable lumbar support in his Audi Q5 -- out of bed), but I'm hoping it will appeal to the rebel in all of us. I'm not delusional; I hardly expect society to reject the deeply ingrained capitalist values that have gotten us into our current predicament. I know very well that the best we can hope for at this point is conscious (and conscientious) consumerism. But we're all going to have to get a hell of a lot more conscious real quick if we expect to make any progress whatsoever.
Next week, I'm going to post 10 tips for becoming a greener Angeleno. I've got my list started, but would love to hear from all of you green superstars out there to help me round it out. Please comment below or contact me directly if you have any excellent ideas to share.