Standing in the checkout line at a local craft store, a customer ahead of me was considering purchasing one of the store's reusable shopping bags. While she was admiring the whimsical pattern of the shopping bag, she noticed the words "go green" along the outer edge of the bag. I was taken aback by her indignant response...she quickly hung the shopping bag back on the stand and proclaimed that she "was tired of having "that" shoved down her throat". That being the reference to going green.
Perhaps stranger still is that the bags she was considering are so clearly part of the "Go Green" effort so why the surprise and indignation? As you can tell, the incident truly struck a chord with me and got me thinking deeper about the green movement.
Is respecting our environment too much to ask? Is taking responsibility for the conservation of the natural resources that this planet provides such a chore? When did we lose sight of the core democratic value of the common good; when we are all working together for the greater benefit of everyone in our community?
Ask not what your planet can do for you, but what you can do to protect your planet.
The simple act of recycling is something that everyone embraces. The Go Green movement, however, has been politicized at the highest levels of government and industry all over the world for political purposes and economic gain. I suspect that is the reason for the "disgust reflex".
Posted by: StellaP | April 12, 2011 at 03:58 AM
I think society is waking up now the threat of environmental disasters. You see companies do their share and civic groups preaching about the green way.
Posted by: wholesale clothing | November 22, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Very interesting story! I feel like I am still ramping up on living green, but I could see how some people thinks it's overkill. I wonder if this is a result of greenwashing?
Posted by: All Natural Katie | January 30, 2012 at 02:55 PM
Btw, I came from the Reduce Footprints Blog Hop!
Posted by: All Natural Katie | January 30, 2012 at 02:56 PM