ConservingNow Community Change

Currently, here in America, everyone is talking about the flu - seasonal and swine flu.  Just this morning I was tracking down locations where I could get vaccinated against the flu.  Turns out, here in Northern California, there is a shortage on all flu vaccines, making them very difficult to obtain.  There's even an article in Washington Post about the abuse doctors have been taking from their patients over the shortages.  I know you are probably wondering what all of this has to do with plastic bags - well, the answer is everything and nothing.  More specifically, I think the answer is inter-connectedness.  The swine flu epidemic is proof positive that we are all on this planet together.  I am facing the same challenges and diseases as citizens of South American countries, Asian countries, European countries, etc.  The world is no longer an isolated place, and its time we realize that our actions (or inaction) affects everyone on the planet.  And that's the truth - but more importantly and closer to home, our actions reflect on our neighbors, in our communities, and more broadly, in our cities and towns.  No, its not your plastic bag by the side of the road that you drive on to take your children to school or to go to work - but it could be.  It could be mine or my best friend's or my next door neighbor's.

Its not something we think about every day.  The floating plastic island is partially my fault.  For too long I let retailers think that it was okay to supply me with loads of plastic bags as I was leaving their stores.  I wasn't thinking about my community or my actions.  I was thinking about conveniently transporting my purchases from the store, to my car, to my home.  

It takes an epidemic.  It takes an epidemic to make us wash our hands and sneeze into the crook of our elbows.  Same for plastic bags.  Our environment is suffering a plastic bag epidemic.  Its choking our water ways, polluting our landscapes and killing our wildlife.  The plastic bag epidemic requires our immediate action.  Its more than just bringing your own bags (which is fanstic every time that you do), its about telling retailers that you don't want to see plastic bags in their stores, and that you will make different shopping and purchasing choices based on their decision to continue to use plastic bags.  Much like washing our hands twenty times a day, letting retailers know our preferences is a constant effort.  But one that I, my best friend and my next door neighbor thank you for.  Your neighbor, loved ones and best friend thank you as well.   

We are all in this together.  That's what swine flu has taught us.  Our actions, though we may not see it at the time, affect all of us.  On a global scale.  So as you are thinking about the flu and your families and loved ones, think about plastic bags and the enivronment.  It needs your love and consideration as well.  We all do.