Tuesday, July 15, 2008

oh, and by the way, it was the chalk the broke the boycotts back (for a moment anyway)

Just in case any of you out there were thinking that I was some eco friendly goody two shoes- I want you to know I have my moments of weakness.

I already told you about not re-using my compostable cups at Rothbury. Well, I must also confess that in the last month I have purchased a totally unnecessary dress, a tube top made in Cambodia (both brand new off the shelf), made in china camping supplies, and a giant bucket of made in china chalk for the boy. I think my worst global offense is today's lunch: a Wendy's hamburger and fries with a doctor pepper on the side.

I kind of think it is out of my system now and I promise to be good for awhile.

Reflecting on this little momentary lapse in ethical purchasing only makes me realize how far I have come in the last few years. When looking at the whole picture, I live a much more sustainable lifestyle than I did five years ago, but it took drastic measures to get here. It took being a vegetarian for 7 years to make healthy eating something I take for granted, and it took boycotting china for a year and half to make impulse purchasing a few and far between recreational activity. So, now I throw in the occasional hamburger or tube top, but I stop and think about it first. For most of my life, if I had the cash and wanted it, it was mine.

Either that or I have an incredible gift for rationalization anyway. Whichever the case, I am good with it for now. I think I will skip on the Wendy's for a long while anyway. My stomach feels like crap. Good thing I am taking the dog for a walk again tonight.

4 comments:

goodwolve said...

Super size me was enough to make me never want fast food again!

Shannon said...

See, about 10 years ago I read Diet For a New World and it changed my life. It is still my most beloved cook book to date as well.

Since then I have read and seen a thousand books and movies on the subject, looking to be re-inspired to vegetarianism, and nothing has really affected me very profoundly.

I think I have read too much on the subject now because it just sounds like wah wah wah wah wah, like that teacher from Charlie Brown. Morally- I am opposed to the mass animal industry- for sure. I guess I just don't always live up to my morals.

Supersize me was pretty good though. Didn't that same guy make another movie? What was it?

and btw, goodwolve, I am totally reading your blog everyday. I have just been too wrapped up in Rothbury to comment on anyone else's blog!

Maggie May said...

your posts make me feel chummy. i love your conversational and honest tone-

i want to read Diet For a New World.

Shannon said...

Honestly Maggie, it isn't the best book out there on the subject, and the information is probably really outdated by now. It just happens to be the book that swayed little old 20 year old me in vegetarianism.

and thank you for saying that. I try :)

Bookshelf

Shannon's currently-reading book montage

The Complete Poems
Collected Poems
Kenya: Between Hope and Despair, 1963-2011
Anti-Bias Education for young children and ourselves
I Laugh So I Won't cry: kenya's Women Tell the Stories of Their Lives
How to Be Compassionate: a Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier World
Children
The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach Advanced Reflections
The Secret Garden


Shannon's favorite books »

Shannon's read-in-2012 book montage

Rethinking Early Childhood Education
Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children
Safari Animals
Young Children Reinvent Arithmetic: Implications of Piaget's theory (early childhood education series
Total Learning: Developmental Curriculum for the Young Child
Clinical Supervision and Teacher Development


Shannon's favorite books »
}