Years ago (maybe 2011 or 2012) I remember going to an environmental day held at a library in a very wealthy suburb (Mosman Park/Peppermint grove) - I didn't live in that suburb, but the day was expressly open to anyone in my city
And every single thing they said people should do was something that required more physical energy than I had, and they were framing it as "all of these things are easy and effortless"
and I came away thinking "...and where are the environmental tips for chronically ill people?" I found it really disheartening and depressing and a bit dehumanising - the way they framed it as OF COURSE all humans can do X, Y, Z made me feel less-than-human in the eyes of the people giving the talks or participating in the audience discussions.
Before COVID broke out in my city, I made a point of trying to give away stuff on Buy Nothing or to my local library so that it could have a second life. It was a big effort for me, but I thought it was worth it. I plan to do that again if cases ever go below 500 per day. (At the moment cases are 8731/per day)
I also run glass and plastic thru the dishwasher so that I can put it in recycling bin. It is a major effort for me, but I figure it is The Thing I can Do. Sometimes I throw out plastic containers into the rubbish-rubbish bin rather than [the dishwasher + recycling bin] because I'm exhausted and the containers pile up faster than I can deal with (I literally have a whole lounge/dining room full of piles of rubbish waiting to be sorted), but I make a point of always, ALWAYS dishwashering the glass.
I also chop up cardboard boxes so they can fit into my recycling bin (rather than putting them in the red rubbish-rubbish bin), which is another major effort for me.
Also I've been fighting ants and not reaching for any ant poison because I have fence skinks/geckos/frogs/willie wagtails and I don't want any of them to eat poisoned ants and get sick themselves.
I have two frog ponds, both of which cost effort to keep free of algae and rubbish.
I've been vegetarian since I was 13 years old. (I'm 45 now.)
I share a lot of environmental/conservation information on Facebook, both my personal Facebook and also [My Suburb Name] community notices and chat group.
I'm a member of The Greens and I always vote Greens 1.
I wish I could do more.
I'd like to be able to say yes when the Greens ask me to volunteer to do doorknocking or letterboxing leaflets or handing out how to votes on election day, but even before COVID that wasn't something I could do.
I'd like to pay extra for green electricity, but I can't afford it.
I'd like to use less electricity, but chronic illness/chronic pain means I need a lot of air conditioning and a lot of heating.
I also use a TONNE of single-use disposable thin vinyl gloves due to my skin issues. (Thicker reusable rubber gloves are not suitable for what I use them for)
I was expressing my frustration/guilt/feelings of inadequacy to my friend T, who is a science communicator and very permaculture and environmental, and T said "You should do what you can do, and not feel bad about what you can't do"
I do think we as a society would benefit from "You don't have to be perfect, but do what you can, when you can - it's better for 100% of people to do the right thing 50% of the time than for 50% of the people to do the right thing 100% of the time..."
no subject
And every single thing they said people should do was something that required more physical energy than I had, and they were framing it as "all of these things are easy and effortless"
and I came away thinking "...and where are the environmental tips for chronically ill people?" I found it really disheartening and depressing and a bit dehumanising - the way they framed it as OF COURSE all humans can do X, Y, Z made me feel less-than-human in the eyes of the people giving the talks or participating in the audience discussions.
Before COVID broke out in my city, I made a point of trying to give away stuff on Buy Nothing or to my local library so that it could have a second life. It was a big effort for me, but I thought it was worth it. I plan to do that again if cases ever go below 500 per day. (At the moment cases are 8731/per day)
I also run glass and plastic thru the dishwasher so that I can put it in recycling bin. It is a major effort for me, but I figure it is The Thing I can Do. Sometimes I throw out plastic containers into the rubbish-rubbish bin rather than [the dishwasher + recycling bin] because I'm exhausted and the containers pile up faster than I can deal with (I literally have a whole lounge/dining room full of piles of rubbish waiting to be sorted), but I make a point of always, ALWAYS dishwashering the glass.
I also chop up cardboard boxes so they can fit into my recycling bin (rather than putting them in the red rubbish-rubbish bin), which is another major effort for me.
Also I've been fighting ants and not reaching for any ant poison because I have fence skinks/geckos/frogs/willie wagtails and I don't want any of them to eat poisoned ants and get sick themselves.
I have two frog ponds, both of which cost effort to keep free of algae and rubbish.
I've been vegetarian since I was 13 years old. (I'm 45 now.)
I share a lot of environmental/conservation information on Facebook, both my personal Facebook and also [My Suburb Name] community notices and chat group.
I'm a member of The Greens and I always vote Greens 1.
I wish I could do more.
I'd like to be able to say yes when the Greens ask me to volunteer to do doorknocking or letterboxing leaflets or handing out how to votes on election day, but even before COVID that wasn't something I could do.
I'd like to pay extra for green electricity, but I can't afford it.
I'd like to use less electricity, but chronic illness/chronic pain means I need a lot of air conditioning and a lot of heating.
I also use a TONNE of single-use disposable thin vinyl gloves due to my skin issues. (Thicker reusable rubber gloves are not suitable for what I use them for)
I was expressing my frustration/guilt/feelings of inadequacy to my friend T, who is a science communicator and very permaculture and environmental, and T said "You should do what you can do, and not feel bad about what you can't do"
I do think we as a society would benefit from "You don't have to be perfect, but do what you can, when you can - it's better for 100% of people to do the right thing 50% of the time than for 50% of the people to do the right thing 100% of the time..."