The Audi “Green Police” Super Bowl commercial last night was a major letdown for many environmentalists (not all), as well as a major shot in the arm for extremists on both sides.  I think it was a marketing fail on Audi’s behalf not to take a more grounded approach… or at least hit their target properly.  And I explain why here on AshleySue.

FYI, flowers are lovely and all, but incredibly eco-unfriendly.  Particularly when you’re talking the scale of the Rose Bowl Parade.  Doubting they are grown with much concern for toxins, not to mention the global transport for these flowers.  I have no doubt by refusing to watch the parade I am making a difference, too.

Meh.

Oh yeah, and HAPPY 2010!  I’m thirty now!

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

I posted before why I hesitate bicycling around town, but I figured getting runover was my biggest concern.  Now we have to contend with being shot for bicycling… by a firefighter?  With our child strapped to the bike?  And our spouse bicycling beside us?  Really?!

Sustainably… and safely yours,  Ashley Sue

Quick updates:

At the beginning of next week, I should be posting a contest to win a $50 Earth Fare gift card! Yay! Who doesn’t adore Earth Fare’s delectable, healthy, conscientious grocer selection and body care?! I know I have been thrilled to familiarize myself with Earth Fare! So keep an eye out for that NEXT WEEK!

Until then, for today (Friday, 26 June 2009), you can print out this coupon to visit your local Earth Fare and receive a FREE PRE-MADE DELI SANDWICH! I personally am excited for the coupon, so feel free to bump into me at Earth Fare!

Also, I attended the third annual Mountain Green Conference at Warren Wilson College ~ and I have a true plethora of information to share. From sealing your thermal envelope of your house, reducing air leaks and drafts, greener automechanics, building science, owls, local foods, beekeeping, the groundbreaking historic measures of WWC, NASCAR, and some generally nifty (albeit common sense) knowledge, posts are coming!

Bonus: posts of my Pisgah National Forest retreat will be coming too!

Lastly, HUGELY, I will spend part of this weekend and next week doing a MASSIVE overhaul of this website layout.  I have a lot of issues with the functionality and aesthetics of this theme, so I will be designing a CSS to make it better suited for (g)g and my purposes.  So get excited about that ~ I am!  This is LONG overdue change!

Hoorah!

Cheers to you all ~
See you at Earth Fare today!

Sustainably yours,
Ashley Sue

Browsing through various news on green life on the grounded “every American” level, I found a blogpost from the NYTimes showing a Gallup Poll this month indicating that, for the first time in over two decades, Americans feel considerations for the economy trump environmental concerns.

According to this post, another recent Gallup Poll shows that the majority of Americans believe global warming threats are greatly exaggerated.  People ask me about this constantly.

A friend and mentor on Twitter pointed out that polls can be “useless” and “confusing”.  That is true.  The mere wording of a question can greatly alter how people respond to it.  The source also has to be considered because, as I have heard many times, anyone can find the result they want if they try.

I can easily see where Americans would feel that environmental issues need to be overlooked for now if it could mean saving our flailing economy.  Too many Americans are in daily survival mode.   Spending large amounts of money and time on more expensive alternative energies, organic foods, and other “green” endeavors seems unjustified to many.

If you couple the “economy v. environment” debate with the “is global warming a farce?” debate, you can truly see why people would choose economic stability initiatives at the sacrifice of environmental efforts.

These either/or arguments are short-sighted and highly deficient, however, and stem from a mix of media chaos and one-way thinking.  

Traditional news media love to propogate/slam global warming, economic fears, and right-wing/left-wing rhetoric.  If we stay afraid, if we pit against each other, if we only hear the extreme perspectives, we will cling to the news media for more information that confirms what we want confirmed.

Feeling that the economy can only be saved at the sacrifice of the environment or that the environment will only be saved at the sacrifice of a sound economy is simply a lack of knowledge regarding history and economics.

Whether you personally want economic stability, a healthy family, farmers who are paid well, a thriving city life and career, or a lush yard in the country, each of these comes down to environmental welfare.  

While moving into a “green” lifestyle or environmentally-minded decisions requires cost analysis and consideration, the forethought to know saving a dime right now can cost us exponentially in the near future is what will thrive in the new economy.  

Capitalism will reward careful thought and implementation of environmentalism in the economy.

So decide if you actually need to watch that extra half-hour of news media, consider the source of the information you receive, take a giant breath in, exhale, and know somehow, someway, we can all be OK, including our environment.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

In honor of Earth Day, I figure I should share a completely beautiful and inspiring video of David Gottfried and Van Jones discussing what we are working toward and how this transformation is happening.

You could certainly say I am drinking the Van Jones kool-aid.  After all, he’s beautiful, he’s a humanitarian, he’s intelligent, he’s positive, he’s insistent.  Why would I fight that?

Truly, take a few minutes to fall captive to the video on urban renewal and environmental progress for a new world.

And take a minute to smile.  Take a deep, rejuvenating breath, exhale, and smile.

Happy Earth Day!

Sustainably yours ~ Ashley Sue

People who care for the natural environment tend to embrace or reject many labels.  Greenies.  Environmentalists.  Conservationists.  Conservatives.  Liberals.  Hunters.  Vegetarians.  Gas guzzler.  Clean coal.  Wasteful.  Shop-a-holic.  Hybrid.  Republicans.  Just kidding about that last one, by the way, and feeding on the stereotype of a Treehugger.

Environmentalists are blamed by some for hating.  A lot.

Seriously, Google “Environmentalists hate”, which I did to see what kinds of words would pop up.  ”Solar”, “Grass”,  ”America”, “blacks”, “minorities”, “the poor”, and “humans” all make the list of who and what environmentalists seek to destroy.

Googling “anti-green” yielded interesting results, too.  As it turns out, a slew of webpages devoted either  to railing the environmental movement due to people feeling annoyed by “greenie” superiority complexes or to proving the environmental movement theories as we know it to be wrong.  A couple were just humor blogs… and some, I frankly could not tell how serious they were.  Just look here, here, here and here for a few examples of these sites.

My biggest issue, however, are those that are sustainability and conservation-minded basing each other.  The ends do not justify the means for many, and the semantics over how to achieve a healthy ecosystem create confusion, misunderstandings, and blatant failure of communication.

After all, when is the last time you heard a “vegetarian” speak nicely of a “hunter”, or vice versa?

I attended the Dixie Deer Classic ~ a hunting type of convention at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh a couple weekends ago.  I brought a video camera because I wanted to ask some hunters to share their visions of conservation and environmentalism for my blog.

I realized, however, being approached by a vegetarian “greenie” with a video camera may be a little threatening and questionable.  So instead, I simply opted for conversation.

As it turns out, I spoke at great length with the Wake County Wildlife Club, and learned a lot.  I will be sharing, shortly, more regarding that conversation, some of the inspirations I gained from that weekend, and questions that arose for me.

Thus, I bring you a Green Grounded featurette ~ “Face of Sustainability”.  Starting this week, I will occasionally chronicle one person, one every day normal person, who in lengths great, small, or controversial, are environmentalists.

I look forward to bringing you this segment, and if you are in the Asheville or Raleigh area and would like to share your views, feel free to contact me.

Until then…

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

After my quick post questioning Costco as being a blessing or a blight to the communities it serves, I intended to write on more general levels for follow-up posts.  Which will happen…

Then, however, Jo commented regarding a Costco proposal for New Brunswick.  The Costco in question could be destroying wetlands in order to bring forth their mega-store.  Many residents are rallying to defeat the giant from entering their community.  On the other side, some citizens support the expansion.  From the previously linked articles to a Facebook group regarding the controversy, comments show support both for and against Costco.  Philip Lee is chronicling the advances and debate within the community (like here, here and here).  The comments section from the Daily Gleaner article chronicles those that simply hate Costco, those that blindly love it, and those that think it will be good for their community, but not at that location.  Anywhich way, this is certainly of major concern for environmentalists.

It is hard to label a company as leading corporate America in sustainability if they build a gasoline bar in a wetlands lot.  On the contrary, perhaps that is a sign of corporate America… not perfect, but progressing.

Turns out, Costco alone seems to deserve a thorough look-over on Green Grounded.

To be fair, I am starting with support of Costco because I feel like positive is the natural start in a compare and contrast.  Maybe that is just me, but I am not apologizing for it.

The Good of Costco (through my perspective):

~ Rwanda’s President recently thanked Starbucks for using Rwandan coffee and boosting the farm community there.  Starbucks became involved with Rwandan coffee farms upon suggestion and coordination from Costco’s CEO Jim Sinegal.

~ Costco is a big fan of solar energy, both using and selling.

~ Costco CEO Jim Sinegal works to put transparency in his company.  Huge.  Pays their employees well with great benefits. Some stakeholders aren’t impressed.  Yet, Costco, unlike one of their major competitors, is known for taking good care of their staff, even encouraging “van pools” to reduce gas use and price-effect for employees.

~ Though most produce and florals are not local, many are still supporting great environmental causes.

~ Costco takes your unwanted electronics, and even pays for some, for recycling.

~ My personal joys:  they have many biodegradable soaps and products from great Triple-Bottom Line companies, they carry a large variety of hormone-and-antibiotic-free meats for Marc, they have organic juices and fairtrade chocolates I can get for gifts or for our home, and, yes, I like things being cheaper there… meaning…

~ Many people in the lower-rung of the middle-class are upon very difficult times.  People are out of jobs, people who have jobs are taking pay and benefit cuts, yet we still have to pay all of our bills and buy groceries and buy gas to get to work.  These are real issues, right now, for a growing sector of our society.

Now with the bad of Costco:

~ Mega-box chains do perpetuate suburban sprawl.  Lots of people still do not mind sprawl, but it is inherently bad for a community.  The chain is always more concerned with making money than protecting that individual community, meaning location choice can be quite damaging.  Such as with the Fredericton, New Brunswick case.

~ For every item Costco sells that is eco-friendly and sustainably-oriented, they also continue to sell “a totally unnecessary product with extraordinarily bad consequences”, such as air-in-a-can convenience office-cleaning product.

~ As with today’s greenwashing trends, Costco, like many other retailers, does carry some products that market themselves as “green” but are highly skeptic, if not disproved, by the environmental community.

~ Costco carries plastic bottled water.  I get it, people like their plastic-bottled water.  Regardless, it bites.

~ Costco carries a large number of “individually packaged” products.  Drinks bottles, cheezy poofella pouches, etc. for easy lunch-box packing or for mass crowds.  These items have their use, but that does not make them environmentally sound.

~ Even buying a major national pharmaceutical product there (like we do ~ as it is much cheaper) hurts a local business owner who you could be buying from.

Costco shopping round up:

Buying from the local coop, or even the local Earthfare / Wholefoods just is not a realistic option for many Americans right now.  I blew through money buying local organic fairtrade in 2008.  Some of those products came from Costco.  Now, Marc and I are really having to decide where and what we can buy.  Basically, we are having to decide on a case-by-case basis, every day, what our priorities are in accordance to what we can afford.  That is unfortunate and true.

I am not advocating throwing one’s hands up at spending more for local / organic / fairtrade, but we each have to find the balance we (individually) can afford with the reality of today.

Today, I heard a coworker saying he does not support Wholefoods because they carry produce from Chile.  While that environmentally is a valid energy concern, I feel we cannot hang Wholefoods’ Chilean produce as hypocritical to the green movement if we consumers are drinking coffee or tea in our daily routine.  Or consuming chocolate.  Those products are grown down the road.

I argue the answer lies in finding the balance.

If you can afford to buy only local / organic / fairtrade, kudos.  Further, advocating conscientious buying habits amidst your peers is always Rockstar.  Questioning corporations and demanding transparency, promoting progressive goals, and striving for triple bottom line standards is necessary.

Whether or not you can afford to buy only local /organic / fairtrade, considering our fellow humans, both those working on farms, and those living two blocks over, is the most important part of community.  My organic coffee helps workers not be exposed to poisons and gives them a decent wage to live on.  The fact that my in-laws (both jobless due to unavoidable circumstances) cannot afford to indulge in such things as $10 lb. coffee is also something I refuse to hold against them.  I do what I can, and they do what they can. 

…and what I “can do” is becoming increasingly less during this time of my life.

I, for one, will continue my Costco love/hate membership for a third year.

I will do my best with what they offer and what I can afford to buy elsewhere.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

In case you hadn’t heard, “green jobs visionary” Van Jones joins the Obama Administration.  Heading to Washington, Jones will be our new Green Jobs Advisory.

With an economy and media that are spinning fear in every direction as to what tomorrow will hold, I hope that this is a part of the “Change We Can Believe In” and “Hope”  I voted.

If you don’t know who Van Jones is, check out Green For All, as well as these links (here, here, and here) for some info.  Plus, you can hear an interview with Van Jones in Yes! Magazine here.

Or, you can simply visit Van Jones’ personal website.

Cheers to a better tomorrow than today,

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

Last night, with two people I had just met, I had an amazing conversation regarding definitions.  What is “sustainability”?  What does “greener living” actually mean?  Are there actual standards for these words.

Sean, a new friend, brought up something about Michelin determining nine new initiatives for the company and that six of them focus on sustainability.  According to the conversation, the spokesperson was asked to define what sustainability meant to the company, and the answer was something along the lines of being able to continue manufacturing the best tires on the road, to provide continued work to their employees, etc.

I realized how, skeptics that we are, such an answer often provokes sneers and jeers from environmentalists.  Likewise, for skeptics of environmentalism, such an answer is used as fuel to argue what a joke “sustainability” is.

“Ha!  They’ve defined it themselves.  Their ’sustainability’ has nothing to do with the environment and is all about their bottom line!  Both ’sustainability’ and corporate America are a joke!” both sides say.

To you, I cheerfully say, WAKE UP!  Welcome to the triple bottom line, and realize that measures toward social, environmental, and financial progress is the ultimate answer to our societal and economic ails.

Simply put, I do not believe “sustainability” can be singularly defined.  Honestly, any corporate entity must look at more than their “environmental impact” in deciding the “right” way to conduct business.  

Taking care of employees is vital to corporate and personal sustainability.  This includes affordable health care.  Reasonable pay for work rendered.  Cutting outrages bonuses from execs when times get tough for the nation.  These tactics keep the business afloat (hopefully) during recessions and shows employees gratitude for their hard work by rewarding them with the promise of health to their families.

Environmentally, in many ways, making your building more energy efficient and initiating gas-conservation tactics for your fleet help the environment.  Sometimes, those initiatives cost more initially, but will dramatically reduce expenses in the long term.  Thus, what is “right” for the environment is also “right” for the company bank account.  

 We would love to think companies are thinking more altruistically in these times, but honestly, UPS didn’t “Go Green” purely so that Indian will stop crying.  They knew they would save money, and the goodwill from the citizens that their efforts earned give them PR that no money can buy.  Genius.

If that turns you off from UPS and other companies making “greener” efforts, think again.  Regardless of their motives, consider how much of a difference UPS makes alone on airline emissions:

With almost 600 jets, the Atlanta company ranks as one of the biggest airlines in the world. As part of its environmental effort to curb emissions, UPS is looking to cut down on the amount of fuel its planes consume by reducing the amount of time jets spend idling on the tarmac before they take off, UPS chief information officer David Barnes tells the Business Technology Blog.

That doesn’t even take into account their ground fleet of hybrids, efficient routing, paperless invoices, etc.  Kudos to them!  I do not ask why they chose these efforts.  I applaud their commitment to progress and reevaluation.

I may not agree with many practices of Walmart, but I have even stopped touting them as the Anti-Christ because of their continued efforts to be more environmentally sound.  Now, if they would focus on the social aspect of the Triple Bottom Line… but I digress.

After Sean got me thinking about our terminology and what a joke it is, I still have to say, I feel more optimistic and empowered than ever.  Whether these companies have progressive, conscientious CEOs, or whether they feel the heat of consumer demands and expectations, or even if these companies are looking for the best ways to save money without resorting to sweatshops and toxic materials, more companies are growing sustainably every day.

And I will continue to applaud them.  Vocally, but more importantly, with my money.  Believe me, they hear money louder than any other tactic.  If you buy, they keep working on goals they already have.  If the money starts to dry up, they rethink what they do.

When I need new tires, you can count on the fact I’ll be looking toward Michelin for mine.  And if those two articles don’t convince you to do the same, maybe this one will.

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue