I hate resolutions. I find it pointless to make extravagant promises just because it happens to be a new year. Unfortunately, every January I find myself making up grand To-Do lists. This year isn’t any different.

Well, I guess it’s a little different. This year I have a theme! And it’s not just the usual “I have to drop 20lbs” either. This year’s theme is: GOING GREEN. What can I say? We’re getting older and the idea of bringing another life into this world has been tossed around. Unfortunately, it trully stresses me out to think that there might not be any sea fish left in the world by the time this new person reaches 50 years of age.

This is for real, people! I’m not just some environmental loon that regurgitates liberal politicans’ causes du jour, but when the United States starts admitting that polar bears could starve because of global warming, then hell YES it’s time to take action. So with global warming and the state of our planet in decline, here are my resolutions for 2007.

1. Recycle, recycle, recycle! It’s unfortunate that the company I work for does not actively recycle. To do my small part, I keep a recycling box under one of my desks. In this I throw things like plastic bottles, used paper towels, and discarded sheets of paper.
2. Reduce my consumption of bottled water. Most of the tap water around where I live and work is OK to drink, though I’m not particular about the taste. I do like the taste of bottled water, but I find them wasteful. I’ve stopped buying bottled water to keep at home, instead opting to make use of our Brita water pitcher. At work I refill my mug with the filtered water provided.
3. Reduce my dependency on paper towels. I wash my hands a lot, especially while at work. To prevent using so much paper, I keep a hand towel with me, which I then bring back home and throw in with the weekly laundry. When I do use paper towels to dry my hands, I take them back to my desk to somehow reuse. They’re fine for wiping up my desk, food off my mouth and hands, etc. On a similar note, while I love my Bounty paper towels and Quilted Northern toilet paper, I will be making the complete switch to using paper products made from recycled paper. Seventh Generation makes 100% recycled paper towels and toilet paper, with a minimum of 80% post-consumer materials (as opposed to just 10% by Quilted Northern, and “virgin wood pulp” used to make Bounty).
4. Invest in clean energy projects. David’s been thinking about putting some of our savings into actual clean energy investments, while I’m currently looking at companies like TerraPass. With TerraPass, one can offset his or her carbon emissions by putting money into clean energy projects. For $40 a year, I can purchase funding for clean energy projects equal to what my Jetta produces in carbon dioxide. For an additional $80 a year, I can do the same with the gas and electricity used in our home. One can even offset air travel. This is super affordable, so I see no reason why anyone couldn’t or shouldn’t do it.
5. Be a more conscious shopper. As an American, I take a lot of things for granted. Out of sight, out of mind, but while I enjoy my gourmet cup of coffee, some poor Ethiopian coffee farmer makes less than $1 a day. That, to me, is just plain wrong. I intend to support Fair Trade products, especially when it comes to food and drink. Coffee for the Keurig will only be FT varieties. Other issues to start looking into are the things and purchases we make every day. As mentioned in #3, Seventh Generation not only makes recycled paper products, but they also produce a variety of green products for the home such as household cleaners, laundry detergent, baby wipes, and more.
6. With this also comes the idea of supporting sustainable communities projects. Two organizations I’m looking at are Heifer International and Kiva. Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty, but rather than relying on hand-outs, they help families and communities thrive on their own by providing livestock and education. I plan on giving a llama, which can provide transportation and income from wool. At Kiva, contributors give loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. With as little as $25, people can help a cafe owner in Bulgaria or a tailor in Ghana. As these are loans, investments are eventually paid back (which can be withdrawn or go toward another loan).
7. Finally, in 2007 I intend to stay involved and learn more. You can find me perusing such sites as TreeHugger, green LA girl, and Grist, among others.

Filed by Maria in charity, environment