green is universal

By Christian Martin, iVillage.com

I'd always been a little conflicted about Global Warming. Intellectually I knew it was a bad thing, I'd watched Al Gore's documentary and was suitably scared and like everyone else I like Polar Bears and wish them all the best. On the other hand I live in New York City, hate winter and am quite fond of late falls and early springs. Not very PC? You bet but until now I felt okay about it; I take the subway to work, separate my paper and plastic and when I have a few extra dollars in my pocket I buy one of those swirly fluorescent light bulbs. I figured I was doing my part.

Then I had kids, two of them.

Now when I fly across country and look down and see subdivisions spreading like fungus across what was farmland only a few years ago I get upset. When I read that we are running out of water in the Southwest and the Southeast because we have built and built without any concern for the future but only with the idea of how many houses we can cram onto a single acre I get more upset. When I am forced to hug the shoulder of the road to avoid oncoming SUV's and Hummers driven by a single occupant because - well I can't fathom the reason people would drive a Hummer when gas prices are routinely above three dollars a gallon - I get angry.

So what can I do to secure the planet for my children besides huff and puff as I look out airplane windows and glare at oncoming traffic?

The first thing is to get involved. I routinely let my elected officials know how I feel. This means I e-mail my state assemblymen, my mayor, my congressman, my senators and my president to let them know how I feel about global degradation and what I am in favor of and maybe just as importantly what I am against - a continued over reliance on fossil fuels.

But there is also a lot I do in my everyday existence. I walk my kids to school. It is good for them and me, I save a few bucks on gas, lessen traffic and don't pollute the environment. I have made turning off the lights when you leave the room an absolute mandate in my house (points are added or subtracted for the kids depending on how well they do - redeemable for ice cream on the weekends). I make it a hard fast rule that if we bring something home - a toy or gizmo for dad - something also has to leave the house. It can't go into the garbage out front it needs to make its way to the Salvation Army, Goodwill or our church. I don't use lighter fluid when I start the BBQ and I only buy organic food. I wear a sweater in the winter and preach the benefits of an extra blanket at night. I installed double paned windows and put in low flow toilets. In short I do anything I can think of to leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Why? Because in the last few years my eyes alone have convinced me that something pretty serious is going on (99.9% of all scientists agreeing doesn't hurt either). The idea that the world will be even more difficult place to navigate for my children is unfathomable. I want my kids to be concerned with first loves, great jobs, what to name my grandchildren. I don't want them consumed with global warming, dwindling water supplies, a country that is a single vast suburb, clogged with traffic and few open spaces. I want my children and future generations to know the joy of a snowball fight, an endless view of pristine forest and rivers and streams that are clean enough to drink from and fish from. At the pace we are going that won't happen. So to everyone I say do your part, pitch in and find 5 or 6 ways you can be a little bit more green. It will save you a few bucks, make you feel better about yourself and help save the world.

Christian Martin
iVillage, VP & Executive Producer, Programming, Content & Integration
http://www.iVillage.com