Most of the people I grew up with were, and many still are, conservatives. Most of those conservatives are also registered Republicans, and many consider themselves Christians. I have been shocked to find that a large portion of these upstanding (and they truly are!) folks don't care a whit about the environment. Many of them actually scorn people who do, and call them "hippies" or "leftist."
I am going to go out on limb and say something: I care about the environment.
There, I said it. Call me a hippie if you want, but please finish reading what I have to say.
The thing I want to say to my Republican, conservative, Christian friends is this: why on earth do you not care about the environment?
"Conserve" is literally the first part of "conservative." That "conservation" doesn't just go for traditions, it goes for the environment too. Teddy Roosevelt - the darling of the GOP - cared about the environment so much, that he dedicated much of his time in office to promoting the creation of national parks. Christians are called to be "good stewards" - a buzzword that we may have lost the meaning of through over-use. Adam was set in the Garden of Eden to work and steward God's creation, and Psalm 24:1 clearly states that the earth - and all who dwell in it - belong to God. He created it, and gave it as a gift to us. How are we using that gift?
At this point I am not talking about global warming - that is another topic for another day. All I am talking about is actually taking care of the environment in which we live, work, and play. I mean making choices about what we put into our bodies, put into our drains, and put on our yard. It may not seem as though individual choices can make a difference, but they are the only thing that really can. After all, that is the foundation of democracy.
Once we recognize that there are things we, as individuals, can do to help our environment, we come face-to-face with another problem: the issue seems so huge - where to start? Should I switch to organics? Only use recyclable materials? Ditch the draino? Become a vegan?
Baby steps, my friends. It can be overwhelming at first, but there are three things we can all easily do.
1. Support businesses that make sustainability a priority. We live in a market-driven economy, which means where you put your money really does matter. When possible, it is best to support small and local businesses - giving money to them generally goes right back into your own community, and smaller businesses tend to have more environmentally-friendly practices out of necessity. Larger chain grocery stores are also an option, and while Whole Foods may be beyond the budget of most of us, Trader Joe's has reasonable prices for groceries and more, and they have business practices that support care for the environment. Best thing to do? Get your veggies and meats from local farmers whenever possible. Farmers Markets are fun ways to support your community, the environment, and are more fun than you can shake a stick at.
Next time you're looking for a dinner spot, support restaurants that prioritize "farm to table" service. It is easy to google "Sustainable restaurants in [your location] and come up with a list of places that try to be good stewards of their resources. In fact, here's a list of farm to table restaurants in Greenville, SC.
2. When possible, cut down on single-use plastics. Single-use plastics are plastic items we use once and toss - plastic dinnerware, plastic straws, etc. Single-use plastics are a large part of what is contributing to marine debris. While larger pieces of plastic on beaches are unsightly and can harm marine life, plastic can also be ground into micro-plastics, which find their way back into our bodies - not cool. Likewise, single-use plastics are rarely recycled, and find their way into landfills, where they can take centuries to biodegrade. I understand that sometimes these things can be convenient (in the short term) but consider switching to paper straws, or using plastic-ware that is either biodegradable, or made from recycled materials. LEt's start thinking long-term, my friends.
3. Switch to environmentally friendly personal and cleaning products. I know that this seems daunting, but once again, remember those baby steps! The number of brands carrying eco-friendly products is growing, and their prices are dropping. I really like Method, Seventh Generation, Ecos, and Mrs. Meyers. These are just a few of the brands that make products that are good for you, and good for your environment. Household cleaners are contributing massively to indoor air pollution - so make the switch! Your lungs will thank you.
There are also companies that are using organic products for personal care items - Schmidts, Jason, and Physician's Formula are a few of my favorites. I am not arguing for a complete and immediate overhaul of your cleaning cabinet, but next time you run out of Windex, consider buying Seventh Generation's glass cleaner instead.
There are so many other small changes we can make, but the above are a few more ways to get started. I am the first to admit that I constantly fail to be a good steward of the beautiful world that the Lord has created for us - and you will fail sometimes too. But let that not be a reason to despair, but a reason to press on, and press forward!
*Two arguments that I hear often when I urge people to take personal responsibility for their environmental impact.
1. "It actually costs more for the government to recycle items than it does to throw them away." Let's look at the long-term, people! Medical issues caused by a rapidly degrading quality of life from a polluted environment cost significantly more than the cost of recycling.
2. "90% of the pollution in the world comes from other countries." I am not talking about other countries, I am talking about us. If we can cut down on 10% of worldwide pollution, isn't that a good thing? Let's "take the log out of our own eye" before we look at what others need to do.
**Do you have any other suggestions of baby steps toward more eco-friendly practices! Please share below!