by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC (Re-post from last year’s July 4th entry)

I dread the 4th of July. It’s not the idea of patriotism I mind, it’s the fireworks. First, they are bad for the environment. Inhabitat.com says, “From gunpowder fall out to smoke and dust that contain various heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and other noxious chemicals, fireworks are decidedly un-green.” However, it doesn’t stop there. Fireworks used at home injure many people every year and can start fires.

City organized fireworks may injure less people, but most animals suffer when subjected to this noise, even from a distance. Pets who stay indoors are still at risk. Most of my dogs have shown signs of distress and one former dog would shake, drool and pant with terror as soon as the first rocket fires (sometimes as early as Noon!). I know of another dog who jumped through a plate glass window in his panic, was lost for days and badly injured. I can only imagine how the noise, pollution and sight of fireworks may affect surrounding wildlife.

I’ve boycotted fireworks displays since I was in college when I realized that the rocket’s “red glare” symbolizes war, which means I have no reason to enjoy watching or hearing it. I read on inhabitat.com that there are more ec0-friendly fireworks available by Sekon biodegradable fireworks – a gunpowder-free “air launch” technology. If cities could make this switch, it could at least solve one part of the problem. Perhaps you can talk to your town’s officials about this option.

I prefer to think we can evolve past fireworks for good and choose a meaningful alternative. How about a light show or raising flags or playing music? Let’s make July 4th something to celebrate – like an Indepence from Oil Day – or at least for now, a creative, safe and eco-friendly holiday, something all beings can enjoy.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

So, as a part-time stepmom (or S’mom as I’m referred to), I don’t always realize all the privileges of parenthood. But, I try when possible to be a positive influence on a 13yo life. For instance, it took a couple years, but Shay and I are now practicing yoga together and I’m utterly convinced that yoga was made for 13yo bodies and the minds that will soon follow.

I admit there is one thing I’ve been a bit nagging about and that is the idea of keeping a neat bedroom. I don’t mean picture-perfect, just, you know, loosely organized. I’ve been trying to convince him that it would feel really good, but you can guess how that went over. Organization has not been one of Shay’s talents (though he has other valuable ones, like drumming and skateboarding), so it’s been a losing battle on my end. The other day, I got a little crazy and did a clean sweep through the clutter, putting everything in bags. Not a cool Smom thing, I know, but I simply lost it that day. Since then, we have gone through stuff together and put some method to the madness.

My reward came the next evening, and I admit it still resonates sweetly in my ears, when he said, “I fold, Smom.” When I asked just what he meant, he finished, “It feels good having a clean room.”

This was a long thread, but I hope I can make a point about our world and the changes we HAVE TO MAKE NOW. The future of our planet will not be determined by decreasing our MPGs, changing a lightbulb or ‘letting it mellow’. We will have to change the way we think and perceive our lives within and outside the economy. We have to do a clean sweep.

If we could only be convinced that these changes will make us feel really, really good and return us to a more authentic and happy way of life. Perhaps then, we will be willing to move ahead with the big stuff.

What are we waiting for and how long before we have the humility to say, “I fold.”?

ps. My pseudo chip off the old block stepkid has just created a blog of his own. Check him out at PhatBeatsintheNight.blogspot.com

Groundswell is “an all volunteer outfit of designers and activists committed to social change.” Last Friday, they caught up with our Founder and Creative Director, Jerry, and Sami, our Media Liason and Director of Sustainability for an interview, posted here.

This group of obvious visionaries, “confronted with the motto, “The truth is your best tool”, wanted to know just how The Change integrates “good for the world” businesses with politics, spirituality, anarchy and a free market to grow good commerce.

Jerry dives into the conversation first, explaining, “To create something I find some core truth that works for me. Yet when that truth is overlaid onto a brand that’s essential mission is to sell stuff at the highest profit –it becomes uh, what do you call it, oh that’s right, a fucking lie. I started to think about this around the same time I started becoming hyper-aware of all the problems we’re facing in the world. And SUV’s had a lot to do with this. Being surrounded by SUV’s really set me off. I did a lot of SUV flyering at first.”

For more inspiring truth, take a look.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I admit, whenever I felt a bit lazy or rushed, I used to tell myself driving just a few miles to get somewhere couldn’t be so bad. Other times, I tell myself I have too much to carry. And that’s just what I was thinking last night when I started to my car to make my weekly CSA pick-up last evening.

I live only 3 miles from the drop-off site, but I’ve been driving my car there for almost a year. The bike ride hasn’t been the issue – it was the jars and cartons. For some reason, I’ve assumed that I needed the car to transport them. Well, you know what they say about assumptions – !! This time, I stopped and looked at the jars…looked at my bike panniers…looked back at the jars…and it finally occurred to me that they would easily fit inside. And, if I put a jar on each side, there would be no danger of them hitting together and breaking. The 2 egg cartons fit snugly alongside, stabilizing the bags nicely.

As it turns out, this decision is more important than I previously thought. Not only do short trips matter to the environment, but “Sixty percent of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively.” Whoa. There goes my rainy day rationalization! “Since “cold starts” create high levels of emissions, shorter car trips are more polluting on a per-mile basis than longer trips.” For more, go to Bike2015Plan.org.

Needless to say, I hopped on my two wheeler and was back with my milk and eggs in less than 25 minutes. And, as always, feeling energized and lighter from the exercise. In fact, after putting things away, I rode again until sunset, wondering about how many other ways I could save energy, fuel and emissions that I had not thought of yet.

There’s good and bad news about all of this. The bad news first from League of American Bicyclists: According to the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 25 percent of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40 percent of all trips are within two miles of the home, and 50 percent of the working population commutes five miles or less to work. Yet, more than 82 percent of trips five miles or less are made by personal motor vehicle. (Read more details about driving habits here.)

The good news is that many of us can change these daily driving habits with a little creativity and determination. Consider walking, riding bicycles or scooters, ride-share and public transportation. If possible, carry less, or simply get your gear on. You may have to get used to stepping out of the “race” to get places, but there’s no better way to avoid stress and tension. Your fitness and stamina will improve quickly as your habits change and your body will thank you for many years to come.