Comments on: When “green” bloggers help greenwash

By: Siel

Siel — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:56:14 +0000

Thanks for the 2 cents, everyone. I think it also didn't help that Lighter Footprint's painting as anti-poor and elitist a company that actually goes out its way to give jobs to disabled people. The ReBinder's assembled by an AbilityOne certified disabled workforce.

By: elisa brown

elisa brown — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:22:38 +0000

Kudos Siel!

This is one of the best, well thought out arguments for promoting the manufacturing and buying of green goods. I was very impressed by the research you did into existing mainstream products vs environmentally and human rights friendly products. As environmentalists we all have a responsibility of balancing human rights issues with environmental ones. In my opinion, the growing conciousness of society coupled by creativity and better technology can and will weed out the green washers and mainstream the sustainable products!

Thank you for the time and insight you put into this blog post. It really resonated with me.

Sincerely,

Elisa Brown

By: Barent Roth

Barent Roth — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:56:26 +0000

Keep fighting the good fight Siel! I agree with Beth – “If we as green writers don’t praise the truly green products and expose the greenwashers, who will?” Go get ‘em!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:55:01 +0000

Thanks, Siel, for the long post and all your research.

By: Siel

Siel — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:54:33 +0000

I do think that essay makes some good points, but one thing I wish it focused on more is that often, it's the personal changes that actually lead people to get involved politically. I began with taking shorter showers, then got curious about the bigger issues about water in California, then wrote a post about it and have been getting more involved with the issue (I'm going to an Environment California event tonight about wise water use -- right before Blogger Prom!). Personal change and political change are hardly mutually exclusive -- The two really work in conjunction with each other. I think it's the very people who start off taking shorter showers who push for laws like the water conservation mandates that went into effect in L.A., that helped convince the judge who made the ruling that farmers need to conserve water because salmon need water too.

By: Lisa T

Lisa T — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:44:32 +0000

And some would argue, as Derrick Jensen did in this Common Dreams article, that “Consumer culture and the capitalist mindset have taught us to substitute acts of personal consumption (or enlightenment) for organized political resistance.”

“Forget Shorter Showers: Why Personal Change Does Not Equal Political Change”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/07/08

It is well worth reading, the almost 300 comments are good too.

Lisa T’s last blog post..California Constitutional Conventon events Friday and Saturday

By: Siel

Siel — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:59:01 +0000

Condo Blues — How exactly does Lighter Footsteps acknowledge both the pro and cons? I don’t think his calling SG’s products “embarrassing” and exhorting people not to buy them and to stick to cheap ungreen products counts as a fair look at the issue.

By: Condo Blues

Condo Blues — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:45:15 +0000

Actually I think you’re both right. It’s a dark green product and if everyone purchased it availability would go up, prices would go down, and it would be better for the planet if more students used supplies like these. But it’s also more expensive than your typical folder that has a lesser amount of recycled content and some kids may not find it aesthetically pleasing. other kids will jump at the chance to personalize it. Depending upon the person’s situation, they may perceive it as a luxury green item that’s not in the budget and want to find other ways to green their kid’s school supplies. Others will say its expensive but worth it. How is both bloggers acknowledging both the pros and cons considered greenwashing?

By: Robert Stockham

Robert Stockham — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:52:28 +0000

I have to say that people often take the short sighted, greenwashing approach to their own lives. They think they are green if they recycle-even as they sit in their SUV with it running to keep the AC on…
This is the mentality of America, a short sighted “me and my comfort” approach to life that has us in this mess to begin with. Those of us in the know need to take the time and effort to do more for the world and gently prod and educate along the way. As for cheap…we need to be very careful where we spend our dollars. I have written about voting with our dollars several times at my blog- http://www.greatlakesgreenpages.com The real deal is that green is really grey, there are many variables and values within the spectrum. We have to choose the right products for us at that time, to serve us and do the least damage. I feel a blog post coming on….

Robert Stockham’s last blog post..Ingenuity is Ingenius…

By: Karen Solomon

Karen Solomon — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:49:09 +0000

This says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp5xH-4Phos&feature=related

I love these guys!! Siel, thanks for your post. These guys also employ handicap workers..that’s priceless..

Karen Solomon’s last blog post..10 Ways to Support Charity Through Social Media