more formal

I suppose a more formal introduction is in order, although I believe the last post was a damn good one.

I'm bad with internet journals! I've had too many that I never kept up with and I don't doubt that this one will be similar, but I will try. I like the idea of putting pictures with words and sharing things that interest me.

I'm the strangest of 21 year olds that you will meet. I don't must like to drink, smoke, or party. I'd prefer to be up early then out late.

I'm in my third year as an Environmental Education and Communication major, with a minor in Sustainability Studies. I have a million reasons to resent my education, and I do, but I'm passionate about my field and for that I feel blessed. Trees, sunshine, bicycles, barefeet, spring, summer, exploring, and wildflowers all stimulate a similar response.

an informal introduction

I think that the modern environmental movement is not (or perhaps, should not) be about trying to reach carbon neutrality, or going without. If that were the case, I would likely not have a car to get to and from work, I would not a roof over my house, and I would be starving (being that I live in Minnesota and cannot garden year-round, or at all with this arsenic-poisoned soil). It should not be about paying off your debts with carbon credits. Or, it shouldn't be.

The desire should be to make living sustainably desirable. What is the use if only a handful go with it? How do you reach an audience that have higher priorities and a seemingly endless level of apathy?

We need to focus on what we can do, not on what we cant; on what we gain from these choice, and not on what we lose.

So what do I do? A poor, struggling Minnesota college student? I bike daily when the weather permits. I frequent the farmer's market in downtown every Thursday in the summer. I eat less meat. I turn off the lights. I drink more water. I compost. I recycle. It's not much, and it's not hard but it's something and it sure is better than nothing. And I'm happy. It makes me happy to take care of myself, be more aware, and give a damn.

Please, please, do something.