where do you go to get motivated to get away from the Hurricanes and the forest
away from the Hurricanes and the forest
away from the Hurricanes and the forest fires and the political drama that place
fires and the political drama that place
fires and the political drama that place where when you leave you find yourself
where when you leave you find yourself
where when you leave you find yourself thinking it’ll all be okay where do you
thinking it’ll all be okay where do you
thinking it’ll all be okay where do you go to restore your confidence about our
go to restore your confidence about our
go to restore your confidence about our future I go to the grocery store not out
future I go to the grocery store not out
future I go to the grocery store not out for a jog
for a jog
for a jog not to have a picnic not to the
not to have a picnic not to the
not to have a picnic not to the mountains seeing natural beauty actually
mountains seeing natural beauty actually
mountains seeing natural beauty actually worries me more makes me more nervous
worries me more makes me more nervous
worries me more makes me more nervous about the path we’re heading down now
about the path we’re heading down now
about the path we’re heading down now you might be thinking grocery stores
you might be thinking grocery stores
you might be thinking grocery stores they bring out our worst not our best
they bring out our worst not our best
they bring out our worst not our best and I don’t necessarily disagree grocery
and I don’t necessarily disagree grocery
and I don’t necessarily disagree grocery stores can epitomize our American
stores can epitomize our American
stores can epitomize our American addiction to excess and to waste plastic
addiction to excess and to waste plastic
addiction to excess and to waste plastic packaging galore aisles of the unneeded
packaging galore aisles of the unneeded
packaging galore aisles of the unneeded and the unnecessary healthy food only
and the unnecessary healthy food only
and the unnecessary healthy food only the privileged can afford like when
the privileged can afford like when
the privileged can afford like when potato chips cost less than the potatoes
potato chips cost less than the potatoes
potato chips cost less than the potatoes they’re made from but when I need that
they’re made from but when I need that
they’re made from but when I need that motivation I don’t have to step more
motivation I don’t have to step more
motivation I don’t have to step more than 20 feet into the store I observe
than 20 feet into the store I observe
than 20 feet into the store I observe customers and the checkout lines and as
customers and the checkout lines and as
customers and the checkout lines and as they make their way through the queue
they make their way through the queue
they make their way through the queue and the cashier finally asked that
and the cashier finally asked that
and the cashier finally asked that stereotypical grocery store question
stereotypical grocery store question
stereotypical grocery store question paper or plastic customers reply with
paper or plastic customers reply with
paper or plastic customers reply with enthusiasm and with pride letting the
enthusiasm and with pride letting the
enthusiasm and with pride letting the cashier know that it doesn’t matter
cashier know that it doesn’t matter
cashier know that it doesn’t matter because they brought their own reusable
because they brought their own reusable
because they brought their own reusable bags it’s amazing
bags it’s amazing
bags it’s amazing reusable grocery bags offer customers
reusable grocery bags offer customers
reusable grocery bags offer customers near zero personal advantages they cost
near zero personal advantages they cost
near zero personal advantages they cost money
money
money they are obnoxious in the trunks of our
they are obnoxious in the trunks of our
they are obnoxious in the trunks of our car and they take up precious cart space
car and they take up precious cart space
car and they take up precious cart space in the store yet we keep buying them the
in the store yet we keep buying them the
in the store yet we keep buying them the only reason to own reusable bags is to
only reason to own reusable bags is to
only reason to own reusable bags is to be sustainable they better than any
be sustainable they better than any
be sustainable they better than any other example I can come up with confirm
other example I can come up with confirm
other example I can come up with confirm my long-held belief that people
my long-held belief that people
my long-held belief that people genuinely want to be sustainable in this
genuinely want to be sustainable in this
genuinely want to be sustainable in this case they want to keep plastics out of
case they want to keep plastics out of
case they want to keep plastics out of our waterways and they want to reduce
our waterways and they want to reduce
our waterways and they want to reduce their personal carbon and energy
their personal carbon and energy
their personal carbon and energy footprints it’s exciting yes
footprints it’s exciting yes
footprints it’s exciting yes to me it’s motivating now before I
to me it’s motivating now before I
to me it’s motivating now before I advance for
advance for
advance for this talk I want to make one point very
this talk I want to make one point very
this talk I want to make one point very clear this is not and I’ll repeat
clear this is not and I’ll repeat
clear this is not and I’ll repeat because it’s important this is not
because it’s important this is not
because it’s important this is not another talk about climate change
another talk about climate change
another talk about climate change climate has changed
climate has changed
climate has changed step outside see it for yourself you
step outside see it for yourself you
step outside see it for yourself you don’t need me to tell you for what I’m
don’t need me to tell you for what I’m
don’t need me to tell you for what I’m sure would be the 1000th time what will
sure would be the 1000th time what will
sure would be the 1000th time what will happen to our planet as temperatures and
happen to our planet as temperatures and
happen to our planet as temperatures and as tides rise you already know that
as tides rise you already know that
as tides rise you already know that first-ever Intergovernmental Panel on
first-ever Intergovernmental Panel on
first-ever Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report was released in
Climate Change report was released in
Climate Change report was released in 1990 when I was in kindergarten by the
1990 when I was in kindergarten by the
1990 when I was in kindergarten by the way which means that for more than two
way which means that for more than two
way which means that for more than two and a half decades we’ve been having the
and a half decades we’ve been having the
and a half decades we’ve been having the same debates with arguably no progress
same debates with arguably no progress
same debates with arguably no progress if the likes of Elon Musk
if the likes of Elon Musk
if the likes of Elon Musk Al Gore neil degrasse tyson bill nye and
Al Gore neil degrasse tyson bill nye and
Al Gore neil degrasse tyson bill nye and leonardo dicaprio can’t convince you
leonardo dicaprio can’t convince you
leonardo dicaprio can’t convince you John Atkinson can either no matter how
John Atkinson can either no matter how
John Atkinson can either no matter how passionate his pleas may be these
passionate his pleas may be these
passionate his pleas may be these debates of yes/no if-then cause-effect
debates of yes/no if-then cause-effect
debates of yes/no if-then cause-effect real fake have gotten us nowhere
real fake have gotten us nowhere
real fake have gotten us nowhere and yet influential speakers top leaders
and yet influential speakers top leaders
and yet influential speakers top leaders in their fields continue to give
in their fields continue to give
in their fields continue to give lectures and discussions about facts
lectures and discussions about facts
lectures and discussions about facts thinking that all the sudden scare
thinking that all the sudden scare
thinking that all the sudden scare tactics and sad polar bears are going to
tactics and sad polar bears are going to
tactics and sad polar bears are going to motivate us to make change they didn’t
motivate us to make change they didn’t
motivate us to make change they didn’t they aren’t and they won’t we need a new
they aren’t and they won’t we need a new
they aren’t and they won’t we need a new approach which is why this talk marks
approach which is why this talk marks
approach which is why this talk marks the last time that I argue for climate
the last time that I argue for climate
the last time that I argue for climate change not because my position is
change not because my position is
change not because my position is wavered it most certainly has not but
wavered it most certainly has not but
wavered it most certainly has not but because I’m tired and because I’m bored
because I’m tired and because I’m bored
because I’m tired and because I’m bored and because I don’t view this as a
and because I don’t view this as a
and because I don’t view this as a productive use of anyone’s time again we
productive use of anyone’s time again we
productive use of anyone’s time again we need a new approach which is why today
need a new approach which is why today
need a new approach which is why today I’m talking about sustainability
I’m talking about sustainability
I’m talking about sustainability sustainability much like the new meat
sustainability much like the new meat
sustainability much like the new meat doesn’t care if you believe in climate
doesn’t care if you believe in climate
doesn’t care if you believe in climate change a sustainable life might mean
change a sustainable life might mean
change a sustainable life might mean saving money it might mean improving
saving money it might mean improving
saving money it might mean improving your personal health and wellness it
your personal health and wellness it
your personal health and wellness it might mean improving your community or
might mean improving your community or
might mean improving your community or cleaning up your parks and yes there is
cleaning up your parks and yes there is
cleaning up your parks and yes there is a chance that if we all convert to a
a chance that if we all convert to a
a chance that if we all convert to a sustainable lifestyle we can even
sustainable lifestyle we can even
sustainable lifestyle we can even prevent the imminent destruction of our
prevent the imminent destruction of our
prevent the imminent destruction of our planet
planet
planet but uncomfortable calling that a
but uncomfortable calling that a
but uncomfortable calling that a pleasant side-effect it doesn’t need to
pleasant side-effect it doesn’t need to
pleasant side-effect it doesn’t need to be the primary motivation it just needs
be the primary motivation it just needs
be the primary motivation it just needs to happen sustainability is a buzzword
to happen sustainability is a buzzword
to happen sustainability is a buzzword which means we all know it most of us
which means we all know it most of us
which means we all know it most of us use it and few understand it let me give
use it and few understand it let me give
use it and few understand it let me give you an example you might be surprised to
you an example you might be surprised to
you an example you might be surprised to hear that sustainable and green are not
hear that sustainable and green are not
hear that sustainable and green are not synonyms
synonyms
synonyms similarly sustainable and cost-effective
similarly sustainable and cost-effective
similarly sustainable and cost-effective not synonyms a sustainable solution to a
not synonyms a sustainable solution to a
not synonyms a sustainable solution to a problem any problem you can come up with
problem any problem you can come up with
problem any problem you can come up with is one that optimally minimizes impact
is one that optimally minimizes impact
is one that optimally minimizes impact on environment society and economy now
on environment society and economy now
on environment society and economy now I’m an engineer so I need to sneak a
I’m an engineer so I need to sneak a
I’m an engineer so I need to sneak a little bit of math in all my talks and
little bit of math in all my talks and
little bit of math in all my talks and I’ll do it here by saying that
I’ll do it here by saying that
I’ll do it here by saying that sustainability is not a one variable
sustainability is not a one variable
sustainability is not a one variable equation it is a three variable equation
equation it is a three variable equation
equation it is a three variable equation and it requires equal consideration of
and it requires equal consideration of
and it requires equal consideration of each of the three components environment
each of the three components environment
each of the three components environment society and economy it disappoints me to
society and economy it disappoints me to
society and economy it disappoints me to hear large corporations define
hear large corporations define
hear large corporations define sustainable progress by return on
sustainable progress by return on
sustainable progress by return on investment we won’t do this or we won’t
investment we won’t do this or we won’t
investment we won’t do this or we won’t make that change unless the payback time
make that change unless the payback time
make that change unless the payback time is two months unsustainable it goes
is two months unsustainable it goes
is two months unsustainable it goes against the very definition of the word
against the very definition of the word
against the very definition of the word if we’re truly living sustainably we
if we’re truly living sustainably we
if we’re truly living sustainably we understand that there might be a cost
understand that there might be a cost
understand that there might be a cost associated with improving our
associated with improving our
associated with improving our environment or bettering our society in
environment or bettering our society in
environment or bettering our society in our communities that cost might be
our communities that cost might be
our communities that cost might be financial or it might be personal think
financial or it might be personal think
financial or it might be personal think about those reusable bags they improve
about those reusable bags they improve
about those reusable bags they improve the environment with financial cost to
the environment with financial cost to
the environment with financial cost to the consumer in most cases they are
the consumer in most cases they are
the consumer in most cases they are certainly not cost effective the return
certainly not cost effective the return
certainly not cost effective the return on investment is horrendous but they are
on investment is horrendous but they are
on investment is horrendous but they are sustainable but here’s the unfortunate
sustainable but here’s the unfortunate
sustainable but here’s the unfortunate reality about those grocery bags and I
reality about those grocery bags and I
reality about those grocery bags and I apologize in advance here I am just the
apologize in advance here I am just the
apologize in advance here I am just the messenger but they don’t really matter
messenger but they don’t really matter
messenger but they don’t really matter they don’t sorry
they don’t sorry
they don’t sorry symbolically I think they represent so
symbolically I think they represent so
symbolically I think they represent so much about the people were willing to be
much about the people were willing to be
much about the people were willing to be about the effort we’re willing to put in
about the effort we’re willing to put in
about the effort we’re willing to put in but contributing to real meaningful
but contributing to real meaningful
but contributing to real meaningful sustainable living not so much
sustainable living not so much
sustainable living not so much and so I’ll reiterate here that I
and so I’ll reiterate here that I
and so I’ll reiterate here that I genuinely believe that people want to be
genuinely believe that people want to be
genuinely believe that people want to be sustainable but add a caveat that says
sustainable but add a caveat that says
sustainable but add a caveat that says they have no idea how to do it I think
they have no idea how to do it I think
they have no idea how to do it I think you think you know how but do you do you
you think you know how but do you do you
you think you know how but do you do you really let’s go back to the grocery
really let’s go back to the grocery
really let’s go back to the grocery store and follow those customers to
store and follow those customers to
store and follow those customers to their cars you’re likely to see them
their cars you’re likely to see them
their cars you’re likely to see them loading their reusable grocery bags into
loading their reusable grocery bags into
loading their reusable grocery bags into a massive pickup truck or an SUV look
a massive pickup truck or an SUV look
a massive pickup truck or an SUV look inside the bags you’ll see excessive
inside the bags you’ll see excessive
inside the bags you’ll see excessive amounts of plastic packaging and near
amounts of plastic packaging and near
amounts of plastic packaging and near unhealthy amounts of highly inefficient
unhealthy amounts of highly inefficient
unhealthy amounts of highly inefficient red meat follow them home where you’ll
red meat follow them home where you’ll
red meat follow them home where you’ll find near daily arrivals of online
find near daily arrivals of online
find near daily arrivals of online shopping shipments loaded with cardboard
shopping shipments loaded with cardboard
shopping shipments loaded with cardboard plastic and air and those same customers
plastic and air and those same customers
plastic and air and those same customers that shop with reusable grocery bags and
that shop with reusable grocery bags and
that shop with reusable grocery bags and believe in climate change take 20
believe in climate change take 20
believe in climate change take 20 minutes showers and they drive to a post
minutes showers and they drive to a post
minutes showers and they drive to a post office that’s three blocks away it’s a
office that’s three blocks away it’s a
office that’s three blocks away it’s a fascinating problem and I believe that
fascinating problem and I believe that
fascinating problem and I believe that it hinges on education which is why
it hinges on education which is why
it hinges on education which is why anytime I had the opportunity to speak
anytime I had the opportunity to speak
anytime I had the opportunity to speak about sustainability my goal is simple
about sustainability my goal is simple
about sustainability my goal is simple show the audience what a sustainable
show the audience what a sustainable
show the audience what a sustainable lifestyle looks like teach them what is
lifestyle looks like teach them what is
lifestyle looks like teach them what is required
growing up I and hopefully many of you
growing up I and hopefully many of you were challenged to be sustainable we
were challenged to be sustainable we
were challenged to be sustainable we didn’t call it sustainability at the
didn’t call it sustainability at the
didn’t call it sustainability at the time and my house we called it something
time and my house we called it something
time and my house we called it something like saving money on the electricity
like saving money on the electricity
like saving money on the electricity bill
bill
bill but the motivations were similar my
but the motivations were similar my
but the motivations were similar my teaching and training along with
teaching and training along with
teaching and training along with relentless exposure to mass and social
relentless exposure to mass and social
relentless exposure to mass and social media has shown me that little if
media has shown me that little if
media has shown me that little if anything has changed and we continue to
anything has changed and we continue to
anything has changed and we continue to associate sustainability with trivial
associate sustainability with trivial
associate sustainability with trivial tasks turn off the lights change your
tasks turn off the lights change your
tasks turn off the lights change your lightbulbs unplug idle chargers stop the
lightbulbs unplug idle chargers stop the
lightbulbs unplug idle chargers stop the cold water when brushing your teeth and
cold water when brushing your teeth and
cold water when brushing your teeth and yes reuse grocery bags
yes reuse grocery bags
yes reuse grocery bags we think that if we can check all these
we think that if we can check all these
we think that if we can check all these boxes we’re doing our part we can
boxes we’re doing our part we can
boxes we’re doing our part we can officially call ourselves sustainable
the reality is however that the net
the reality is however that the net impact of these tasks is small dare I
impact of these tasks is small dare I
impact of these tasks is small dare I say negligible compared to all of the
say negligible compared to all of the
say negligible compared to all of the other places in our lives where we
other places in our lives where we
other places in our lives where we consume you see when we do these things
consume you see when we do these things
consume you see when we do these things the only thing we’re really trying to
the only thing we’re really trying to
the only thing we’re really trying to sustain is our lifestyle we’ve convinced
sustain is our lifestyle we’ve convinced
sustain is our lifestyle we’ve convinced ourselves that these things matter and
ourselves that these things matter and
ourselves that these things matter and subsequently told ourselves that they’re
subsequently told ourselves that they’re
subsequently told ourselves that they’re relevant at best these tasks should be
relevant at best these tasks should be
relevant at best these tasks should be considered status quo an absolute bare
considered status quo an absolute bare
considered status quo an absolute bare minimum needed to even exist and as we
minimum needed to even exist and as we
minimum needed to even exist and as we all know is we all live every day and
all know is we all live every day and
all know is we all live every day and read in the news status quo is
read in the news status quo is
read in the news status quo is unsustainable there’s a wonderful book
unsustainable there’s a wonderful book
unsustainable there’s a wonderful book it’s called sustainability without the
it’s called sustainability without the
it’s called sustainability without the hot air it’s freely available online by
hot air it’s freely available online by
hot air it’s freely available online by David McKay and I encourage everybody to
David McKay and I encourage everybody to
David McKay and I encourage everybody to give it a read the data behind me was
give it a read the data behind me was
give it a read the data behind me was modified from that text book and it
modified from that text book and it
modified from that text book and it shows where an average American consumes
shows where an average American consumes
shows where an average American consumes you’ll note all the way down at the end
you’ll note all the way down at the end
you’ll note all the way down at the end mere blips on the radar we have lighting
mere blips on the radar we have lighting
mere blips on the radar we have lighting and gadgets low-hanging fruit that I’m
and gadgets low-hanging fruit that I’m
and gadgets low-hanging fruit that I’m not suggesting you ignore but that
not suggesting you ignore but that
not suggesting you ignore but that shouldn’t satisfy our desires to be
shouldn’t satisfy our desires to be
shouldn’t satisfy our desires to be better cars planes heating stuff
better cars planes heating stuff
better cars planes heating stuff including all those places we waste on a
including all those places we waste on a
including all those places we waste on a day-by-day basis and even the food we
day-by-day basis and even the food we
day-by-day basis and even the food we eat these are the bars that are
eat these are the bars that are
eat these are the bars that are dominating our consumption yet they’re
dominating our consumption yet they’re
dominating our consumption yet they’re the things we’re not trying to touch not
the things we’re not trying to touch not
the things we’re not trying to touch not trying to change if all you do in your
trying to change if all you do in your
trying to change if all you do in your life is replace bulbs and bags you might
life is replace bulbs and bags you might
life is replace bulbs and bags you might be a percent or two better than someone
be a percent or two better than someone
be a percent or two better than someone that does nothing a percent or two
that does nothing a percent or two
that does nothing a percent or two better than somebody that doesn’t even
better than somebody that doesn’t even
better than somebody that doesn’t even believe in climate change I’ve thought
believe in climate change I’ve thought
believe in climate change I’ve thought long and hard about why we’re not
long and hard about why we’re not
long and hard about why we’re not tackling these big bars and my solution
tackling these big bars and my solution
tackling these big bars and my solution is disappointing it’s because it’s hard
is disappointing it’s because it’s hard
is disappointing it’s because it’s hard and because we’re lazy and because we’re
and because we’re lazy and because we’re
and because we’re lazy and because we’re comfortable we like our lives the way
comfortable we like our lives the way
comfortable we like our lives the way they are we don’t want to change things
an interesting thing happened when I
an interesting thing happened when I started teaching my sustainability
started teaching my sustainability
started teaching my sustainability course early in the semester I asked
course early in the semester I asked
course early in the semester I asked students to rate their personal level of
students to rate their personal level of
students to rate their personal level of sustainability and now the
sustainability and now the
sustainability and now the sustainability course has primarily
sustainability course has primarily
sustainability course has primarily junior and senior level environmental
junior and senior level environmental
junior and senior level environmental engineers students that are committing
engineers students that are committing
engineers students that are committing themselves to a lifetime improving the
themselves to a lifetime improving the
themselves to a lifetime improving the planet and so I wasn’t surprised to find
planet and so I wasn’t surprised to find
planet and so I wasn’t surprised to find that they rated themselves pretty high I
that they rated themselves pretty high I
that they rated themselves pretty high I think they’re doing a pretty good job so
think they’re doing a pretty good job so
think they’re doing a pretty good job so I said why I followed up I said what are
I said why I followed up I said what are
I said why I followed up I said what are you doing to be this role model this
you doing to be this role model this
you doing to be this role model this example for your peers this is when it
example for your peers this is when it
example for your peers this is when it got a bit more disappointing with the
got a bit more disappointing with the
got a bit more disappointing with the most common response being bulbs and
most common response being bulbs and
most common response being bulbs and bags we’re noticing a trend and so I
bags we’re noticing a trend and so I
bags we’re noticing a trend and so I created a project that’s called the 4
created a project that’s called the 4
created a project that’s called the 4 for 7 challenge it’s named after my
for 7 challenge it’s named after my
for 7 challenge it’s named after my sustainability course number at the
sustainability course number at the
sustainability course number at the University of Buffalo the 4 for 7
University of Buffalo the 4 for 7
University of Buffalo the 4 for 7 challenge asked students to document
challenge asked students to document
challenge asked students to document their instructor curated sustainability
their instructor curated sustainability
their instructor curated sustainability efforts the project uses Twitter so that
efforts the project uses Twitter so that
efforts the project uses Twitter so that the results aren’t only accessible to
the results aren’t only accessible to
the results aren’t only accessible to myself and my students but also to the
myself and my students but also to the
myself and my students but also to the campus the community local businesses
campus the community local businesses
campus the community local businesses and even global sustainability audiences
and even global sustainability audiences
and even global sustainability audiences with this project students learn
with this project students learn
with this project students learn sustainability by living sustainably and
sustainability by living sustainably and
sustainability by living sustainably and then they tell the world about it in two
then they tell the world about it in two
then they tell the world about it in two years we’ve generated over 650 tweets
years we’ve generated over 650 tweets
years we’ve generated over 650 tweets which is tomates reach well over 50,000
which is tomates reach well over 50,000
which is tomates reach well over 50,000 people the project brings Twitter into
people the project brings Twitter into
people the project brings Twitter into but also out of the classroom fostering
but also out of the classroom fostering
but also out of the classroom fostering camaraderie among the students they find
camaraderie among the students they find
camaraderie among the students they find themselves laughing about sustainability
themselves laughing about sustainability
themselves laughing about sustainability talking about it on the weekends going
talking about it on the weekends going
talking about it on the weekends going to parties and telling their friends
to parties and telling their friends
to parties and telling their friends telling their families each week I give
telling their families each week I give
telling their families each week I give them a new challenge a challenge that
them a new challenge a challenge that
them a new challenge a challenge that has actual impact I ask them to change
has actual impact I ask them to change
has actual impact I ask them to change one thing in their lives and combined
one thing in their lives and combined
one thing in their lives and combined over the course of a semester 10 weekly
over the course of a semester 10 weekly
over the course of a semester 10 weekly challenges show the students what it
challenges show the students what it
challenges show the students what it means to call yourself sustainable a
mission list for example asked them to
mission list for example asked them to go a week without driving their cars
go a week without driving their cars
go a week without driving their cars short showers ask them to cut shower
short showers ask them to cut shower
short showers ask them to cut shower times down to 4 minutes or less
times down to 4 minutes or less
times down to 4 minutes or less spring cleaning ask them to donate
spring cleaning ask them to donate
spring cleaning ask them to donate unused clothing and non-perishable food
unused clothing and non-perishable food
unused clothing and non-perishable food items to a local food pantry no meat
items to a local food pantry no meat
items to a local food pantry no meat week as that I think you can figure out
week as that I think you can figure out
week as that I think you can figure out no meat week on your own some of the
no meat week on your own some of the
no meat week on your own some of the challenges are difficult others are easy
challenges are difficult others are easy
challenges are difficult others are easy but that is the point when I started the
but that is the point when I started the
but that is the point when I started the project it was just supposed to be
project it was just supposed to be
project it was just supposed to be simple and fun a new way to teach
simple and fun a new way to teach
simple and fun a new way to teach sustainability to students but it has
sustainability to students but it has
sustainability to students but it has catalyzed a social movement in my
catalyzed a social movement in my
catalyzed a social movement in my classes using Twitter to push this
classes using Twitter to push this
classes using Twitter to push this positive message of sustainability to
positive message of sustainability to
positive message of sustainability to global audiences we live in an
global audiences we live in an
global audiences we live in an interesting time a time when a new
interesting time a time when a new
interesting time a time when a new hurricane seems to ravaged our coasts
hurricane seems to ravaged our coasts
hurricane seems to ravaged our coasts each week and forest fires continue to
each week and forest fires continue to
each week and forest fires continue to rage in the West a time when it was
rage in the West a time when it was
rage in the West a time when it was nearly 90 degrees in Buffalo in October
nearly 90 degrees in Buffalo in October
nearly 90 degrees in Buffalo in October a time when inequality worsens each week
a time when inequality worsens each week
a time when inequality worsens each week and yes a time when our federal
and yes a time when our federal
and yes a time when our federal government has decided to withdraw from
government has decided to withdraw from
government has decided to withdraw from the globally essential Paris climate
the globally essential Paris climate
the globally essential Paris climate agreement while simultaneously axing the
agreement while simultaneously axing the
agreement while simultaneously axing the clean power plan I say with utter
clean power plan I say with utter
clean power plan I say with utter disappointment but recent acceptance
disappointment but recent acceptance
disappointment but recent acceptance that top-down approaches to improving
that top-down approaches to improving
that top-down approaches to improving our climate situation in the United
our climate situation in the United
our climate situation in the United States have officially failed if you’re
States have officially failed if you’re
States have officially failed if you’re one of the people that believe in
one of the people that believe in
one of the people that believe in climate change but also believe that
climate change but also believe that
climate change but also believe that it’s someone else’s problem you are out
it’s someone else’s problem you are out
it’s someone else’s problem you are out of luck no one is going to solve this
of luck no one is going to solve this
of luck no one is going to solve this for you so rise up take responsibility
for you so rise up take responsibility
for you so rise up take responsibility for your actions mobilize your people
for your actions mobilize your people
for your actions mobilize your people now more than ever change will only
now more than ever change will only
now more than ever change will only proceed through bottom-up
proceed through bottom-up
proceed through bottom-up individual-level lifestyle modifications
individual-level lifestyle modifications
individual-level lifestyle modifications and so I challenge everyone listening to
and so I challenge everyone listening to
and so I challenge everyone listening to change something in your life do
change something in your life do
change something in your life do something hard be better than reusable
something hard be better than reusable
something hard be better than reusable grocery bags if you can afford it buy an
grocery bags if you can afford it buy an
grocery bags if you can afford it buy an electric vehicle or better still walk
electric vehicle or better still walk
electric vehicle or better still walk ride a bike use public transportation
ride a bike use public transportation
ride a bike use public transportation fly less volunteer more eat less red
fly less volunteer more eat less red
fly less volunteer more eat less red meat take shorter showers
meat take shorter showers
meat take shorter showers lower your thermostat try them all see
lower your thermostat try them all see
lower your thermostat try them all see what sticks but remember that
what sticks but remember that
what sticks but remember that sustainability requires sacrifice and
sustainability requires sacrifice and
sustainability requires sacrifice and isn’t always easy
isn’t always easy
isn’t always easy but that doesn’t mean that the pros can
but that doesn’t mean that the pros can
but that doesn’t mean that the pros can outweigh the cons so here’s my day now I
outweigh the cons so here’s my day now I
outweigh the cons so here’s my day now I wake up early I’m one of those obnoxious
wake up early I’m one of those obnoxious
wake up early I’m one of those obnoxious morning people that’s productive before
morning people that’s productive before
morning people that’s productive before 7:00 but I wake up really early take a
7:00 but I wake up really early take a
7:00 but I wake up really early take a short shower and gave my dog a long walk
short shower and gave my dog a long walk
short shower and gave my dog a long walk before heading to work my commute times
before heading to work my commute times
before heading to work my commute times tripled when I started taking public
tripled when I started taking public
tripled when I started taking public transportation but that round-trip
transportation but that round-trip
transportation but that round-trip commute now includes about two and a
commute now includes about two and a
commute now includes about two and a half miles of daily exercise I can
half miles of daily exercise I can
half miles of daily exercise I can squeeze in a 20-minute nap or two on the
squeeze in a 20-minute nap or two on the
squeeze in a 20-minute nap or two on the train and most importantly you are
train and most importantly you are
train and most importantly you are looking at a level 36 Pokemon go trainer
looking at a level 36 Pokemon go trainer
looking at a level 36 Pokemon go trainer right it’s not so bad
right it’s not so bad
right it’s not so bad eating less meat forced me to learn how
eating less meat forced me to learn how
eating less meat forced me to learn how to cook and now in the evenings my wife
to cook and now in the evenings my wife
to cook and now in the evenings my wife and I enjoy trying out new recipes often
and I enjoy trying out new recipes often
and I enjoy trying out new recipes often with veggies that we purchased at the
with veggies that we purchased at the
with veggies that we purchased at the farmers market and carried home in our
farmers market and carried home in our
farmers market and carried home in our reusable bags the scraps of which we
reusable bags the scraps of which we
reusable bags the scraps of which we compost in our backyard I volunteer
compost in our backyard I volunteer
compost in our backyard I volunteer serving meals to less privileged
serving meals to less privileged
serving meals to less privileged neighbors at a food pantry down the
neighbors at a food pantry down the
neighbors at a food pantry down the street from my house I donate to
street from my house I donate to
street from my house I donate to community supporting micro grants and
community supporting micro grants and
community supporting micro grants and just this week I joined the board of
just this week I joined the board of
just this week I joined the board of directors for my local Neighborhood
directors for my local Neighborhood
directors for my local Neighborhood Association motivate yourself and
Association motivate yourself and
Association motivate yourself and whatever way works for you improve the
whatever way works for you improve the
whatever way works for you improve the climate if you think it needs improving
climate if you think it needs improving
climate if you think it needs improving but if you don’t do it to save money do
but if you don’t do it to save money do
but if you don’t do it to save money do it to improve your family’s health do it
it to improve your family’s health do it
it to improve your family’s health do it to better your community do it to put a
to better your community do it to put a
to better your community do it to put a smile on someone else’s face each of
smile on someone else’s face each of
smile on someone else’s face each of these reasons to live sustainably has
these reasons to live sustainably has
these reasons to live sustainably has merit and as far as I’m concerned none
merit and as far as I’m concerned none
merit and as far as I’m concerned none is better than the next but we all need
is better than the next but we all need
is better than the next but we all need to be challenging ourselves to put
to be challenging ourselves to put
to be challenging ourselves to put sustainability forward
”
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