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| Ok, ok so this is from two summers ago, while in Austin, TX. I'm dreaming of nice weather and then, lo and behold! we get a nice day, and so, WE RIDE! |
Today, I rode my bike to class. I ate breakfast at home. I made tea twice, I am writing by the light of my two lamps and four are on in this room. Because I rode by bike to school, I bought tea with lunch and got a paper cup. I am using electricity and heat and my cell phone take energy too. We live in a highly ENERGY dependent world. And, just a few minuets ago,
I just took the common threads pledge. No, I did not join a cult, no I did not sign away my clothing to others, all I did was say that I will not buy what I do not need. Patagonia's "Common Threads Initiative" ran an add on black friday saying "DO NOT BUY THIS JACKET." An anomaly among the plethora of "70% OFF" and "ONE DAY ONLY" eye catching adds.
Well, Isn't this what most people say they strive to do? Don't buy what you don't need, kind of basic house hold management, Money 101, type deal. However, Patagonia as a company has also pledged to abide by the 5 R's
REDUCE
REUSE
REPAIR
RECYCLE
REIMAGINE
Not only are these guides that I try to live by, but I believe that our ways of life need fundamental changes starting from here. We, humans, on this ONE planet, are using 1 and half planets worth of resources according to Paul L. Knox and Sallie A. Marston in Human Geography (5th edition). Sounds a bit backwards right? Many things in our world right now are indeed backward sounding. For example, "A poll in 2004 found, for example, that most Americans believe that the United States spends more than 20 percent of its budget on aid to poor countries; the actual figure has consistently been less than 0.2 percent of the country's gross national income, putting it last among rich industrial nations." (Knox and Marston)
These are only two of the MANY examples I've been hearing today. The more these stats and readings get into my ear, the deeper the become ingrained in my identity. I am an individual who makes choices that affect not only myself but all those in this world, on however marginal a scale, and as these choices add up, so do the consequences. Think of every individual that makes up the whole of this Earth's population, of 7 BILLION. The number of last year. The number that we all heard about. Another issue thats come to my attention is "3 million plastic bags are used EVERY DAY by the residents of MASSACHUSETTS. " This I've heard from a MassPIRG Rep. (3 times now) in my geography classes. (I am a geography major with an environmental sustainability concentration at S.S.U.) and they are starting work on a bill that will ban the use of plastic bags in massachusetts. I SUPPORT THIS CAUSE, and want to volunteer to help out. MassPIRG is a nonprofit group funded by students and run by students, and the group also has lobbyist in congress that lobby on the groups behalf. They are also working on updating the bottle bill. Its amazing to see the progress and support that they are gaining. Even so, these groups have forces working against them, for example the chemical companies that produce plastic bags, obviously do not want their money maker banned. One solution, such as in Ireland, is to impose a tax of .40 cents per bag which a customer would pay for. However, this to me would not be enough. Banning is the way to go. There is simply no need for something so destructive when there are MANY alternatives.
The effects of humans on the Earth has not been a thing of just the 2000's, its not a new topic. Reading a book, called "The Greening of America," I noticed a few things; 1) We have made progress in the environmental revolution, 2) We have "missed the boat" on a lot of opportunities, and 3) we can't possibly just throw up our hands and say, "well, its too late now." This book by Charles Reich was published in 1971, and many of the topics discussed are totally relevant, and with new light shed upon them, actually give me hope in the fight for environmental stabilization. It is not that we are trying to "fight global climate change." We simply can not do that. We as humans do not have the power to change the Earths normal cyclical nature. HOWEVER, we do have the power to change the staggering impacts and ignorant use of this planet. Rather than take fuel and energy for granted, we can put energy back into a higher commodity. Change is not something humans naturally accept and embrace. We should be skeptical; skeptical of science, skeptical of change. But, that time is over and the evidence is pointing to the truth of climate change and human impact.
Change is inevitable, and not always good, but the power of humans is that change can be good and it can be done well. It is not a matter of creating more to change, it is about reducing, reimagining, reusing, sharing, cultivating good practice, and trying new things that may seem simplistic or rustic, if you will. But the aesthetics of life change, and that is a good thing.
How does all of this apply to my art?
Well, that is exactly the point to my art. It may be believed by some that as a product gets further and further recycled, it degrades in value. This is simply not a true statement for all things. Some items have the potential to upgrade and become better. In my art, I try to take things that people no longer see value in and make it into something useful, fun and creative. Something functional, something new from the old. I have been using the term, "100% Reimagined Wool" or "100% Upcycled" which are both reflective of the betterment of the materials.
This concept of maintaining a sense of fun and pleasure in what we have will help to add value to the items that we own. We take many things for granted, but if we have thought hard about what we are buying, where it has come from, how much "consequence" came out of its production, and where it is going to end up, this world will change. How much love is inherent in something? How much care and how much respect? These are things that we need to think about. And this is spreading. And this is good. One reason I liked joining Etsy is the sense of community. Between China to Poland to the U.S. to Canada, I can send a message asking a seller about their product. I can read their personal story, and the story of the product that I am pondering. I can see what materials and get a sense of the values inherent in the items. I love this because it allows me to choose between a careless seller and one who's values relatively match my own. Those who support the positive change or those who are un aware. I do not just let the unaware pass me by, I may also send messages to them asking about their product, making them more aware, spreading the knowledge, the idea of questioning.
I believe that people are doing this more and more. If a product looks pretty identical to another, what makes them different? Perhaps their origin, their materials or their quality? Perhaps machine made or hand made? But I believe if someone had to choose something, they would choose quality of materials used, usefulness, ethical qualities for the best price. If an item has inherent "goodness" in these 5 R areas, then my hope would be that consumers would chose that item. I make those choices in my art and hope that others can embrace this as well.
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| Three Luvies from my Valentines Day collection (available now) and a pairof my SUPER WARM arm warmers (also available.) :) |
TO SIGN THE COMMON THREADS PLEDGE OR READ ABOUT IT GO HERE
TO SEE MY ETSY SHOP GO HERE
TO SEE MY WEBSITE GO HERE
Peace & Love & Positive Change
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