Rethinking Assumptions: Roman Sablin and Russian Eco-Consciousness

Posted on November 5, 2012 by zoeweil
Screenshot copyright Sustainable Ukraine.

I was in Krasnodar, Russia, this summer for a couple of days. As a foreign traveler, I was advised to drink bottled water, but it was frustrating to have to throw the bottles in the trash because I couldn’t find any place to recycle them. I was disappointed in the apparent lack of concern for the environment. So I was surprised to read an article on Roman Sablin in the Aeroflot magazine on the Russian airline on my way home.

In all my years of traveling on U.S. airlines, I’ve never read such an in-depth article on eco-consciousness. Roman Sablin is a philologist and artist who grew disturbed by the waste he and his friends were generating and launched an eco movement that would rival the most committed environmentalist anywhere in the world. He went beyond replacing his light bulbs and began shaving his hair to reduce water consumption when showering and became a vegetarian (in a country where vegetarianism is quite uncommon). He leads eco-seminars and has become “something of a celebrity” according to the profile. In fact, all the Russian TV stations have been to his eco-loft, as have the major newspapers and magazines.

Reading the article reminded me that things are sometimes not as they seem. Movements take different trajectories in different countries. Certain norms – like ubiquitous recycling bins in the U.S. – may mask a complacency, while a lack of such norms may potentially spur a more rapid, inventive movement.

While I don’t know how a restorative, healthy, and sustainable world will unfold; where it will take root most deeply and spread; or whose ideas will generate the largest shifts in systems, consciousness, and actions, it was good to see my own assumptions challenged by Aeroflot’s profile of Roman Sablin.

~ Zoe

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDxConejo talk: “Solutionaries”
My TEDxDirigo talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“
My TEDxYouth@BFS “Educating for Freedom”

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Making MOGO (most good) Choices: The True Price of Bottled Water

Posted on November 17, 2011 by zoeweil
Image courtesy of stephendepolo
via Creative Commons.

For my blog post today, I’m sharing a recent post I wrote for One Green Planet, a blog dedicated to ethical choices. Here’s an excerpt from Making MOGO (most good) Choices: The True Price of Bottled Water:

“When I was growing up, there was one kind of bottled water – Perrier – reserved for very special occasions. Today, bottled water is ubiquitous. You can find shelves of it in convenience stores and supermarkets, filling up vending machines, and sitting in cupboards and pantries in homes across the U.S. There are numerous brands, some of which appear to be spring water even when they’re not (e.g., Poland Springs), some “artesian,” – whatever that means (e.g., Fiji), some making no special claims beyond the seductive ads that urge us to buy them, which is good because they are just purified tap water (e.g., Dasani and Aquafina).

There is a cost to bottled water beyond the dollar price, and in this series on the True Price of everyday products (such as a cheeseburger and a T-shirt), that examines the effects (both positive and negative) of our choices on ourselves, other people, animals, and the environment and considers alternatives that do more good and less harm, it’s worth taking a closer look at bottled water.”

Read the complete post.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Affluence and Affluenza

Posted on July 13, 2011 by zoeweil

The film and book, Affluenza, explores the mostly modern condition of relentless consumerism, debt, yearning for more, dissatisfaction and sluggishness, and a treadmill life that leaves people feeling empty and stressed simultaneously. In our recent Summer Institute for teachers, high school English teacher, Mark McGonagle, came up with an activity that explored affluenza through a quiz for students whose score determined whether or not they “suffered” from this condition.

A question arose. Is affluence the same as affluenza? The answer is clearly “no,” yet there is sometimes a subtle (and often a not so subtle) judgment by social justice and environmental activists against those who are affluent. It’s true enough that most who are affluent are bigger consumers than those who aren’t. They have larger houses filled with more stuff, more vehicles (and motorboats and sometimes private jets), travel for leisure more often, and so on, contributing to greater environmental destruction than those who do not have these luxuries. They certainly appear to suffer from affluenza. Yet, it’s critical not to lump affluence with affluenza. Having money can be a phenomenal tool for change, and I know people with money who are profoundly generous, live simply, and create substantial systemic change through their donations to social change organizations. This could and perhaps should be the model for affluence.

Most people want to be more affluent, and most want money to buy more stuff. What if we were to transform the image of affluence? Imagine if money were perceived less as a vehicle for luxury and more as a vehicle for the power to create positive change. If we identified those affluent people who have eschewed personal luxury in favor of a deep and abiding commitment to use their wealth for systemic good, we would have models for “compassionate consumerism” that went beyond fair trade, eco-friendly, cruelty-free products and that embraced thrift and simplicity coupled with generosity and philanthropy for a better world for all.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Doing the Most Good and the Least Harm

Posted on June 3, 2011 by zoeweil

For my blog post today, I’m sharing a recent post I wrote for One Green Planet, a blog dedicated to ethical choices. Here’s an excerpt:

One hundred years ago, where I live in rural Maine, it was fairly obvious how to make MOGO choices. Everyone knew where their food, clothing, energy, shelter and transportation came from and who and what was harmed or helped by their actions. It still wasn’t easy to always be good though. Fear, jealousy, anger, and other emotions all led our great grandparents to make choices that weren’t always MOGO.

Today, not only do we have those same challenging emotions and impulses, it also takes enormous motivation to find out who and what was harmed or helped to supply us with our basic needs, let alone everything else we indulge in. Because our lives are inextricably connected to everyone and everything across the globe through economic globalization, to make MOGO choices means that we must become conscious of these connections and make choices that help rather than harm everybody, not just our family, friends, and neighbors; not just our own pets; not just our immediate environment.

Read the complete post.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“


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Buy Change: Vote with Your Dollars

Posted on April 27, 2011 by zoeweil

At Green Fest San Francisco, I met Jono Korchin, and we talked about the power of our purchases to create change. As a humane educator, I’m frequently telling students that even though they can’t vote in elections until they’re 18, they vote every time they spend their money. Each dollar is a vote that says, “Do it again.” While promoting consumerism and spending may not be the best way to create positive change in the world (although it does increase job opportunities), promoting the right kind of consumerism can definitely create positive changes. We all buy stuff, so in addition to the message to live more simply and less materialistically, it’s important to simultaneously promote the idea of MOGO (most good) purchases.

Jono and Season Korchin share some products on an episode of The View, which demonstrate how choosing a certain salad dressing, paper, soap, and handbag, can actually make an enormous difference. Take a look:

Shop MOGO,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day: What We Buy Matters

Posted on November 26, 2010 by zoeweil

Today is Black Friday. We’re told it is the biggest shopping day of the year. You’ll find massive sales to jump start your holiday shopping, and you can start very early in the morning. In fact, here’s a website that posts the hours for a bunch of chain stores. Why, you can start shopping at Ralph Loren or Old Navy at midnight, just moments after Thanksgiving ends!

Apparently, we’re willing to go along with this selling frenzy even though it means long lines in crowded stores. We go along because we’ve been told to. It’s Black Friday after all.

Adbusters Magazine launched Buy Nothing Day in response to Black Friday. It’s a campaign to get us to reexamine our shopping habits, and it has gained some traction. Lots of people respond to Black Friday by buying nothing in honor of Buy Nothing Day.

My own shopping habits have never been any different on the Friday following Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and I personally reject both the call to shop and the call to buy nothing. Both feel like gimmicks to make me change my behavior for a day. What I want is for people to examine their shopping 365 days of the year.

What we buy matters. In the most democratic manner of all, it is a vote. When you spend money you are voting for the things you buy. Money is a reward that says to the recipient, “Good job, do it again!” So what do you want to vote for? That’s a tough question. Most economists, politicians, and employees in stores will tell you to vote with your money as much as possible. The more you spend, the better the economy, the more people will be employed, the sooner we’ll be able to pay off the deficit, the brighter the future will be. But it’s not so simple. Most environmentalists will remind you that the more you drive to malls and spend your money in stores the more carbon is released into the atmosphere, the more resources are depleted, and the faster we trash our planet. Most human rights advocates will want you to realize that the more you spend on cheap chain store products produced overseas the more you’ll be contributing to sweatshop and slave labor. Most animal advocates will wish that you would reconsider the fur, down, wool, and leather you buy in clothing stores and the myriad personal care products tested on animals in the cruelest of ways.

We need to consider what is worth voting for, which foods, which clothes, which electronics, which toys, and so on. I would be happy to attend a local crafts fair on Black Friday and support the many cottage industries in my county by buying homemade jams, artwork, pottery, and so on. I would do so consciously and enthusiastically, choosing holiday gifts with care and love, helping my community while choosing special gifts for loved ones.

What you buy matters. Today, on Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day, I hope people will commit to shopping consciously and conscientiously.

Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principal for a Better World and Meaningful Life

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10 Principles for a MOGO Life

Posted on March 5, 2010 by zoeweil

At the end of my book, Most Good, Least Harm, I offer ten principles for a MOGO life. I’ve reprinted them below as a follow up to my last two blog posts. I hope you find them helpful.

1. Commit to the 3 Is: inquire, introspect, and live with integrity. Expose yourself to information and ideas about MOGO living by talking to and learning from people from all walks of life who are also trying to do the most good and the least harm; by reading widely and deeply; by visiting websites aimed at making a difference, and by viewing relevant films. You can find a list of websites, books, magazines, and films, updated regularly, in IHE’s Resource Center. Then introspect: identify your values, consider what is most important to you, assess your talents and interests, and seek out ways to put these together practically and productively. Finally, live with integrity. To the best of your ability, put your values into practice.

2. Work for change. Give some of your time, resources, and talents to create systemic change that benefits all. Choose the issues that most concern and compel you, get involved, and relish the joy that such generosity brings to yourself and others. If you can, make your career one that is MOGO.

3. Rethink, reuse, repair, and recycle. As much as possible, rethink your use of products that are unnecessary, inhumane, produced through exploitive business practices, non-recyclable, overpackaged, toxic, and/or unsustainable. When you do make purchases, choose the most sustainable, efficient, humane, fairly traded, and healthy versions. Then reuse what you can, repair what is reparable, and recycle when you are through. And in the midst of these 4 Rs consider what you could borrow instead of buy, and what you could share with friends and neighbors so that they can better rethink unnecessary products, too.

4. Eat for life. As much as possible choose plant-based foods produced close to where you live, grown organically, and unprocessed. This will improve your health, the environment, the lives of animals, and the well-being of other people.

5. Reduce your ecological footprint. Drive less, carpool, walk, bike, car-share, and use public transportation more. If you need to own a car, choose one with the best fuel efficiency to meet your needs. Choose the most energy efficient and ecologically friendly options for homes, home repair, appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling. Choose your recreation and vacations with MOGO in mind as well. An ecotourism excursion over a cruise. Cross-country skiing instead of downhill skiing. Canoeing more often than motorboating.

6. Transform education. People need relevant information, tools for critical thinking, and motivation to lead meaningful lives that contribute to a better world. Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, elder, or concerned citizen, help make living sustainably and peacefully the very purpose of education at all levels by engaging in dialogue with lawmakers, educators, and school and university administrators.

7. Invest your money ethically. If you are going to rely on a mutual fund for retirement or college, choose a socially responsible investment fund. Ask for a portfolio and assess whether the company invests in the kinds of businesses you want to support. Seek out community banks and credit unions and consider microlending as a means of using your investment money to help others.

8. Build community. Find others who share your desire to make MOGO choices by joining existing groups or creating your own group, and invite people to join you. You will enjoy the friendship and camaraderie and help make a difference at the same time. Don’t forget the communities in which you are already a part. Get to know your neighbors and work with them to make your neighborhood healthy, supportive, and safe.

9. Teach others. Share what you know and learn with others to engage them in the challenge of living a MOGO life, using positive communication that does not judge or blame. Listen as often as you speak. Teaching and learning happens everywhere: one on one, in schools, in religious congregations, at camps, in families, in print and film, at learning centers, on social networking Internet sites, at senior facilities, etc. Model your message and speak your truth in kind and inspiring ways wherever you are and with whomever you’re in contact.

10. Strive for balance. Set reasonable goals for yourself and remember the “most good, least harm” equation includes you. You are a role model for a MOGO life, so find the balance that lets you live joyfully, enthusiastically, and compassionately.

Zoe Weil, President of the Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind and Claude and Medea

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Before You Support Causes, Even Good Ones…

Posted on November 16, 2009 by zoeweil

Last weekend I participated in a breast cancer walk-a-thon. What I appreciated so much about this particular walk-a-thon was the choice of charities to which we could contribute. For years I’ve been asked to support breast cancer walks, and I always ask what organization the money is going to. Often it’s an organization that supports animal experimentation, and I choose not to donate to these, not only because I have ethical concerns about such research, but also because I don’t think it’s the best way to confront the epidemic of breast cancer. I would rather see money go towards prevention, ethical human studies, and direct help to breast cancer patients.

When I walked last weekend, I chose to have my sponsor dollars go directly to financial help (in the form of gas cards and such) to poor women in my state with breast cancer. I was delighted to be able to help in this way.

Most of us want to help others, and we are eager to join causes, especially when it’s easy to do so. If we can buy one product that contributes a portion of profits to a cause like breast cancer, many of us are inclined to choose such a product. But is this always the MOGO choice?

Here’s a sobering blog post to consider that discusses the carcinogenicity of cosmetics whose parent companies promise a portion of profits from sales for breast cancer, a disease their products may actually contribute to. Take a look and consider researching this important question (and its validity) for yourself.

When giving, as with everything else, it’s so important to make our help as aligned with our values as possible. In this way, we truly reap the joy that comes in service and ensure that we contribute as meaningfully and fully as possible.

~ Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, The Power and Promise of Humane Education and Above All, Be Kind

 

Image courtesy of dbkfrog (Doug) via Creative Commons.

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Walmart’s Sustainability Label: A Chance to Show the True Price of Products

Posted on September 4, 2009 by zoeweil

In a recent WorldWatch article Ben Block writes about a new Walmart initiative to create a “sustainability label” that will be determined through extensive assessments of suppliers of products. It’s hard to to greet such news without enthusiasm. It’s also hard to not to be mighty skeptical. If ever there was a company that could make a massive difference, it would be Walmart, the biggest retailer in the world. If Walmart exercised its power to demand sustainable, humane, and peaceful products, the race would be on to produce them. A sustainability label is a great start.

But if ever there was an opportunity for greenwashing on a grand scale, it’s here, too. There will be a thousand loopholes, as one can easily see just by reading the WorldWatch article. There will be hidden costs no one reveals. There will be labels for sustainability that mask the realities of cruelty and oppression, unless those labels cover the true costs to all: the environment, other people, our own health, and animals.

Despite my skepticism, I’m happy about this development. Walmart is comprised of people who want a safe and healthy future for their children and grandchildren, just like I do. They have the ability to create changes in systems by virtue of their size and influence. I support such efforts, but I know we all need to fight for them to be honest, just, and legitimate.

~ Zoe

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What Is Ethically Justifiable Consumption?

Posted on June 1, 2009 by zoeweil

I was kayaking on the bay where I live this morning, enjoying the bobbing seals who didn’t seem to mind my presence, and breaking a line through the thick carpet of spruce pollen that floated on the ocean. When I turned around to return home, I was struck by several newly constructed mansions on the shore. These are summer homes, a couple of which are occupied only a few weeks of the year. Their square footage is equivalent to that of dozens of families living in poverty in other countries.

I know that the owners of these summer homes earned their wealth, and have probably created many jobs that have employed and provided a living to many people, including the jobs just to build these huge homes. They may also be philanthropists, creating opportunities and possibilities for countless others. And, I too, live in a big home (which we share with the Institute for Humane Education) and have loads of stuff (including my kayak), so I’m not one to talk. Yet, in the context of this series of posts on consumerism, I do wonder whether these big houses bring their owners joy, and whether the negative impact on the environment is morally justifiable. These are not environmentally-friendly, solar-powered homes; but even if they were — even if their owners purchased carbon offsets — there are still ethical questions to consider.

What is ethically justifiable consumption? Can we imagine a MOGO litmus test or rating system? What would we include? Who decides?

~ Zoe

Image courtesy of albany_tim via Creative Commons.

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