By: Al Ballesteros
I’m one who thinks about the environment and about the waste we create by using items from food stuffs to daily use products that are wrapped in plastics, or in cans or bottles. I have, at times, avoided the purchase of a needed item because it had such little usable content but was wrapped in a ton of heavy plastic or packaging.
I worry about depleting limited natural resources we consume by driving gas vehicles, traveling on air planes, heating our homes or using air conditioning. I think about water use and how this precious natural resource is being polluted and whether or not what we are putting down the drain is hurting this essential element of life.
To limit what we are putting in landfills, I have tried composting a couple of times. But because of my busy schedule, both times I let the compost bin just sit there and become absolutely useless and had to throw it all in the black can anyway. I tend to keep the same old furniture year after year because it still has usage on it and because these items are made from good wood. I’d rather not change this old furniture for items constructed from man-made materials. But I want new furniture because mine is outdated, so I’m stuck.
Living in Los Angeles and in Southern California we are not strangers to water shortages and the effects of climate change. Water conservation in the form of not wasting it when letting the water run to warm-up before showers or washing dishes, makes a lot of sense, but I hate having the shock of cold water on my body. So, I don’t do it. I try to use native plants in the yard, but I do like it lush and green. So, I have plants that require watering. To make a change would mean changing up the yard that took years to develop. So, here I’m stuck again.
I don’t drive a gas car any longer as I’ve turned to an electric Tesla. But now for political reasons, I’m not sure I want to keep the Tesla any longer, but say I do. I’m still concerned that the amount of electricity used by the car is probably just as bad as using gas. Isn’t a large part of the electricity we use made with petroleum based products, whether oil or natural gas? So, still stuck.
I use a tremendous amount of single use plastic bottles because I drink a lot of water. This is something I don’t think I can compromise on because I like water and think it is good to drink several bottles a day. It just doesn’t seem as pure to have a water filtering system on the house faucet and drink from a reusable water container, even though logically it makes sense. I know it is quite likely the water from a filtered faucet would be just as clean as that in a plastic bottle. But, I just can’t move past the plastic, sterile looking bottle. I do make sure almost all are put in the blue can. However, stuck here also.
Where does all this lead for those of who live on the planet today and for those who we care about that will inherit the planet tomorrow and into the future? Not just the humans, but the animals and insects as well.
Well, in Cheryl Leutjen’s book, “Love Earth Now” she helps us think about the gap between our realities living as humans in modern society and our intentions to limit the damage we are causing the earth. Cheryl talks about her own struggle of recognizing her global carbon footprint and she shares honestly her stories. She’s funny and especially in the way she describes dealing with the questions of when and what to worry about, how much to worry about it or whether it’s worth the worry or not.
Love Earth Now will give you practical advice on discovering your own path to living more earth-conscience. At the end of the books chapters, the author gives you an exercise and the opportunity to think about what you may have read and learned in the chapter and how those thoughts may affect you in a deep or not so deep way. The book will give you ideas on how you can make a difference even when dealing with a busy schedule and lots of other competing needs.
Love Earth Now is available on Amazon by author Cheryl Leutjen. (Note: Thank you Cheryl for dropping the book off at the Adelante Magazine office a while back. We hope you are doing well.)