Ethics

Catuli's article brought up some very interesting views about our world today. Capitalism is so much a part of our everyday lives, and it has become so easy to blindly accept this system without questioning the reasons and ideas behind it. It was refreshing to read about the opinions of somebody who dared challenge the status quo. Is capitalism really the devil? It could be, if you are one of the 'little people who work for wages'. But to the 'CEO who is making millions', it might just be the best thing in the world.

It is possible that capitalism is a bad idea-- that it shouldn't have been implemented in the first place. But, imagine a world without capitalism. Can't, could you? We would not have any of the ammenities or luxuries that we take for granted today. There would be no internet. No cell phones. Who would have the incentive to develop such things if it were not for monetary purposes? This is the kind of hidden mechanism that converted the greed of individuals into some general good-- this is Adam Smith's "invisible hand". Such technologies have benefited far more people than they have harmed.

It is possible that a capitalist society deliberately aims to degrade our character and convince us that greed is normal, even good. Take celebrities, for example. They live lavishly and have high opinions of themselves because of their wealth. Some do try to give back to communities and charities, but the amounts pale in comparison with their wealth. Are we only as good as our material possessions?

However, it is not practical to hope that everybody would see the flaw of capitalism-- that they would opt to live like Buddha or Mother Teresa. Give up their television and computers? No way.

Capitalism may bear some blame for the state of our economy today, but we must also be grateful for the good that it has brought. Without capitalism, countries would not advance nor develop. People would not have access to the goods and services that they do now. Without capitalism, we would not have the resources to help other countries in need. And when the economy does boom again, Catuli may change his mind about capitalism.

But Catuli was right when he said that the solutions to greed are simple. Because they are. Just follow everything that your religion tells you to do, word for word. Oh, and always put others first. Simple, yes. Viable, no. Society is trapped too deep in the jaws of capitalism and our lifestyles are too rooted in that system. To undo capitalism, we must first change ourselves--we must become saints.

Electronic Waste

For most of us, when we think of recycling, the first things that come to mind are paper, plastics, and aluminum. But what about electronics? Electronic equipment has been recognized as a fast growing category of municipal solid waste. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2005, discarded electronics totaled about 2 million tons. It’s estimated that only about 15 to 20 percent of this was recycled. Worldwide, between 20 million and 50 million tons of electronic waste is produced, according to a United Nations environment program. Since electronic equipment contains toxic chemicals, this can pose health and environmental risks, particularly in landfills where toxins may leak into the soil and ground water.

To prevent your old electronic equipment from ending up in landfills, you can donate them to charities or thrift stores, or even sell them on websites such as Craigslist and eBay. Recycling bins for electronics do exist, you just have to keep an eye out for them. I have seen bins specifically for old cell phones and related parts. The next time you replace your printer ink cartridge, place the old one in the envelope that usually comes with the new cartridge. You can then mail your old ink cartridge to be recycled. Postage is even pre-paid! Could it get any better than that? You bet. Staples currently offers a $3 rebate for any old ink cartridge that you bring into the store. Best Buy has also expanded their recycling program to all their stores nationwide.

Only about 11 percent of electronics are recycled, according to the most recent U.S. EPA estimates. Hopefully our actions can increase this number.

$5.77

$5.77 was the amount of money that I received a couple of days ago when I hauled two trash bags full of empty glass bottles and one trash bag full of plastic bottles to my local recycling center. Better than nothing, definitely. I used the money towards my purchase at the grocery store. The recycling center was was tiny, about the size of four parking spots, located next to the grocery store. I was surprised to find the center so packed. There were two cars in line waiting to unload their recyclable goodies.

The center was small and inefficient. I commend the people in line who were willing to wait a good 15 minutes to get a few dollars back. One family even brought their children with them-- A good move because a sense of environmental responsibility is best instilled while young. I watched as one family inserted their plastic bottles one by one into the automatic bottle collection machine. The machine next to it was out of order. The attendant at the center was also inefficient. He was slow and more interested in chatting with his partner than helping out the customers. Certainly something can be done to improve our recycling centers. They should be clean and efficient in order to attract more people to recycle. These people are not getting a lot of money back and are unlikely to wait in line and watch excruciatingly as someone inserts bottle by bottle into the machines. Let us not test their patience lest they decide never to recycle again.

Is Green the New Black?

Many people try to go green in an attempt to lessen their environmental footprint. They say they are 'eco-friendly'. Just because they buy organic and shop at Whole Foods instead of Albertsons. Just because they carry canvas bags instead of plastic or paper bags. Just because they wear a t-shirt that says "Save the Environment". They may also drive a hybrid car, wear organic cotton, and recycle religiously. But are they really eco-friendly? Or is going green just a trend? Some may simply like the image that being green (or pretending to be) portrays--that they care about the environment, that they are concerned about making a difference.

Some celebrities, for example, actively promote the importance of living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. They travel to opposite ends of the globe to raise awareness about the current state of our planet. They lend their faces to advocate environmental issues. But has anyone taken a closer look at their lifestyles? They travel on private jets, they live in mansions, and they drive highly fuel-inefficient cars. It is hypocritical.


At least there are some celebrities that don't try to pretend, like Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, who are notorious for their love for fur.



Green hypocrisy doesn't apply only to celebrities. How about your friend who insists you print double-sided to save paper? Take a ride in her hybrid car to her home and you notice that she has left her lights on. Again. She uses disposal utensils because she doesn't like to wash up. She drives her hybrid two blocks because she doesn't want to walk. She insists on organic granola bars, however.

Going green should not be a trend, it should be a lifestyle--second nature.

Earth Again!

I spent Valentine's day with five other girls at Urth Cafe. This time we visited the Santa Monica Branch. Not only were we attracted to the tasty drinks, but we also loved those drawings that they made on the surface.

In today's world, we see cafes on nearly every corner we turn. Some blocks are even saturated with three to four cafes, as I have observed this weekend when I took a walk on West 3rd Street in Beverly Hills. What can these little cafes do to set themselves apart? The answer may simply be customer service. What brought me back to Urth Cafe was, besides the delicious fare, the friendly and sincere staff. They take the extra step to make the customer happy. I experienced it this Saturday, when the server was happy to comply when we requested that a drawing be made on one of the hot chocolates that we ordered, which ordinarily would not have a drawing on them. It is these simple things that keep a customer.

Green Your Love

Valentine's day is this weekend! What better way for stores to sell you overpriced goodies that promise to convey your love to a special someone? Since a little gift is mandatory in order to avoid a fight with your significant other, why not make it an environmentally friendly one? That way, you can support a good cause and enjoy the sweet affection showered on you.

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with chocolate. There are several decadent selections of Fair Trade and certified organic chocolate available online from Life By Chocolate and Moonstruck Chocolate. You wouldn't want your significant other to pollute her body with nasty toxins, now do you? However, because Valentine's day is so near, you probably won't have time to order online and wait for the product to be delivered. A short trip to your local grocery or drugstores would offer a variety of Green & Black's chocolate, also a conscientious chocolate producer. It may be slightly pricier than your average chocolate but it is worth it to know that you are not supporting poverty and child labor.

Or you could surprise her with a special Valentine's day card. Special because the card is embedded with wildflower seeds. Keep them moist and you will be able to grow pretty flowers! When they are in full bloom you can also pluck them for her. Green Field Paper Company offers this refreshing idea.

If your loved one is not all for clichéd gifts, how about buy her a one-year carbon pass for her vehicle at the TerraPass website?

She will love how you're trying to do good for the environment. Go ahead, green your romance.

The Heat is on

We have all heard about global warming. We all know that it is happening (except for the writer of "The Great Global Warming Swindle").

In a nutshell, global warming refers to an unnatural and rapid increase in the Earth’s average surface air temperature. One of the initial things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for this warming, and humans emit them through fossil fuel combustion. Of these gases, carbon dioxide is the most highly concentrated in the atmosphere. Climate change has had a profound affect on the lives of animals over the past years, and now humans are finally beginning to feel it too.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed by the scope of the situation. This problem affects the entire planet. It is easy to continue living our current lifestyle and hope that some scientists somewhere will discover something that will reverse the problem. It is easy to turn the other cheek and wait for more laws to be enacted. But how about we take a look around us and see what changes we can make as individuals that will make a difference.

A recent article in TreeHugger caught my attention. It had a photo of a wild koala bear that crawled into a tub of water on somebody’s balcony in its efforts to seek relief from temperatures of above 40°C.


Australia is often described as the driest inhabited continent and the most likely to feel the early effects of global warming. Reuters recently reported another deadly bushfire in Australia, which spread through several small towns north of Melbourne. The death toll was 108 and counting. Dead animals were strewn across the roads. Although wildfires are a natural event in Australia, the particularly hot weather and drought this year provided optimal conditions for blazes to occur.

As southern Australia heats up, reaching record-breaking temperatures, northern Australia is becoming host to record-breaking floods. Even Britain is experiencing severe climate changes, reaching its coldest in eighteen years. Buses were suspended and traffic was at a standstill. This is what climate change looks like.

Nature is trying to tell us something.




Because of global warming, two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population will disappear by 2050. I was shocked when I read that statement several years ago. With less ice on which to live on, polar bears have gotten skinnier. Some have even drowned because of the long distances between ice planes.



I have always had a soft spot for animals and learning about their struggle nudges me to be more environmentally friendly. I hope that the photographs of those animals that I've posted will make some of you go "Aww...", and at least try to help those that can't help themselves. What has happened to the days when man and beast lived harmoniously and cared about each other? Because of global warming, Arctic sea ice has declined to the lowest levels on record. But more than polar bears and ice caps are at risk. Other species have shown unusual migration and breeding patterns. Adelie penguins in Antartica have dwindled to less than half their numbers within the last thirty years. Butterflies and foxes have moved farther north for the cooler weather. Spruce bark beetles have thrived in Alaska because of the warmth, causing damage to four million acres of spruce trees.



For those who don’t particularly care about animals, let me paint a more vivid picture in your mind. A cool breeze tousles your hair while sunshine warms your face. You close your eyes and inhale the sweet and salty scent of seawater. The pristine blue sea stretches infinitely ahead of you. Soft, powdery sand trickles through your toes as you sip from a freshly opened coconut. Lovely, isn’t it? I’m talking about the Maldives, an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. If nothing is done today, scientists predict that this paradise would disappear underwater within the next one hundred years. This means that our grandchildren would never be able experience its beauty. Its existence would remain only in photographs.

So, what can we do?

The first steps are to reduce, reuse, and recycle. The three R's have been taught to us since grade school, but how many of us actually do it? Taking the extra step to separate your trash is worth every effort. Many of us may have an initial instinct to begin recycling all our trash. But we must bear in mind the order of the three R's. We must first reduce the amount that we consume. Buy products with minimal packaging. Use canvas bags to save paper and plastic bags. Reuse those bags that you absolutely had to take. With a little creativity, nearly everything in your household can be reused. For example, old kitchen utensils can be used as gardening tools and junk mail flyers for art projects and origami. Better yet, eliminate junk mail by removing your name from mailing lists. I personally find that paper bags make great trash bins. By recycling only half of your household waste, you can reduce 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide anually. There are also websites that bring neighbors together so that they can borrow and share just about anything. Why buy when you can borrow, right?

There is so much that we can do--just simple adjustments to our lifestyle. Bike to work instead of driving. Walk to the next block to get lunch instead of driving. The benefit is three-fold-- save on gas emissions, save on gas costs, and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle!

Try adding insulation to your home. With the recent rain and cold weather, a little insulation can help to retain heat in the home. This translates to lower heating costs. Just by installing weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors can lower your heating costs by one quarter. By setting your thermostat just two degrees higher in summer and two degrees lower in winter can help save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

By using energy efficient products, we will save energy, hence we save money. In this economy, it seems the wise thing to do. When considering a new car, lean towards one with high mileage and least pollution. It could be a hybrid, or a wagon instead of a fuel-guzzling SUV. A 40 miles per gallon car will save an estimated $3,000 in fuel costs over its lifetime, compared with a 20 miles per gallon car.

For home appliances, switch to compact florescent light bulbs which offer more natural light for less energy, instead of standard light bulbs. Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot, and save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. You can't tell the difference in freshness or cleanliness of your clothes whether it is washed with hot or cold water, anyway.

These are just the beginning steps that we can take. Another way to reduce global warming would be to eat less meat. Ideally, we would all be vegetarian, but that is a long shot.

It is a great feat for some people because meat is such a significant part of the American diet. A major report by the University of Chicago in 2006 found that adopting a vegan diet has a greater impact in the fight against global warming than switching to a hybrid car does. Raising animals for their flesh, eggs, and milk is one of the world’s leading emitters of carbon dioxide. But global warming is caused by more than just carbon dioxide.

Animal agriculture is the leading source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which—combined with carbon dioxide—causes the vast majority of global warming. It takes up to sixteen pounds of grain to produce just one pound of animal flesh. It is inefficient to feed plant foods to farmed animals and consume their flesh rather than eating the plant foods ourselves. In the U.S., 70 percent of all grains, 80 percent of all agricultural land, half of all water resources, and one-third of all fossil fuels are used to raise animals for food. Eating one pound of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV for 40 miles. We can start with baby steps--switching to soy milk instead of dairy, or eating one meat-less meal per week.

It is clichéd, but it has to be said- you really can make a difference.

For Earth

I have heard alot about Urth Cafe and finally had the chance to try it out early this week. And it was a truly delightful experience. "Urth" is pronounced as "Earth" and that gives you a little idea of what its about. The place had a warm and inviting ambience and the display case of delectable desserts was so, so tempting. I found it difficult to believe that those were all healthy fare! My friend, who was a regular patron of the cafe, requested a bear to be drawn (as pictured below) on my Japanese Tea Latte, which made my day. One more happy customer!

Urth Cafe boasts organic coffees and teas which are grown using the highest standards. When I took a sip of my latte, I could tell the difference. Really, I could. The flavor, richness, and aroma were extraordinary. Synthetic petroleum based chemical fertilizers are the most common chemical used in the production of coffee, which can slowly destroy the soil's fertility and leak into local water supplies. Coffee is one of the heaviest chemically treated food commodity in the world and Americans consume one-fifth of the world's coffee. I had been ingesting chemicals all this while!



This was one simple eco-friendly step that I was more than happy to take. I definitely recommend this place for anyone who craves a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter coffee chains, if you're willing to put up with the price. You may also sleep better and have peace of mind, knowing that you have done something to support the environment and fair trade.