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“The U.S. and Canada, with 5 percent
of the world's population, use a third of the Earth's natural
resources.”
-Youth for Environmental Sanity
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For thousands of years, Indigenous people have perfected
a technology system of living in sustainable ways. Our communities
always recycled, and maintained a balance of ecology and consumption,
using resources to their full potential and with very little waste.
Whether it be energy-efficient shelter, water usage, or use of traditional
food sources, Native communities are very knowledgeable when it comes
to sustainable living.
In contemporary times, Indians may be removed from their indigenous
livelihoods. Shopping in grocery stores replaces traditional subsistence
foods, adjusting the thermostat replaces natural heating or cooling
systems, and turning the faucet with water in an instant replaces
the arduous chore of collecting natural spring or fresh water. Our
lives have become more convenient, but what price do we pay for these
luxuries?
Often the ways that we are living are unsustainable. Should there
be a collapse in the market, or an eventual tapping of the world’s
oil reserves, how will we live? What are some ways we can help ourselves?
It can be overwhelming to think of the larger picture of destroyed
rainforests, global warming, air and water pollution, and the toxic
wastes produced by our country. But remember, a sustainable way of
living is in our blood, our DNA, our traditional stories and languages,
and ways of knowing!
What you can do
According to Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) website, the U.S.
and Canada, with 5 percent of the world's population, use a third
of the Earth's natural resources. Here are some small steps you can
take that make a big difference.
- Buy recycled products. Paper towels, toilet
tissue, printer paper are just a few. (In Santa Fe, the prices of
these products are equal to, and often less than, those that aren’t
recycled.) Encourage your local stores to stock these products in
the aisles.
- Recycle. Think before you toss! Soda pop cans, plastic packaging
and products, paper, clothes, office products can all be collected
and either recycled or donated for free. Did you know that recycling
one twelve-ounce can saves an amount of energy equivalent to six ounces
of gasoline, enough to power an efficient car for two miles (according
to YES!).
- Exchange your waste. For large ticket items, such as landscaping
materials, to used office furniture, go to http://www.nmrecycle.org/welisting.htm.
You can also use this service if you have items to get rid of.
- Turn off the lights. In rooms that you aren’t using,
just flip the switch and feel good that you are conserving energy.
Unplug appliances you don’t need to use all the time.
- Roll down your windows. Cars use more gas when the air conditioner
is on. Instead of using air conditioning, roll down the windows and
get some fresh air. Better yet, carpool or walk.
- Save water. Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth,
and turn off the shower when you lather up. You’d be amazed
at how much water this can save.
- Install low flow showerheads. The average showerhead uses
5 gallons per minute. A low flow uses only 2 gallons.
- Install low flush toilets in your home. A low-flush uses on
average about 1.6 gallons per flush, as opposed to a regular flush
of 3.5 gallons.
- Use rechargeable batteries. This will save in terms of waste
and cost.
- Use energy efficient lighting. Natural light is best, but
you can buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. A single 18 watt compact
fluorescent bulb produces as much light as a typical 75 watt (incandescent)
bulb (according to YES!).
- Buy earth friendly products. Household cleansers can be harmful
and toxic. Think before you buy cleaners, soaps, and even furniture
and carpeting, towels and linens.
- Once a week, go vegetarian. Half the water in the United States
is used for animals. Buy organic meats from your local store. If they
don’t have them, ask the manager. Stores will usually stock
what the consumer wants.
- Turn off the TV. The average American watches 5 hours of TV
a day. That’s a lot of electricity. You are also bombarded with
commercials that promote unhealthy spending habits.
- Bring your own bags. Recycle grocery store bags. Better yet,
use cloth bags, or when the purchase is small enough, don’t
use a bag at all.
- Get rid of junk mail. According to the New Mexico Recycling
Coalition, every American, on average receives 677 sales pitches per
year through the mail. This uses 68 million trees and 28 billion gallons
of water. Go to: http://www.nmrecycle.org/Stamp-out_Junk_Mail.htm
to reduce the junk mail hassle in your life.
These simple tips are part of a much bigger picture. Do your part
and feel good about your footprint on this planet.
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