Shades of "Green"- Deciding Who is Eco-Friendly

Today I read a newspaper article criticizing Whole Foods shopping market. One criticism is that they shouldn't sell produce from other countries, presumably because of the fuel it takes to bring such a shipment to the United States and then distribute it to other stores. While this is a sound argument, it makes me think that we should keep in mind that going green is subject to interpretation. Each person and company decides to what degree they want to help save the environment.

Some people make seemingly drastic choices like giving up their automobile. We may think they are noble because of their choice (or crazy). They offset their carbon footprint but then someone else that is even more devoted to environmental responsibility will argue, "Yes, you gave up driving but you still use fossil fuels when you take the smog producing buses and trains. You should give that up entirely and ride a bicycle, like me." This more eco-friendly person smugly commends himself for how earth-sensitive he is.

Then, his woman friend decides he is too proud of himself and she condemns his choices because his bicycle is made by adorable, poverty stricken children in factories insensitive to fair-trade agreements. And what is worse; consider the amount of fuel it took to ship his bicycle to him. What a waste of natural resources. "What you should do is walk everywhere, like I do," she loftily proclaims. I can see the reasonableness of her argument too but what about the shoes she uses to walk around in? Where did they come from? How many parts and from which places did the materials come from? What environmental impact did the dye residues have that were used to make her trendy "earth-friendly" turquoise shoes?

There is an ideal, eco-friendly society, and then there is where we truly are. Our societies are so far removed from native earth living, that it is honestly unrealistic to expect that everyone must completely revert back to that lifestyle. If someone would like to join an earth commune then that is great but to judge others and dismiss their own efforts at environmentally sensitive living or criticize companies that are bringing organic foods to the masses is juvenile and egotistic.


We wrap up our criticism in a stifling environmental blanket that thinly disguises the American love-hate relationship with success. Most all of us want to be successful and often that success is measured in freedom and some degree of wealth and fame. But when someone becomes too successful, we act like a blood thirsty crowd in old black and white films, yelling and swing pitchforks and torches, claiming "Kill that profiting (successful) beast!"

I believe in living in harmony not only with the earth, but with each other and with our selves. If you personally believe it is wrong to eat produce from other countries because of the fossil fuel costs, then you can chose to only buy local foods rather than criticize the companies that provide both options. The beautiful thing about America is that the choice is entirely up to you. I hope we will always have that choice.

Safe Green Living, Examining the controversies and misleading information about going green and earth-friendly living.