[PRACTICE] New Year's Revolutions

The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. – Richard Rogers, architect

Happy new year from San Francisco! I got away from New York City to another big city, full of palm trees and colors. The fact that this city was filled with smoke barely two months ago is unimaginable.

Thank you all for sticking around in this newest journey of mine - of sharing my thoughts on our planet and trying my best to encourage y'all to conserve, reduce, and refuse more. I did not start this out with the biggest ambition and I'm still holding down the greedy perfectionistic hopes of turning the Earthingtonpost to something bigger. I have a full-time job, love to go for a run with friends, and read instead of writing.

That's why a text message I get from a subscriber/friend about my newest letter means so much to me. That's why a replied back email, agreeing to my thoughts mean a world to me. And it would be a whole lot to the planet Earth. Not only are you reading my "product reviews", but also are you taking out $$$ out of your pocket to invest in this new environmentalist journey. Not only did you read me rant about the President's "un-accomplishments" in his environmental policies, but also did you realize how much the political policies directly affect us and our surroundings. I am hoping to continue, despite the fact that I crank on deadlines and end up with spelling errors, which I spot long after the email was sent out. Despite the fact that this is no Washington Post or the New York Times, I hope one day, the media industry shines more light on the truths of climate change and I can be part of the mission.

The first sun of 2019 has risen and if you have not filled out your New Year's Resolutions list yet, please refer to my NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTIONS for suggestions. Do not be too ambitious, start low and slow. Adding at least 2 to your list and you will become 10 times more green than you were last year.

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[New Year's Revolutions]

1. Avoid single-use plastic as much as possible. I can see some of you go "ugh.. I try but it's so difficult!" Here are the specifics. Become super attached to your own cups, water bottles, and tumblers. As much as I love Starbucks mobile order, I also cannot betray my beautiful tumbler over a single-use cup. In fact this year, I am going to count the number of plastic water bottles I consume. My goal? 20 bottles MAX!

2. Cut down on shower time. Water crisis is real. Before, we Americans never experienced the seriousness of this crisis and only observed people living and dying with lack of water but now, it is happening in the country. Flint, Michigan STILL doesn't have safe drinking water. Donald Trump shut down the government to pass the budget to build walls on the southern borders to Mexico, but still doing nothing to improve water sanitization in Flint. Let's be more conscious of water usage here. TMI, but I take 10-minute showers or less.

3. Refuse receipts. This is an easy revolution especially in this day and age of digitization. Your answer to the question "would you like your receipt?" is going to be "no" and your answer to the question "would you like your receipt printed or e-mailed or both?" is going to me "e-mailed!" And soon, you will see yourself start refusing even before they ask!

4. Eat less meat. Become a part-time vegetarian! Mean consumption is a leading cause of climate change and global warming because it takes so much water and carbon emissions to grow cows, deliver them, butcher them, process meat, and deliver to stores. However, it can be scary to cut down meat consumption all of the sudden and you might quickly feel the guilt for not following through if you set your goal too high. Meat-less Mondays can be a realistic goal this year for you and it would still mean a lot to the good of the environment.

5. Bring reusables with you. Treat your reusable water bottle, stainless steel straws and reusable grocery bags like your cell phone. You know exactly what that means.

6. Avoid fast fashion trends. I'm a fashion enthusiast and prone to following the latest trends. However, I also realize how many carbon footprints and unethical labor force it takes when I purchase a shirt from H&M, Zara, Forever21, or really any other big brands. When "the trend" becomes a standard in purchase, most items tend to stay deep inside the closets after a short while. Purchase when you must. Purchase what you will wear at least 3 or more years. Reduce carbon footprints and motivate corporations to stop unethical labor practices.

7. Invest in environmental swaps. Keep up with my newsletters and you shall earn more information on environmental swaps this year in your toilet, kitchen, office, and living room. Do not gasp at the prices of reusables. DO GASP at the amount of wastes we make on top of the planet - it will only become warmer and warmer.

8. Buy local. Easiest to accomplish if you visit farmers' market. Drag yourself to a close famers' market and make it your usual. Make friends with the vendors. Support your local community by purchasing from farmers and be able to easily source what you end up eating. Seasonal ingredients tend to cost less, but also tastier and better for the environment, as it requires less artificial energy to grow.

9. Donate more. This is difficult to achieve for me too, but I did donate $400 to Food & Water Watch last year with the help of friends on my birthdays. You can easily make it a project like me or spend some time and have fun looking for charities that speak to your social justice and causes.

10. Spread the green words. There are cliché phrases. Climate change is real. Global warming is happening. We need to save the environment. Recycle or die. However, they do really mean what they mean in text. I am going to do my best to continue this newsletter to interact with you all. Please do forward and share. Expand the movement toward environment's safety.