Just one word: Plastics

Grapes:  The Natural
Snack

Anyone who knows me even a little bit will know that I have a certain fondness for mermaids, but what he or she might not understand is that this interest goes far beyond seashell bikini tops and "mermaid hair."  As denizens of the briny deep, mermaids are concerned about protecting our world's waters.  Shifting the conversation into reality, many of the human women who embrace mermaid culture also espouse causes such as conservation, recycling, et cetera.

Bottled Water, aka
The Scourge of Carpathia

Everything is connected.  Our actions on land have a profound impact upon the health of the water.  The waste that we generate pollutes the life-giving essence, the bloodstream if you will, of the world - and if we do not make some serious changes, I don't know what the quality of life will be like for future generations.

Of course, this conversation could go in dozens, hundreds, thousands or more different directions.  Should developing nations be allowed to generate the pollution that those of us in the West did during the Industrial Revolution?  Is global warming a natural occurrence, or is it a man-made phenomenon?  Does love for the Earth, for nature, equate to worshiping a false idol, to misdirecting the love that should be devoted solely to God?  If we set aside resources for the protection of animals, how will humans make a living and contribute to the economy?  These are just four questions, and while I have firmly held beliefs on them, I couldn't possibly have the answers to the countless others.

Soda Pop

What I do know is this:  the engine of American commerce is made - at least in large part - from plastic.  Throughout this post are some photos that I took while grocery shopping at a Super Target on the afternoon of October 11, 2013.  My intent is not to besmirch the character of Super Target or of the many fine product manufacturers whose goods are shown in the photos.  We are not farmers, ranchers, vintners, soapmakers, et cetera.  We all need to eat and to keep ourselves clean, and this is how we do it - by buying products that come in plastic packaging.  As you can see (as you already knew), even the produce - the fruit of the Earth - is wrapped in plastic!

Yogurt

One of my best friends recently took a second job in a water-bottling plant.  He is a highly educated husband, father, and respected member of his community.  I respect him for all that he continues to achieve and for the sacrifices that he is willing to make in order to provide for his family; nevertheless, when I read of his new job, my first thoughts were not exactly complimentary.  Please note that I mention it here as a statement of fact, not as some pathetic passive-aggressive attempt to comment on my friend's job.  It is the industry with which I take issue, not finally with him.  In fact, I used to purchase bottled water myself, and long after *I* stopped (having been influenced by the aforementioned mermaids), my mother continued to do so.  I am proud to say that she has not purchased any for probably two years now, opting instead to fill and refrigerate a (plastic) milk carton with filtered water.  It is a "win" in my eyes.

Cottage Cheese and
Other Dairy Products

Yogurt used to be one of my favorite foods, but because of my concerns regarding its packaging, I have neither purchased nor correspondingly eaten any for at least two years.  This means that I have no idea what all of the fuss is over that new Greek yogurt all of the kids are talking about these days.  I feel like a parent in the 1950's who does not understand rock and roll or a person today who does not know what a hashtag is.  #YogurtCulturallyIlliterate 

If I have "cottage cheese thighs," it is not from eating cottage cheese, yet another dietary victim to my concerns over the packaging.  It seems quite unfair to me that foods that are generally considered to be "good for me (and you)" are in harmful packaging, whereas the "food" served at many fast-food restaurants comes with easily recyclable wrappers.  Fast food is also considerably cheaper than healthy food.  While this is certainly not a revelation, it is an indignity, and it is leading to people - including myself - being simultaneously both improperly nourished and overweight.

Various Laundry Aids

I could always go the "save the container" route and rival my late grandmother's Cool Whip tub collection, but that seems irresponsible to me, as though I would somehow be making rationales for poor decisions.  It occurred to me last year to see if a local grade school would want some containers to sprout bean seeds for science class, but my guess is that I can go through enough yogurt cups to supply them for several school years.

It's not just food that comes in plastic packaging, of course.  We all like to have clean, fresh-smelling clothes, but washing them in the river or hanging them among the pines are simply not options for most of us.  Detergent, fabric softener, boosting agents, antiperspirants, and the like often come in plastic packages.  People make judgments based upon appearances and smells, and this is one facet of society with which I am overjoyed to conform, at least insofar as it applies to myself.

While the problems of one man don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world, I am one of over seven billion people, and we are taking a toll on our planet, and it can be invisible to us in many ways.  As far as when more people become aware of the problem, who can say?  Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon - and for the rest of our lives, this is probably just going to get worse and worse.  If you don't believe me, take a look at this picture of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is now estimated to be approximately the size of the great state of Texas.

One Small Section of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Image obtained from http://www.greenpeace.org/... and shared without permission
No Copyright Infringement Intended

So, therein lies the problem, and I don't know what the solution is.  There are only so many foods I am going to be able to remove from my diet.  My friend needs to provide a comfortable lifestyle for his family.  We are not going to go to a society where laundering becomes a luxury instead of a necessity.  It is so easy to identify problems, but when it comes to providing solutions, that is another story altogether.

What do you do to conserve resources?  Have you removed foods from your diet or otherwise made adjustments to your lifestyle to accommodate your concerns for the environment?  Do you have any suggestions for me as to how I can become a conscientious consumer while at the same time enjoying simple foods such as yogurt and cottage cheese?

Please share your comments below.