simple we are not

There was a time, not so long ago, when being 'green' went by another, not so sexy word - frugal. Years ago I happily discovered the simplicity movement. Books like 'The Simple Living Guide' and 'Your Money or Your Life' made me consider spending and consuming in an entirely new way.

It made sense that scaling down and buying less meant I could work less, have more free time, and worry less about the things I had to insure and clean and use. Unfortunately, the concept of reducing and reusing (i.e. being frugal) didn't catch on in the real world - maybe people were afraid of being called cheap.

Fast forward a few years and being 'eco-friendly' is all the rage. But it's not frugal, nor is it simple.

Take the urban mom I saw today: burlap-bag-with-clever-eco-slogan slung over her shoulder, inquiring as to the distance the overpriced cheese before her travelled, while her child sat in a ridiculously oversized made-in-China branded stroller sucking on the straw of a non-recyclable juice box.

Ironic, no?

The point is, we can't buy our way to a better planet. It's not sexy, but having less and using less is the only way to go. Spread the word people.