Consumption: Week 1 of No Paper Cups and Joining a Credit Union
April 4, 2012 § Leave a comment
For IDP’s Responsible Consumption Month we are committing to working mindfully with the momentum of our consumption habits and each choose specific areas of focus. Here is my pledge:
• For the month of April I will be mindful of using paper cups, “to-go” containers and plastic bags. Also I will open an account with a credit union so that my money is managed by a non-profit member-run financial institution rather than a for-profit Wall-Street-run banking corporation.
• I am doing this to engage more deeply with the concept of Right Action in my daily life.
I am interested in exploring the habitual use-and-throw-away mentality especially in relation to food and drink. Also I am curious about manifesting responsible consumption in the arena of personal finance.
Paper Cups
To be perfectly honest (and why blog otherwise) I got a cup of tea on April 1st and it came in a paper cup. You see, I wasn’t really planning on having tea, I was actually meeting a friend for a walk in the park. But when we met at the appointed spot and time it was pouring rain so… we went to have a cup of tea at a nearby cafe. It wasn’t so much of a cafe as it was a deli with a sit-down area on the second floor so they had no to-stay cups. And I didn’t actually even remember responsible consumption until I had the paper cup in my hand. With the cardboard sleeve to boot. Yes, a very very bad naughty yogi.
Just kidding. Instead of feeling guilty I laughed and explained to my friend about the month of responsible consumption. I also mentioned the magic ingredient (and possibly the greatest wisdom of all), kindness.
So yes, I did use one paper cup already this month, but what it made me realize is that I need to be better prepared. I’m going to get a nice thermos (or find one in my cupboard) to carry around with me. Or, if I don’t have a thermos in my bag, then I’ll simply forgo the beverage served in the earth-depleting disposable vessel.
Unless I don’t forgo. Mindfully.
Credit Union
My feelings about joining a credit union are a little more tricky, or convoluted. I love the idea of moving my money to a non-profit financial institution. But the hassle… the hassle!! Eeep. It terrifies me.
I have a mental block, or maybe a mental hurricane, that appears whenever I contemplate my finances. Taxes 2011, anyone?
What I can do is research: ASmarterChoice.org. Make phone calls. Fill out paperwork. Get some papers notarized. That doesn’t sound so bad. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Meanwhile let’s all bring a touch more mindfulness to our consumption of the earth’s resources, finite as they surely are. And let’s also practice kindness alongside that mindfulness. Make it sweet, folks!
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