green (self)reflections
by asi
Last weekend at the park, when I took our picnic litter to the bin I felt my hand trembles at throwing the plastic bottle and food packages away. OK, maybe my hand didn’t really tremble but I was really pissed off that there are no recycling bins in the park. I’ll spare you from more examples on how I arrived to the grim self realization that recently my everyday behaviour exhibits a bit of the same psychology of compliance as religion. my reactions to minor eco-slips are similar to a Jewish orthodox that someone shoved a cheeseburger down his throat.
and perhaps for the first time I truly understood Michael Crichton’s description of modern environmentalism as “the religion of choice for urban atheists … a perfect 21st century re-mapping of traditional JudeoChristian beliefs and myths.”
I got scared.what the fuck is going on here? is the equation of sustainable living with religion a valid one? is sustainability the new salvation? what part of my self-perception so vehemently resists that idea? well, concerning the fact that I am more likely to undergo a sex-change operation than becoming a man of faith there are some things to think about.
as i see it, There are 3 interrelated motivators for adopting a green/ethical lifestyle. First, an internal one, the feel good factor and feeling of responsibility. secondly, there is the external motivation – using my everyday behaviour and consumption choices to enact a change. thirdly, there is the social element to it – I do what I believe people like me should do (herd, anyone?).
is there anything religious here? my problem with religion is it’s lack of rational inquiry, it’s inability to accept that all that fucking amazing stuff that is life and the universe are fairly accidental, it’s determinism, dogmatism, literalism, and the resultant extremism. [oh, yea and that thing with god which I really don't get. sorry.]
so are any of these to be found in green/ethical lifestyle?
John recently took a positivistic approach when he wrote:
“The biggest need of all, underlying the ‘tipping point’ shifts in attitudes is that of having a meaningful life: a purpose, something to strive for, something which is bigger than our individual needs. In the past this need has been met by religion, politics and capitalist enterprise. Imagine a society where green has the same central standing as these; being a measure of everything, a primary causeâ€
I can totally relate to what John said. maybe it’s less about religion and more about spirituality? self awareness? self-improvement? a purpose? after all, consciously or not, we all want a more meaningful life? but in my case it’s not an active search of meaning, honestly. i felt very much fulfilled and happy before turning more environmentally aware so it is not about injecting meaning into my empty life or something. it just feel like a natural evolution or growth. it’s all very much summarized in one Howies T-shirt:
“corporate bashing, hippy loving, cause fighting, organic eating, birkenstock wearing, campervan touring, life affirming, do f***ing gooder 
….”
On the rare occasions when I picnic (what could be more ridiculous than eating outside when it’s easier to eat inside? is my usual attitude, unless I’m away from home), I take anything recyclable with me. I would never throw something away just because a recycling bin wasn’t handy. Environmentalism isn’t a religion to me, though–it’s more of a world view. Recently, I watched the PTA secretary and a week later, a former colleague, a long-haired hippie vegetarian type–throw away aluminum beverage containers. I save mine to donate to our local Senior Center, which makes about $500 a quarter on cans. To me, their action meant they were too lazy to try to make the world better–not just by keeping the can out of the landfill (because it would be best not to use the can in the first place), but also by contributing to an under-funded segment of society. I think I’m an atheist because I’ve actually *thought* about religion; I’m an environmentalist and modest social activist because I actually *think* about the environment and society. I can see why they don’t want to think about those things–it’s easier to throw away the can. But I’m doomed to analyze everything.