Any dialogue on Eco Living must surely include not only the eco-systems of the world around us, but also the inner ecology's of us as human beings. This article will inform the reader on how he or she can live a greener lifestyle, but also seeks to inspire everyone, to become good stewards of ourselves and the planet.
This involves taking a look at the material world and the ways that we might co-exist in harmony within our fragile environments (Eco-Living). It also means that we must examine the correlation of mind, body and soul as well and the ecology of the individual self in relationship to the mind, body, soul AND the mind, body, soul connection to our immediate environments. To do this, we need not subscribe to any one particular religious affiliation or faith, nor do we seek to impose any particular spiritual belief system upon the reader as it is not necessary for the goals that we seek to accomplish. This aspect of discovering our True nature in order to affect a positive change in ourselves and the world around us, is available to any person and its only requirement is an open mind and a willingness to affect change. So, finding and experiencing permanent solution to the most pressing problems in the world today, is really just a matter of becoming aware that we CAN do so. A by-product of this awareness is peace, joy, environmental balance a deeper connection to ourselves, each other and the beautiful world in which we live.
Regardless of how we get there individually, or collectively, it has become painfully clear that science and technology can only take us so far and that a transformation of our inner ecologies on a spiritual level is paramount to the evolution and continuation of us as a species. On a higher level, this God/Self Realization is paramount to the evolution of the soul and can enable one to find true liberation from suffering. But so as not to lose some of our readers who cannot or will not open themselves to the notion Sacred Ecology, let's get back the fundamentals of environmental ecology and what we can do as individuals on a day to day basis.
It is our responsibility as the stewards of this planet to live as Eco-Conscious as we can. Developing a lifestyle of Eco-Living is where we as individuals, then collectively as nations can actually turn the tide in our favor giving rise to immediate and dramatic positive effects on the environment... and after all, the survival of our planet depends on it!
Here are some tips and tools to help you on your path to Eco-Living.
Shop green: Now that we have an idea of where we're going wrong, let's get into how we can start to make a concrete difference in the world. And what better place to start than our buying habits. After all, how you spend your money greatly affects how companies and manufacturers conduct themselves. As demand for earth-friendly, efficient products and services increases, so will supply. Your dollars often speak louder than words.
Conserve by Consuming Less: One of the best ways to reduce your impact on the earth is to reduce how much your purchase in the first place, when what you have right now is still functional..
As stated in Part 3, every product on every shelf out there requires the infusion of at least some natural resources like wood, cotton, plastic (a petroleum product), water, or chemicals. Choosing to forego new clothes, new furniture, or new toys for your kids is one way to reduce your spending (saving you money), while cutting back on the amount of resources you take from the earth. Buying less means fewer resources extracted. The Buy Nothing Day campaign encourages this kind of activism.
Abstaining from shopping isn't the only way to reduce your overall consumption. Here are a few more ideas to cut how much your purchase on a regular basis:
Eco Living and the Path of Sacred Ecology