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Global Warning - May 7, 2005 - Printable Version
- What Size Shoe do You Wear?
by Robin Buckallew
All of us, at some time or other, need to get new shoes. When that happens, at least for those of us who are part Sasquatch, we can find ourselves facing a real moment of truth. We have to come face to face with the reality of just how big our feet really are. Even if we try to fit our size 9 foot into a size 6 shoe for the sake of vanity, we will still know. Every time we try to take a step and find ourselves groaning with pain, we will know. A few years ago, I had another face to face with a reality about my big footprints. I was introduced to a concept known as the Ecological Footprint. Ecological Footprint is a conceptualization of the amount of impact we each have on the earth around us just by living our day to day lives. The ecological footprint is measured in hectares (or acres, for those of us who live in America), and is a measure of the amount of land that is required to support each person, and maintain their day to day lifestyle. The ecological footprint is calculated by taking into account the housing, the electricity use, the food we eat, and the transportation we utilize. At our current worldwide population of 6.4 billion humans on earth, there are only about 4.2 acres of land available to feed, clothe and shelter each and every human being. This land, of course, is not distributed evenly in desirable areas. Some areas are more fertile, some areas have more water, some areas have nothing but sand and oil to recommend them. Population is also not distributed evenly across the globe, nor is wealth. It goes without saying that footprints are not equally distributed around the globe, either. It will probably come as no surprise to you to find out that the per capita footprint tends to be much larger in the First World than in the Third World. But just how big are our feet?
Next time you go to the shoestore, ask the salesman to show you his line of footwear for a 25 acre foot. That's right, I said a 25 acre foot. If you are currently a resident of the United States of America, that is the estimated size of your footprint. Oh, it isn't necessarily that for each and every one of us - that is an average. Your individual footprint may by somewhat larger or smaller, depending on your own personal lifestyle and consumer choices. But with the current level of consumption and resources utilization in this country, it has been calculated that approximately 25 acres of land are being used for every man, woman and child. To put that in still more visually graphic terms, it would take more than 6 planets the size of Earth to sustain the world population at our level. Contrast that with India, where the average ecological footprint is 1.5 acres per capita. That means that every person in this country is consuming approximately the same amount as 17 people in India. Rarely do any of us stop to think about the full impact of our simple daily choices on the present or future health of the planet. But if you can't think about it any other way, then think about your feet. We are leaving great big, Yeti footprints all over the world. Footprints into which 17 other people huddle, living off what is left behind.
A few years ago, when I was introduced to this footprint concept, I was horrified to think that I was so massive and clumsy. I hurried to the Internet. There are numerous sites where you can enter your own personal lifestyle, and calculate your own personal footprint. (Some of those sites are linked at the end of this article - try it out). I calculated my own footprint, and was a little relieved - my own footprint was SLIGHTLY smaller than 25 acres - I was at 21.1 acres. A petite foot? Not exactly. Then I began to think about things seriously. Many of the things I just took for granted, did out of habit, without really thinking about them at all. I started to make mental lists of things I could change. Where could I act differently? What could I do without? Over the years, I have measured my success by periodically recalculating my footprint. This morning, I recalculated it again, for the first time in about a year. My foot has indeed shrunk, until I can now fit into an 11 acre shoe. You heard me, 11 acres. Down from 25 for the average American. Success? Hmmmm...might be a little premature to declare success - it seems we can now support the population at my lifestyle with only 3.2 planets. Unfortunately, we don't have 3.2 planets. We only have one. But I do know that I have made a major difference. I am on my way. The most significant change I could make to further reduce my footprint? Move. Yes, it seems that one of the biggest impacts I make is simply by living in the United States. Our system is set up in such a way that there are certain changes that need to happen in our policies to allow me to make the further alterations to my lifestyle that are required. There are still some little things I can do, but most of those will have only minor impact on my footprint. But the things I have done to date have been a big step, and I am prepared to continue.
But wait, you say. I have obviously given up so much. Aren't I miserable? Aren't I uncomfortable? Well, not exactly. Most of the things I have done are things that simply entail thinking about the choices I make, and making choices more wisely. Every day we are faced with choices that have major impact on the environment and on the future, but they are rarely presented that way. They usually just seem like a simple, yes or no choice. Paper or plastic? Cloth or disposable? Do you want to supersize that? Aisle or window seat? But choices do impact the world around us. Most of them don't come with easy instruction cards to spell it out. If we stop to think about each of these things every time we are faced with a choice, we can become paralyzed with indecision. So, do what I did. Choose one area to work on at a time. Decide on your plan in advance. Then, stick with it, and take it seriously. I'll give you a few hints to help you along.
My first move was easy. One of the simplest things you can do to help the environment, and one with the most impact, is turn down the heater and air conditioner. I often ask my students "What temperature do you set your heat at in the winter? And your air conditioner in the summer?" This simple exercise usually leads people to an incredible epiphany - we are setting our heat in the winter at a temperature we would not tolerate in the summer - we would have the air turned on. And vice versa. Most of us could be totally comfortable with much less climate control. Keeping your heat at no higher than 70, your air no lower than 80, can have a tremendous impact on the environment, not to mention on your wallet. You will have more money in savings, you can buy that new SUV you always wanted (just kidding.leave the SUV at the mechanics, and go get the hybrid - that is another huge impact you could make).
Another choice I made also proved to be easy, once I had just started. It was very difficult at first to conceive, because it was totally different than anything I'd ever done. I turned off the car. I walked everywhere that was less than a mile. For my very long trips, I took a train. I have on occasion taken the bus, if there is one available. When I absolutely had to take a car somewhere, I thought it out first. Many cars are going out today on trips that aren't necessary. It has been estimated that the average number of trips taken by each household in America is 12 per day. The average length of car trip is under a half mile. What the Faulk is that about? I do realize that there are among us many who cannot walk a half mile, due to age or disability. But for the rest of us, we would certainly benefit from a little bit more time on our feet instead of our butts. At the very least, we could combine some of those trips, and make our rounds more efficiently. So, what has been the overall effect of my turning off the car, walking more, taking the train? First of all, my cholesterol has gone down to a healthy number. No weird diets, no pills - just my own two feet. I see more of the world around me. Tell me, on your car trips, do you see the flowers blooming? The little, shy ones that are just peeking their heads up through the cracks in the sidewalk? I meet people. People are really rather friendly, once they've seen you around for a few trips and you haven't murdered them yet. They will wave at you. Eventually, they may even begin to talk to you. Also, I feel better. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. I am more in contact with myself, and with everything else. Not to mention, I really hate sitting in traffic jams, and tend to find myself uptight and angry every time I drive. That has reduced (no more Valium, please). Oh, and one other thing - my husband tells me that, thanks to so much walking, I have very nice legs. Want to get whistled at ladies? Go out for a walk.
Another choice that can have a big impact on your footprint is your diet. It has been a while since I wrote the column about beef, but if you can't remember it, go back and review it ("Beef, it's what's for dinner?"). The facts about meat production speak for themselves. In case you have any further doubt, read the book "Fast Food Nation". It's in the non-fiction section, but I think it would make a fairly good horror novel. I know. It's really hard to give up meat. So don't. I haven't. I eat it occasionally, along with occasional butter, eggs and cheese. And whenever possible, try to buy vegetables or other products that are produced locally. Many towns have a Farmer's Market where local farmers can sell their produce. And some people find it quite satisfying to grow their own, if they are in a position where they have time to do that, and a little patch of dirt (sorry, the patch under your fingernails is usually not big enough, and it doesn't get enough sunlight). As for local products, there are often many other things besides just meat and vegetables that you can buy locally produced. Buying locally produced items can make a big reduction in your footprint, because one of the biggest impacts of the products we buy is the transportation. It takes a lot of fuel to get underwear from China to Wal-Mart. So, look where possible to see what your community has to offer. You might be surprised at what you assumed you could only get from the monster Wal-Mart.
There are numerous other small choices that can help reduce your footprint. Hanging clothes on the line is one of them. I know, time is a problem. But it really doesn't take much more time in the end. I know. I did it while working 3 jobs, raising a son, and going to graduate school. I just had to get off my duff, try it out, and find out it really wasn't that time consuming. And my son often helped me. It was a few more minutes of good time we could spend together, without the television, the computer or the Nintendo interfering. We talked. We laughed. And our laundry smelled wonderful.
After doing so many things to reduce my footprint, I found life was sweeter. Life was simpler. Life was happier. I was no longer a slave to my car, to my house, to my stuff. But take it slow, we don't want you to get the bends. Just take one step at a time (with your smaller foot, please). So, look around you. Look at all your stuff. Think about it all, outside your house, piled in your yard. What does it look like to you then? This is your footprint. This is the legacy you will leave behind for your children, and your grandchildren. Or you can choose to leave them the legacy of a healthier world, a cleaner future, a brighter tomorrow, one without great big jackboot marks all over it. Think about it - what kind of world do you want to pass on?
To calculate your own ecological footprint, visit:
http://www.bestfootforward.com/footprintlife.htm
http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp#
Ecological footprint calculator - Click Here
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