Green Shadowing

As college students, we are commanded to reflect on many topics including historical events and analytical data related to research, but to have the opportunity to reflect on oneself is quite….odd.  As I check the mirror image of my future consciousness, I believe I am an optimistic person.  In order for me to envision a more sustainable future, I have to realize that I have a great responsibility, as well, to preserve the richness of the Earth.  Honestly, performing constant consumption assessments such as, bad shopping behavior, the actions I take to dispose of old garments, and so forth, will allow me to monitor my own deeds and make adjustments.

Even religion reiterates this idea of counting the simple things as important, not man-made craftsmanship or artifacts.  Limiting consumption: Toward a sustainable future agrees that if you turned on the television, commercial advertising would show other principles at play encouraging over indulgence.  No wonder why overconsumption is the latest trend for retailers and other industries alike. Interestingly enough, the author pulls out a biblical scripture, “What profits a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his soul.”  I am reminded of another passage, “The love of money is the root to ALL evil.” There has to be a clear, concise understanding of what sustainability is and how to crossover the defining moment into an existing reality. According to Thinking ahead: The value of future consciousness, there is a push to breakdown the scientific findings and terminology, so that ordinary people can decipher what it means, along with the appropriate actions to take to better our present circumstances. Sustainability is all about good stewardship and selflessness, keeping others in mind while enjoying the tangible fortunes.

 
With influence drawn from Visioneering: An essential framework in sustainability science, my vision of a sustainable future looks like a place of true appreciation for our planet Earth and love for the natural gifts given to us. I want to see people nourish our depleted ground soil; reduce greenhouse gases polluting the air, and restore animal life in the ocean as well as within the forest. These things can only be accomplished through full participation from humanity. We have to learn how to respect the beautiful offerings of the land, which can be here today and gone tomorrow. One has to have the mental mode that “what you do affects not only yourself, but others around you. “  As consumers, we must stop over consuming commodities to our liking.  We tell ourselves that we deserve lavish lifestyles because, overall, we are Americans and we’ve earned the right, meaning high-paying job or some other made-up excuse.  Some would argue that Americans live in the land of hopes and dreams, with no perception of reality.

I dream of society where an organized day of celebration, called Earth Day, turns into a daily challenge to solve environmental issues plaguing the success of the next generation.  I envision citizens regularly recycling plastic bottles and paper, looking for new ways of using old clothing and material, creating fashion trends that intermix last season designs with the current season, using biodegradable fabrics like organic cotton and certain synthetic fibers, rather than continuing the poor irrigation practices that is currently happening, and so much more.  My vision is for companies to become more concerned with green innovation than the number of immediate sales.