Green Festival and Green Living

Today I took the bus downtown to the Green Festival being held at the Washington State Convention Center. It was one of those things that I was really interested in, but didn't really know if I wanted to pay $15 to get into an event which, no doubt, would be filled with things that people were trying to sell to me. But a few weeks ago I had been shopping at PCC Natural Market and on my receipt there was a free admission ticket. So I figured what the heck, I might as well go - especially since I get a free bus pass through work and could use that to get there. Sustainability and green living is certainly trendy these days. I often wonder how many people are into it because they truly believe in it, or because they think "everybody" needs to do it and wonder what people will think of them if they don't, or just because they need a new bandwagon to jump on. The place was packed today, and it seemed that if somebody was giving something away for free, then they wanted it. Didn't matter what it was, they wanted it. They'd also run you down for a free [whatever]. It was kinda amusing, in a sad sort of way. People also seemed to be very self-involved - so here they are wanting to think about the world, environment, etc., and yet they lacked any awareness of the fact that they were totally blocking aisles, access to exhibit tables, etc. Very interesting social experiment. I was at one booth where I wanted to buy some t-shirts and the saleswoman asked me if I wanted a bag. I said no thanks, I had brought my own. (I figured that if I was going to a Green Festival, I should probably show up with a reusable bag and "walk my talk.") While they were waiting for my credit card to process, another woman walks up and is asked the same thing. She took the bag, and then asked what the bag was made out of. The saleswoman explained that it was made out of corn. So, bag-less woman says to her, in the most condescending tone imaginable, "but it's made from GMO [genetically modified] corn, right?" The saleswoman is apologizing and was explaining how yes, it was GMO corn, but it's the best we can do right now and it's a better choice still than plastic. What really annoyed me about this exchange is the attitude of the woman judging the bag - now, if you're really that concerned with the source materials of the free bag you're being given, then perhaps you might show up with your own reusable bag? I just got the impression that she was trying to show that she knew something the rest of us didn't know and was going to judge us all. I don't know what ultimately happened with her and the bag, nor do I suppose I really care in the end. But I just wish people would be more concerned with their own actions and not judge others. I believe very much in sustainability and green living. But I'm also a busy, working person who wants simplicity, and often wants it cheap. So sometimes I know that another choice would a better one for my own values, but I'll take the less-than-ideal choice because it's cheaper or faster. In a perfect world I'd make the "right" choice every time. But I often don't. And I don't need anybody giving me those snotty looks or attitudes because I'm allegedly not as good as them. I try the best I can, and if I make one "better" choice, it's better than none. I think people also forget that recycling is great, but so is reducing our waste to begin with, whether it can be composted and/or recycled. At this Green Festival there was no lack of paper that I could come home with - everybody wanted to shove a free magazine or flyer in my hand. But I chose to be very particular with what I came home with. For one thing, I didn't need a 10 pound bag of paper to drag home on the bus. But if it's not interesting to me or necessary, why do I need it? Save it for someone who does need/want it. So I did come home with 2 t-shirts. I didn't really need any shirts, but I really liked the message on the two of them, and decided that I wanted to put that message out there and stand behind it. The shirts were by Northern Sun, which has a lot of cool, progressive, liberal shirts. Any t-shirt company that actually has a Unitarian Universalist category on their site is pretty cool! So this is what I ultimately came home with:

I especially liked the latter shirt; I heard this quote about a week ago for the first time, and it really spoke to me. It's really important for me to remember to lead by example and not worry about what anybody else is doing.