Monday, August 24, 2009

Mother Nature Probably Hates You

Remember how the environment is responsible for everything? Like food, water, and LIFE? We depend on Mother Nature for keeping all of us in the game, instead of in the ground. When I came back to Iowa City this summer after a European adventure, I was more than slightly appalled at the garbage lying on the streets, the strewn PBR cans lying next to the dumpsters, and the overall amount of shit everywhere. To make it worse, Moving Out Season was approaching at an incredible rate (more anger to come about that later). I cannot understand, or even ever fathom throwing something on the ground after I was done with it (McDonald's bags, food wrappers, etc.), let alone actively rolling down my window to do so. What is wrong with everyone? I'm not a saint (and I'm not a sinner...Lilly Allen? Anyone? No?), but I would never throw something on the ground when a dumpster is sitting twenty feet in front of me. It's morally reprehensible to not take care of the planet that sustains our lives and let's us get crunk on Thursday nights.


As the end of July and beginning of August roll around every year, the process of cleaning apartments and houses swings into action. The half-used mustard containers, Brother's "Mug Club" cups and un-salvagable towels and tee shirts are the first to get the boot, usually, this is straight to the dumpster. Unfortunately, a lot of larger items such as entertainment centers and desk chairs also get the ax. It's fine to get rid of things, revamp your wardrobe or retire things no longer in use, but to simply they thrown good, reusable and recyclable thing in the dumpster in not only extremely lazy, but irresponsible. Most of the things being thrown away could be taken to the recycling center which takes all of ten minutes, or given to charity stores. Sometimes if you donate clothes to places like Second Act and Stuff Etc. they'll even give you money. The point is, it doesn't matter if you're a vegan who drives a Prius and uses energy saving light bulbs, if you're still too lazy to take the cans back to Hy-Vee. You're still creating a large carbon footprint.

By Dana Judas

No comments: