seeking to understand, and to be understood: conventions

Monday, February 23, 2009

FREEBIES - WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Why do people LOOOOVE freebies? I attended a convention recently and the first x number of attendees got a free give-away. The Freebie was just a cheap, plastic tote bag filled with brochures and fliers from businesses. The total value of the Freebie was next to nothing. Especially since you could browse the convention and pick up brochures and talk to representatives from all of the businesses that had print material included in the tote. There has got to be a term for this social phenomenon. Is it even a phenomenon? Whatever it is, I don't want to say that I find it sad or pathetic - No, I just find it interesting. To get anything for free makes people feel like they've gotten one over on..... who? what? I don't know, but that is the feeling - pride, smugness, superiority. Is it a deep rooted natural instinct to take advantage of any opportunity to gain no matter what it is that is being gained?

Don't even get me started on the environmental impact of these.... The useless bag made of plastic, the sheets upon sheets of wasted paper... Ugh.

Ten Nice Things to do for Mother Nature in no particular order

Don't Litter - She may be "Mother Earth", but she's not responsible for cleaning up after you.
Keep the Air Clean - You are not the only one that breathes this air, be considerate of others while being kind to the earth.
Compost - Just because you don't eat vegetable scraps does not mean they aren't nutritious.
Keep the Water Clean - Just like the air, be considerate of all of the creatures who use Earth's water.
Spend Time Outside - The more you use it, the more you appreciate it, and the more you will care for it.
Conserve Resources - Some resources are in finite supply, and some require other resources to harvest - conservation relieves the pressure on nature to replenish.
Maintain a Garden - Any kind of garden will help you to appreciate the hard work that Mother Nature does to maintain the planet.
Use Rainwater in your Garden - It will give you greater appreciation for the water supply you have access to and a greater appreciation for the cleanliness of the water and air. Besides - it's what your plants really want.
Eat Locally Grown Produce - Reduces resources required to transport, gives you a greater appreciation of the landscape and what farmers do, and supports your local agriculture.
Pass it on - Helping others to become aware of their impact on the earth will allow them to make more informed and earth conscious desicions.