Did you know that last year there were over 70 BILLION catalogs send in the United States? That’s about 60 for every man, woman and child. This year, 2007, projections are that this horrifying number will increase to 120 BILLION.
Besides the nuisance of clogging up your mailbox and cluttering your home, think of the amount of extra fuel it takes just to transport them. And the worst thing of all is the forests (not just trees, but FORESTS) that are being decimated just so companies can bury us under catalogs we don’t want or need, and that are usually not even recyclable.
This weekend I had the opportunity to be in a seminar that Lynne Twist presented. I’ve admired Lynne ever since reading The Soul Of Money last year. (It was my favorite book of the year, and if you haven’t read it, I strongly recommend it. It will make a difference in your life!)
Lynne has had a long career as a global activist, fundraiser, speaker, and mentor. After several years dedicated to fundraising for The Hunger Project, she and her husband Tom cofounded The Pachamama Alliance.
Lynne opened my eyes on the catalogs. You can get more information about what’s being done, how Victoria’s Secret is improving, and how you can take action
You can immediately do a couple of things that will help prevent mass decimation of the world’s forests.
Two easy ways:
1. Reduce the number of catalogs that you receive at your home or business by registering with the catalog trade association’s mail preference system. Just send a postcard including your name, address and email to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 15012-0643
2. Start using sustainable shopping bags. Here are tips and ways to get involved.
And this is more difficult, but very important. Look at your own habits.
Are you A Consumer or A Citizen? Which are you raising your children and grandchildren to be?
Please post your thoughts below.
Comments