The Political Voices of Women

This is a guest post from Sarah at One Mom’s View. Thank you Sarah, for your contribution to The Political Voices of Women.

Help, I’m Turning Into an Environmental Activist! — by Sara at One Mom’s View

Pretty soon, I’ll be wearing Birkenstocks, tye-dye, and those long, wrinkly skirts, while I hold global warming signs and sing “Kum Bah Yah.” I’d like to say I’ll have dread locks, but… um… no. (Yes, I know it’s a stereo-type, keep reading)

I’ve taken a few steps lately down the slope of environmentalism, and it’s interesting for a few reasons. You see, I don’t buy into the entire Global Warming Doomsday Scenario. I believe the earth is in a warming trend in the climatological cycle in which it has always engaged. And even if Al Gore’s entire premise is correct, I don’t believe global socialism would be the answer.

I realize that I used to be afraid to embrace any part of the environmentalist stance, because I figured I would have to subscribe to the whole kit and caboodle, including the political and social implications. Not so. The stereo-type of a conservationist that opened this post is all-too common, as well as inaccurate. As a conservative Christian, I have a responsibility to care for God’s creation. I need to do my part to keep the earth and air clean. On the flip side, if every conservative as well as liberal took it upon themselves to help preserve the environment, there would be no need for sweeping global economic and social change. At least under the banner of saving the environment.

Conservatives, it is time to realize that regardless of our political and social views, we need to step up to the proverbial plate. There are practical things we can do now, and that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our socio-political convictions.

The following are some of the environmentally friendly policies we have adopted for our family:

• We buy local organic beef from a farmer friend. We buy in bulk when he slaughters his few cattle each fall. No hormones, no chemicals, no large corporate farming conglomerates. If you don’t know a farmer, call your local Meat Processing Center. They can often connect you with a local farm.
• From the same meat processor, we get any deer meat that hunters do not want. It’s illegal to sell deer meat, so we get it for the processing fee.
• We buy fresh (raw) organic milk from a local farm. Again, no hormones, chemicals, pesticides, etc. And we are supporting the local economy. There are differing opinions about drinking unpasteurized milk, so be sure to do your homework before you decide to change. Also, since we have to bring our own containers, no more plastic milk jugs.
• Another friend raises free range chickens for eggs, rejecting the styrofoam packaging of most store-bought eggs. She sells them locally.
• We recycle.
• I invested in a few of these reusable grocery bags. Whether I use paper or plastic, I have bags growing out of my ears! No more. The best thing about these bags is that I can carry them over my shoulders! I got all the groceries in the house in one trip yesterday.

I almost included fluorescent lighting on this list, but I think they are helping our power budget more than the environment. They are manufactured in China, which uses coal with few regulations. Then there is the issue of dangerous chemicals when they break. I also stopped just short of using a Diva Cup (men, don’t even ask!), although several of my friends love them. The idea is growing on me.

There are also many widespread national changes we could make, using the power of the free-market and American ingenuity. There are probably more changes that I, personally, could make, but we have to gradually work into these kinds of lifestyle changes. Do I realize that we need to keep out planet clean? Yes. Is my “conservative cred” still intact? You betcha! It’s time for us to stop focusing on our differences and concentrate on the areas where we agree!

Sarah is a full-time mom to three, and a part-time private music teacher, as well as a political enthusiast. As she states on her blog, One Mom’s View, “I am by no means a political expert, but I am a thinker. I’ve been following politics, local and national, for several years, listening to both sides, and making my own decisions on what I believe.” Sarah believes that it’s time for “regular” citizens to stand up and be heard, bridge the gaps between ideologies, and realize that we all want a better country, although we may disagree on how to get there! She also runs a “mom-blog” called Real Life, where she deals with parenting, Christianity and life with sobriety as well as humor.