On Being an Environment Steward

“Paper or plastic?” That question opened great debates in the last decade on our personal responsibility for the environment. Technology has since changed the equation, but we are still faced daily with decisions that affect the stewardship of the resources we have. What can the rallying cry be today? How can we raise awareness of the environmental issues involved in our everyday decisions? What will gas prices have to be before Americans begin to seriously conserve fuel? What species will disappear before we take responsibility for our planet?

Repeat this: Starting with me, stewardship starts with me. I will not wait any longer to make a difference.

On Conservation

There’s no question that rising fuel costs are making a big impact on business. The price of gas is causing many people to see conservation as a moral issue. What do you drive – a guzzler or a sipper? How do you drive – jack rabbit starts or easy on the pedal? As fast as you can get away with or within the speed limit? When do you drive – anytime you think of it or planning several errands at once?

Complain about gas prices if you must, but repeat this: Starting with me, gasoline will be valued as the endangered resource it is.

On Wasting Resources

Waste. Definitely not a welcome word in most businesses. Most of us are very careful to reduce waste and to avoid wasting time, energy, and other resources. But how many of us are aware of wasting our influence? As we are successful in our jobs, it gives us influence among our fellow employees, customers, etc. How are you using your influence? Purely for your own gain? Or are you using the favor you’ve found with others to make a difference?

Repeat this: Starting with me, good favor will be seen as a valuable resource. I will use whatever influence I have to make a difference in my workplace, my neighborhood, and my community.

For more tips and information, visit http://www.startingwithme.us/.

The Ethics of Everyday Decisions - Watering the Lawn

This is the continuation of a series encouraging an examination of everyday decisions from a moral standpoint. How do our everyday actions help or harm ourselves and others? Think about it. For those interested, there is a Scriptural insight relating to the everyday decision, from a Christian standpoint. I welcome responses from those who might be able to offer similar insights from the Koran or other sacred writings. Over the next few months, watch for postings on health decisions, work decisions, environmental decisions, relationship decisions, and...who knows what else?

This blog series is for the purpose of raising up the moral issues involved in everyday decision making. So what about living in a townhome development or in a municipality whose laws require lawns to be watered and cared for? Even in such a prescribed situation, there are ethical decisions to be made.

What are some of the conflicting values among which decisions have to be made?

1. Respect for the law
2. Protecting the scarce resource of water
3. Being fair to immediate neighbors
4. Being fair to neighbors living up or downstream in the watershed
5. Protecting shrinking city green spaces
6. Use of our own leisure time

While these are clearly not all the issues, you can see the dilemmas that present themselves. Ethics is about making informed choices based on the values you and others hold dear. As in this case, there are almost always conflicting values. Which is more important, the beauty of a city lot or the water supply of a municipality downstream? Which is right, obeying the law or protecting a natural resource? What are the tradeoffs? Can one use less water by mulching around the plants in the lawn, or changing the slope of the yard? How does that affect resources such as income which may be scarce enough to barely afford food? Does one simply accept a law, or get involved with the legislative process to change it to more closely align with one's values?

Neither the questions nor the answers are easy, but not asking and not trying to answer is simply unacceptable. Wrestle with these questions. Raise the issues in neighborhood meetings and e-mail or write your legislators.

The ethics of everyday decisions are just that - everyday decisions. Respond to this post with how you have made your decision.

Scriptural Insight: "I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees...Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun...Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." - Ecclesiastes 2:5,6,11; 12:13-14

The Ethics of Everyday Decisions - Driving Fast

Did it ever occur to you that how you drive is a moral decision? Besides the obvious values on human lives (and the possible threat to yourself and others from reckless driving and high speeds) think about this. What is your value on patriotism? What is your value on the environment?

The following data will hopefully get you thinking about how aggressive driving and speeding - yes, even 5 mph over the limit - could affect all of us.

America's independence from foreign oil is certainly affected by the decisions we make as we drive to and from work. There are those who believe the last couple wars America has been involved in are all about oil. Whether or not that's true, don't you think it's worth thinking about before we try to gain an extra couple of minutes on our commute by speeding?

Burning any percent more fuel puts that same percent of CO2 emissions into the atomosphere and consumes that much more of an unrenewable resource.

Finally, if neither of those values move you, think about how you value your own money. Even at the low end of these projections, you could be spending the equivalent $.39 per gallon more just by the choices you make as you drive.

Read these figures and then make a conscious decision. Now live by it.

(Source: www.fueleconomy.gov)
Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit:
5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.16-$1.06/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit:
7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.23-$0.74/gallon

A Scriptural Perspective: The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land. Lev. 25:23-24.