I came away from watching this film with a very changed perspective of how I live my life. I never realized before how much I've taken for granted concerning my environmental safety. I am so very blessed to be sitting here in my house with the lights on, with a glass of CLEAN water typing on my laptop. My roommate and I, after watching this film together, have just discussed over the past hour the small things we can personally do to help on this journey of recovery.
As a society, I feel like we have the absolute responsibility to promote awareness of these environmental issues. Maybe we are not directly affected by the dire consequences of current consumption, but others surely are, and it is definite that we will be affected soon. Eerily soon. Awareness is the first step to a permanent solution.
I was powerfully moved by all of the statistics and first hand accounts presented in this documentary. I felt like crying when I heard about all of the terrible bureaucracies centered around, water, a fundamental part of all life on this earth. What have we done, but more importantly, why are we turning a blind eye when it is entirely plausible that a little effort and funding can greatly help alleviate this issue? The gentleman in India that created the UV water sanitation system said that it would only cost $2 U.S. per year to provide clean drinking water to his consumers. $2! I am just as guilty as the next person for claiming that "I have no money, I'm just a poor college student." That is utter bullocks. Even as a student I have the means to help and it is no excuse to claim that you do not have the money to spare. This is a pressing, impending, imminent issue that needs immediate attention. Every little effort helps.
After watching this film, I have resolved to do everything I can to lessen my part in this catastrophe. It is entirely unrealistic to claim that I will become entirely eco-friendly and self sustaining, but I feel like I can at least make a conscious effort to do my part. For example, for years I have been telling myself to stop drinking soda-products because they are bad for my health, and to a certain extent I have certainly lessened my consumption, but after seeing what the Coca-Cola Co., ect. have done to the communities their plants are based in, I now have a strong aversion to wanting to buy their products. It's disgusting really what these mega-corporations are willing to sacrifice for profit. There is no consideration for any long-term adverse affects on the environment and the plants, animals, and people that are dependent upon it.
I hope that I am not just declaring these things as a talking head. I do have the intent to follow through and at least do my part to stop contributing. I vow to take shorter showers, actually use my re-useable grocery bags, stop buying processed foods when possible, to recycle at all times and not just when it is convienient... to pretend it is plausible to completely reverse my lifestyle is a very naive notion. I am aware that to function in this society some of these things are essential to everyday functioning, but if I, a common "poor college student" don't help reduce my consumption, really now, who will?
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ReplyDeleteI felt like crying too.
There is only 'so much' we can do.
There is also only 'so much' we can keep saying, to keep ourselves at bay, to help us feel content in not doing anything.
I felt weird when I reflected on my habit of water use, and how I thought 'average' was OK. Why was I trying to meet the average? Why was I taking normal length showers because I could, because it was what everyone else did?
Now I feel gross, well I did, after taking a short shower... as now, instead of only paying attention to my clean skin, I pay attention to the dirt I am contributing, in the form of chemicals from bathroom products, to the world's water.
I also very much am making sure I "follow through" with my words.