
I have been making a conscious effort for the past several months to live by my convictions. As an idealist, it’s easy to come up with a vision of how things are supposed to be and how they aren’t, but it can become much more challenging to actually break through the mold our culture is forming us all to conform with, and begin acting in a way that might lead to a more sustainable world. At this point, it might be a lost cause, as climatologists have just announced that we have reached the point of no return, as our atmosphere has reached a state of irrepaiable change.
Thirty years ago, the scientist James Lovelock worked out that the Earth possessed a planetary-scale control system which kept the environment fit for life. He called it Gaia, and the theory has become widely accepted. Now, he believes mankind’s abuse of the environment is making that mechanism work against us. His astonishing conclusion - that climate change is already insoluble, and life on Earth will never be the same again.
My idealism also might be interpreted as a way to make me feel better about myself, perhaps validating my existence and enabling me to scorn others for their wasteful ways. The way I see it, if I wish to see a difference in my lifetime I have to make choices that not only effect me, but those around me and the generations to come. I feel that we are living on a cusp where people have to make a conscious decision to think about every purchase they make and every intention they have if they want the generations to come to live on the same green, breathable planet most of us take for granted today. This conviction is even printed on my toilet paper. 
With that theme in mind, I intend on writing about different principles that I find important in my next few entrees. One issue I have been trying to search is a list of good, green companies that span the spectrum of products and services for the consumer. There doesn’t seem to be a legitimate list compiling these. The one I found was instantly discredited because Exxon was included.

What I did find is a slightly more pessimestic list of the 14 Worst Corporate Evildoers of 2005.
That’s a start, right?

A start at what? What are you proposing? I think you can further develop this blog entry and give some more concrete answers for bringing change rather than just giving us a list of evil-doers.
The title was, “how change can happen,” and then you just gave us a list of bad companies. Now I just hate a bunch of companies.
What are you telling us to do, oh leader of change? Perhaps that we boycott the companies?
Comment by unknown — February 5, 2006 @ 12:34 pm
I argee about leaving unknown comments. I would like to know who is commenting so I can comment appropriately. It seemed rather aggressive, perhaps like a brick being hurled at the back of my head on a dark street in Philadephia. ouch!
If the submittee actually read the entree, instead of attacking me for the short comings he found, he would have seen that it is the first of several entrees where I try and identify the answers to my cause. What an asshole!
Comment by Slingshot — February 6, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
Yes, no flaming. If Mr. Scared-to-Leave My Name would have read Slingshot’s entry he would have learned that Slingshot is planning on expanding the entry in the weeks to come…Boycott? Please, you’re the one that needs to come up with original ideas…
Comment by Johnny Palmetto — February 6, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
Unknown was just thinking like an English tutor. He or she didn’t think the writing had been fully developed yet. Unknown is sorry to have offended.
Comment by Arepamonger — February 7, 2006 @ 11:43 pm
Even though Unknown has come forward with is identity, I stand by my comments…Boycotting? Please…
Comment by Johnny Palmetto — February 8, 2006 @ 12:17 am
I believe that if people put their money where their values are, and people are starting to do this in the US, companies will change with the trend. Right now, 48% of the American population buys “natural” products (whatever that means). Though the definition of natural is a little hazy, this statistic sheds light that there is a significant market trend that consumers are starting to pay attention to what they are purchasing. This isn’t an Atkins diet fad, it’s a cultural shift that should be noted and watched carefully as companies begin to shift their images. Will they shift their values also? Only the consumer can decide.
Comment by Slingshot — February 8, 2006 @ 2:17 pm