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Green Guilt turns into Self-Righteous Anger

Not so? Read some of the responses on my other blog and you will see a pattern:

http://activerain.com/action/blogsview/177037/The-3-Minute-Green

Why, insist some readers, are they being guilted into going green? Why do I insist on sharing these awful statistics about waste in the United States? And besides, who really cares about Africa

Another interesting angle is the suggestion that turning our backs on conventional business will hurt the economy.

And how about this one: Being earth friendly is a virtue NOT an obligation.

Let me do some dime-store psychology – It seems to me that guilt of neglect turns into self-righteous anger.

Let me address one issue: The Economy.

A shift in consumer’s loyalties is typical, and acknowledged as healthy, in a market economy. Demands for new products and services give rise to new markets. This brings about innovation, competition, investment, market growth, and jobs.

How about that?

As a Green Realtor I see a market that is being reinvented before my very own eyes. The idea I bring to the table is that I am selling a farm, not just a house. I am concerned about the condition of the land, water, and air quality (indoor and outdoor).

Is it hypocritical to advocate and try to practice environmental friendly behavior in some but not all areas of my life?

Hey, I am human.

I like to share my journey. I also welcome the criticism. It is a good indicator as to whether I have hit a nerve or not.

The challenge is this: Is it guilt or is it fear?

We fear what we do not completely understand.

With new knowledge and a much better appreciation and respect for the environment we can begin to implement changes.

Turn that frown upside down and let’s make a difference

Best of luck and Go Green. Douglas.

Posted by Douglas Garbe, Real Living Real Estate Solutions on 10/27/2007 11:50 PM

Comments (14)

green, ennvironmentally friendly, green realtors

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Post is included in group: Real Living

14 Comments on Green Guilt turns into Self-Righteous Anger

OCT

2007

Good post, going green is great I just hope we are not to late. We have taken this earth and it's riches for granted for many years. Thanks for the post!

Richard - Thank you. We are never too late, it really is all about attitude. A good one.

Going green - the best thing modern man can do!!! Great blog!!!

Barbara-Jo & Bill - Thank you for the support, as always.

OCT

2007

Hi,

Green is good....as triathlete realtor, I want to be the running, riding realtor but clients aren't quite on board yet.

In our office, i am trying to encourage people to reduce (scan and email docs don't fax) and reuse paper before they get to recycling and I just won our MacGreen contest for suggesting the 3 Prong approach to lessening our emissions:-drive more fuel efficient cars (don't worry about what people think-buck the trend!), drive less-at least rearrange apptmts to minimize driving and then as the third step, buy carbon credits to compensate for impacts that we can't avoid....

hopefully over time we realtors will become less harmful to the enviro in both our personal and professional lives

ps-i have a website (not for business devmt) that people can send ideas in to on how to live green-especialy re: building, renos, etc www.livegreennow.ca

thx

Patricia

Patricia - You gave me a great idea for a new blog, "Green Office 101." Thank you so much!

Douglas,

Back in the late 60s and 70s the "hippies" started trying to spread the word about taking care of our planet - in the 40s and 50s we wasted, polluted, and trashed our planet ... those old hippies - you know those tree hugging liberals - believed that "we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. [Native American Proverb]

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money." [Cree Indian Proverb]

I can remember an old anti-pollution commerical from the 1970s with an American Indian in a canoe, surrounded by trash and pollution, with a single tear running down his cheek. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7K2uCJvvg.

I only hope this new "going green" isn't just a fad - I want my children's children to enjoy the natural wonders of our planet ... breath clean air, drink clean water (and I don't mean Perrier), enjoy seeing wildlife - such as the pair of eagles I photographed last week in Marshall, VA.

We all make mistakes and can always better ourselves - I am by no means perfect in my attempts to help our planet - but awareness is a good start!! Keep up the good work!!

For more quotes about the environment from politicians, proverbs, writers, etc., visit: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Environmentalism

Rita - Thank you so much for your insight. To me Going Green will always be a choice made by sane individuals. It shouldn't be forced on individuals. And yet, how can people not care about this topic? I am always facinated by people who are all for going green but who smoke 2 packs a day. Not to judge, but what the hell is that all about? It is a choice, and not always a choice that is followed by action. But hey, that's a start. Thank you again Rita for your comments.

OCT

2007

Douglas, every journey begins with baby steps. It would be difficult if not impossible to completely change overnight. When I became a vegetarian 25 years ago I stopped beef, then pork, then chicken, then fish. It took me about a year to make the complete switch. As long as we continue to progress, even if we occassionally digress, we are continuing our journey, a journey that will never be complete.

Terry - Brilliant! The process -changing- is a multi-step approach. Talk about it, read about it, watch movies about it, discuss about it, argue about it, hate it, love it, forget about it, come back to it, think about it some more, and then....when you are ready to make a longer lasting choice, like when any relationship gets serious, go that route. If it sticks it sticks, if not...nice try. Nobody gets hurt. Thank you again.

You're welcome Douglas. And don't forget to not beat yourself up when you slip. Slipping is part of learning. I've been living "green" for 30 years and I'm always still learning. Just when you think you're on to something great, it turns out not to be as great as it sounded. But never apologize for your beliefs. Even today, when everyone knows what a vegetarian is, I get weird comments from people I know when I mention my eating habits. They just don't get it. Recently I've actually refused to go out to eat with people because their dining place of choice had no options for me other than salad. Everyone thinks thats all we eat. NOT! I enjoy eating out as much as anyone, but salad is not the number one mouth watering item on my wish list:-)

Terry -as usual, thank you for your insight. The title of the blog is apt, certainly. Guilt is an interesting bed fellow. Any choice that appears healthy (but a little whacky) always gets less than kind responses. I am sure you get it plenty: You don't eat meat? You're better than me? Bla-bla-bla. The most severe critics on my blogs are, interestingly enough, my fellow realtors. And this facinates me since people are pretty upset with realtors at the moment. Our credibility is below lawyers and used car salesmen. And, at least according to me, with good reason. So a new approach (though a tad whacky) to real estate will bring responses that are certainly less than kind. How can I excuse anyone who writes "...and who really cares about Africa?" This is a person who is trying to help people find a home? It must be pure guilt that makes someone write ,"...stop trying to make us feel bad just because we are the riches country in the world." Again, this is my profession. Charming. Best of luck and keep giving me your invaluable insight.

NOV

2007

Truth is, it's not about cutting anything out, it's about creating something smarter. Get more for your buck. Look at it from another angle.

JAN

2008

This is one of my older entries,but the responses always facinate me. Guilt is an interesting bed fellow indeed.

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