Spring Break
Going green gets hip
Lauren Dillard
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Forum
We've noticed that society's next big trend has been decided - Go Green!
At face value, this is a great triumph for the environmental movement. People of all ages are taking these serious issues to the street and are making them identifiers for who they are or what they want people to think they are.
But, take a moment to look at how green is being promoted.
Various trendy clothing stores - targeting anyone 12 years old and up - are selling tote bags reading "Get Hip Get Green," "Think Green," "Save the Planet," and "Reduce Reuse Recycle."
If a tote has to tell society to get hip by going green, there is a problem. Does our youth really need to be persuaded to help in such an important issue, or is this something they already understand and believe? Are these totes helping them express themselves or simply being used to fit in?
Previously, hippies were the "crazy environmentalist tree huggers." Now, 40 years later, corporations are urging our culture to do something positive for the environment, but because it is cool - not because our environment is in trouble. These corporations are largely responsible for the environmental problems. Are they trying to help or simply get rich?
Getting people involved in sustainable lifestyles is important, but is this the right way of doing so? Does it matter so long as the number of supporters in the environmental movement grows? But does it help to have more people if they are "helping" for the wrong reasons?
The bigger questions are: Are the people being drawn to going green really living by what their bags say? What are these bags made out of? Who is designing and producing these bags? Where is the money from these products going? Do they believe the messages the bags say, or are they simply buying a bag because it is the "cool" thing to do? Are people trying to buy salvation?
T-shirts, bags, buttons and even baby clothes are simply not enough to help our troubled environment. People need to put their mouths where their accessories are in their day-to-day lives. If this is how you live then the environment thanks you. You are truly helping and promoting going green.
OSU has taken great initiative to promote green efforts, without selling it as "the new 'it' thing." On nearly every corner there is a recycling bin, and in some places - like the library - There is even recycling for batteries. Our cafés sell and urge students to buy reusable coffee mugs. We even passed the green fee for renewable energy.
We only have one Earth, and have many generations to come. Let us take care of it while we can.
OSU walks the walk, and doesn't need the accessories to do so.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
At face value, this is a great triumph for the environmental movement. People of all ages are taking these serious issues to the street and are making them identifiers for who they are or what they want people to think they are.
But, take a moment to look at how green is being promoted.
Various trendy clothing stores - targeting anyone 12 years old and up - are selling tote bags reading "Get Hip Get Green," "Think Green," "Save the Planet," and "Reduce Reuse Recycle."
If a tote has to tell society to get hip by going green, there is a problem. Does our youth really need to be persuaded to help in such an important issue, or is this something they already understand and believe? Are these totes helping them express themselves or simply being used to fit in?
Previously, hippies were the "crazy environmentalist tree huggers." Now, 40 years later, corporations are urging our culture to do something positive for the environment, but because it is cool - not because our environment is in trouble. These corporations are largely responsible for the environmental problems. Are they trying to help or simply get rich?
Getting people involved in sustainable lifestyles is important, but is this the right way of doing so? Does it matter so long as the number of supporters in the environmental movement grows? But does it help to have more people if they are "helping" for the wrong reasons?
The bigger questions are: Are the people being drawn to going green really living by what their bags say? What are these bags made out of? Who is designing and producing these bags? Where is the money from these products going? Do they believe the messages the bags say, or are they simply buying a bag because it is the "cool" thing to do? Are people trying to buy salvation?
T-shirts, bags, buttons and even baby clothes are simply not enough to help our troubled environment. People need to put their mouths where their accessories are in their day-to-day lives. If this is how you live then the environment thanks you. You are truly helping and promoting going green.
OSU has taken great initiative to promote green efforts, without selling it as "the new 'it' thing." On nearly every corner there is a recycling bin, and in some places - like the library - There is even recycling for batteries. Our cafés sell and urge students to buy reusable coffee mugs. We even passed the green fee for renewable energy.
We only have one Earth, and have many generations to come. Let us take care of it while we can.
OSU walks the walk, and doesn't need the accessories to do so.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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