Eco Vegan Realities Series~Ethical and Economic Decisions

This is the first in a series of articles on connections between the environment and our personal life choices. As a twenty- five-year macrobiotic, my mind and heart are fused in belief.  I will examine eco-lifestyles, the green washing phenom, the paper plate or dishwater dilemma, and the new evolution of triple bottom line for corporations. As the words “green / socially responsible / vegetarian” disappear and become redundant to “life”, change will have charted the right course.

Eco/Health/Animal rights are just a few of the dialects and lifestyles people choose. You never know when you are sitting next to “one of those” crazy left wing, sign carrying hippie beatniks of lore. NOT. That crazy may just become you. Or President Clinton is his recent disclosure on repairing his health. My clients make most of their decisions on cost of power, why shouldn’t I.

Specifically the following questions provoked me;

For the lifespan of 70 years, which has a smaller footprint: Prudent use of paper plates, paper towels, etc vs. cloth towels, dishwasher, etc. Best practices?  What are the key variables?

As measurement drives change, how do you measure individual ethical/social responsibility vs. economic ROI, which most green actions/habits don’t move the needle? I will ask John Robbins. Comments?

We are all familiar with the quote: Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.  ~Albert Einstein, yet where is the chart to prove it out. – Yes I believe it.

In a  Ray Kurzweil-ian glimpse into anti aging, when does eco-foot print and ROI on habits, be it diet, exercise, or DNA genome drive actual change?

How do we measure the lifeline of a product such as a plastic plate or glass wine bottle, what are the  “ waste efficiencies”  that have economic ROI short term and long term?

Is it true that a Hummer has a smaller eco footprint than a Prius?

Is it true that turning a light blub on and off takes more energy than leaving it on all day?