InSpiritry

 

What a sign of hope, if a somewhat typically capitalistic one!

Today, July 18th, is the launch by green retailer Whole Foods Market and upscale designer Anya Hindmarch of their cotton cloth shopping bag emblazeded with the phrase:

I’m Not a Plastic Bag. 

Here’s what was posted on the designer’s website ( read more):

From Anya:
Our aim with this project has been to use our influence to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags. ‘I’m Not A Plastic Bag’ was designed to be a stylish, practical, reusable bag that would raise awareness of this issue and spark debate. We feel that we have achieved this aim beyond our wildest dreams.

In case you haven’t heard, the bag is all the rage! This morning, the New York Whole Foods store line reaches around the block with people wanting to buy the chic (if far-from-fancy) bags for $15.

The launch has found media attention with CNN and other outlets  giving the event top billing. In fact, added to the designer’s informational website this morning, this telling statement:

Due to the unprecedented demand for I’m Not A Plastic Bag in South East Asia and our concerns for our customers safety we will be cancelling the launches at the following stores: Anya Hindmarch Beijing, On Pedder in Shanghai and On Pedder in Jakarta

For a woman like me who used cloth bags for grocery shopping for many years and has of late been a guilty back-slider, this is news indeed. Are we finally at a place where environmentalism is cool!? If so, what is next? Recycling Festivals? Solar Salons? Hybrid Humvees?

Of course, there are always detractors. Several blog sites complain:

the bag doesn’t even support a cause.

This bag doesn’t support a cause?! Of course, it does: the environment.  For thirty years we tree-huggers have been trying to get shoppers to bring their own bags to the store rather than take home and throw away dozens of plastic ones. Our landfills and landscapes are full of  these noxious flags of commerce!

Pleading and explaining and complaining have not worked, so why not a new tactic? While I mourn our inability to do the right thing unless it involves shopping, kudos to Whole Foods for sensing the global shift (hybrid fuels, Al Gore, Inconvenient Truth, Live Earth, green advertising) and finding a way to use the world’s retail-addiction to foster change!

Now comes the next step: individual change.  We’ll need to not only use cotton shopping bags (even if they are not designer totes) but also buy green, act green, speak green. Science has given us the facts. Faith leads us to care. Morality gives us a reason to take action. The mirror shows us the solution!

Do something today:

• Buy 5-6 cloth shopping bags and put them in your car
• Turn off lights and unplug your phone chargers
• Choose groceries not packaged in plastic (better yet, buy fresh!)
• Consider a hybrid vehicle (my Camry is awesome - 43 mpg)
• Call/write your legislators to put green wisdom into law (it’s easy to call and give a comment)

It’s not hard to make little changes that will lead to a collective big difference for humanity. These are just the kind of creative ideas that characterize the practice of InSpiritry–serving the Greater Good. You can do it! Join the global family in taking care of our home.

Then be a blessing. Tell the world with more than a shopping bag:

I’m Not Plastic!

InSpiritry - InSpirational Action for the Greater Good

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 8:59 am and is filed under Environment, Social Issues, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.