Charles White

In my opinion, a lot of the issues we face today are a result of our society operating out of sync with nature. In nature, there is no waste. Everything is cyclical - all things become food or fuel for other organism or processes. 

In order for our communities to be more sustainable we need to take a hard look at the nature of our consumption. Ultimately we need to get away from the idea of waste or "disposable." Instead of designing and consuming on a cradle-to-grave mindset, we should be looking at a cradle-to-cradle process.

Whenever I use human-powered transportation I'm always a bit surprised at how far you can go! It may take more time, but you can really get around on a bike. And sometimes, taking a bike can even take less time when you don't have to fight traffic or circle the block looking for parking.

Plus the exercise just makes you feel good! 

As a teenager and young adult in suburbia public transit was...lacking. There were a few bus routes I knew that could get me to a few specific places, but typically driving was more convenient. There was also this cultural perception of finally getting your license and a car as being equivalent to having a new form of freedom! The ability to go anywhere whenever! From a young age people learn that a personal vehicle means freedom.

As an adult I think it becomes more apparent that a personal vehicle is a burden. I do not believe people do not necessarily value having their own vehicle, they value mobility.  

Over the last three years I have lived in the city with access to a more robust public transportation network (busses and light rail) which has certainly influenced my attitudes about transportation. For example, why would I drive and circle and circle and circle blocks looking for a parking spot when I can hop off a boss near my destination and walk? Why would I drive in two hours of bumper to bumper traffic (one-way) and stress myself out when I could sit on a bus or light rail and read, or listen to a podcast, or journal, or take a nap? Why own a personal vehicle which spends more time sitting in one place when I can sign up for a car share and only pay for what I use? 

The amount of time and money this country wastes sitting in traffic is dumbfounding. That people have accepted this as the status quo is a mystery to me.

Last year I learned that food waste is not only a huge burden on the planet, but also on our wallets. Since then I have been more mindful of my food waste, but it is still an ongoing challenge. By being more mindful of my food purchases, and as a result, food waste, I have been able to allocate more money towards my monthly student loan payments!

In general I think North American's are extremely disconnected from the food "process." For many Americans food starts at the grocery store and ends in their mouth or the garbage. We do not see the work that goes into making our food, meat or otherwise, and are disconnected from the impacts. We have an idyllic image of a farm in our minds, but that image does not reflect the current state of our food systems. We do not see the giant machines required for industrial agriculture. We do not see the acres and acres and acres of mono-crops. We do not see the heart wrenching conditions in CAFOs. We are not immediately impacted by the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico or antibiotic-resistant super bugs. 

It is easy for people to consume when we are not aware of the impacts. I do not think North Americans value soil degradation, biodiversity loss, aquifer depletion, or animal exploitation, many people are just uninformed. I'm sure if people were responsible for raising their own livestock and butchering the meat, people would be eating less meat. I think despite how connected we are today, people life awfully disconnected lives. We are short-sighted, rarely considering the impacts of our choices beyond our immediate surroundings. We are pressed for time, for some reason, and, as a result, choose convenience over quality and immediate gratification at the expense of future longevity.