Less is more.

'It was raining outside, so I cleaned house today. Spent half of the morning, throwing old things away' is what The Mountain Goats from Sweden sing in their sweet twee songs. This is not really exemplary though, considering the new wave of ethical consuming and recycling that finally hits the masses. Yes, being eco is now 'in'. Corporations sell us hedonism without regrets, if the consumer wants it, (s)he will get climate protection and social justice on the shelf.

One example is the new campaign from Topshop: 'Topshop wants your rubbish!' Reusing and recycling old unwanted clothes is the new ecofriendly and concience cleansing campaign, in alignment with fairtrade labels and organic cotton clothes. 'Planet, Sweet Planet' read the T-shirts these days. This Marketing Strategy is called 'Greenwash', modelled after the term 'Whitewash'. Quite appealing at first glance, but are the corportions REALLY interested in saving the planet or is it not just all about making more profit? How serious are they really about their efforts? I mean, you can compensate your bad concience for regular flying by donating for a good cause in India, in some 'Human Energy'-project, in which the Indians are encouraged to use footpumps instead of diesel-to stop CO2 emission. Well, it sounds rather cynical to me... Also this hype about the so eco-friendly washing nuts from India: the demand for them in the Western World has grown so rapidly that the prices on the global market have risen to such a height that now the Indians are not able to afford them anymore! Now they have to use chemical detergent and pollute their environment even more. The opposite of well is meant well.
So is there no way out of this? Well, there is, but it might not be as sexy and eye-catching as bying T-shirts that say 'I used to be a...' It is simply to get informed (e.g. see the Channel 4 programme 'The Devil Wears Primark', of which the screening has now been postponed for some dubious reason...). And most of all: consume less, live more! I want to use this opportunity here to raise attention to the international BUY NOTHING DAY on Saturday, 29th November (UK).
Anyone can participate, it is about detoxing from consumerism and living without 'shopping'.

There is an article I have read long ago in a magazine, about Matt from Manchester. He wanted to move to London, but on the way, his lorry got stolen, with ALL his stuff in there. All he had left was the clothes he was wearing and his purse. It was not until then that he finally realised how much his books, DVDs and clothes meant to him. He decided to buy only the most essential things and became a minimalsit. Now he spends his money on going for meals with his friends and traveling :) Or Richard from Bristol, who quit his job with EMI to go to India and do a Yoga teacher training. When asked if he doesn't want a corporate job, for the salary and status, he added: 'Actually-no. It's about finding inner peace.'

I am not trying to patronize anyone here, I am not perfect myself. I just want to raise some awareness about the fact that everything we do and buy has an impact on our planet and the people around us. It is about making a difference, everyone of us, in the realms of each one's possibilities. We should be careful trying to compensate the feeling of spiritual and emotional emptiness with consumerism, since the gaping hole inside cannot be filled with more posessions but only with love and charity. We cannot solve our (global) problems with the same means we have created them. Go out and connect more with nature and the people around you. Build deep relationships that matter to you. Give more. Be creative. Love more. Keep it simple. Be there when people need you. Count your blessings. Take responsibility-for every area of your life.
Have the best day ever! :)

Be well.
One Love,
Nadja