MPR and the Citizen's League team up for a live event discussion in Policy and a Pint: No Impact Man,. [The event is sold out, but I will live-blog in the comments during the recording and the discussion continues online here.]
Host Steve Seel will lead a discussion at MPR's UBS Forum with Colin Beavan on September 17 about Beavan's book "No Impact Man" and his year of living in New York City with no trash, no elevators, no car, no products in packages, no air-conditioning, no television.
UPDATE: Listen to the session audio here.
While many of us take steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle...what motivates individuals to do more? Could you live the lifestyle of No Impact Man?
Resources or information:
- Beavan's blog
- No Impact Man (The Movie)
- Play Consumer Consequences and find out if you are living a sustainable life
This is an open discussion, so you're welcome to link to your related Gather articles or other online resources. Your comments & articles may be quoted on thecurrent.org
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Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
The Current
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Comments: 52
Beavan explains he was working on some WWII history, and that he looked around his wife's/his peers in NYC and realized everyone was rushing around, eating take-out and.... prozac.
He went on to say that he was thinking about writing a 'finger-shaking' book at people who need to change. Then he realized... he left the ac on one day, all day, for no reason. So he decided to change his behaviors and tell a personal story.
Beavan outlined a that they'd start with a few ways to reduce their negative impact while also improving their positive impact.
"Is it possible for us to life a life to do more good than harm?"
using a paper towel to blow his nose
his baby daughter's diapers were disposable
her milk/formula was packaged in a disposable container
I maybe could but I wouldn't. I like my stuff and my creatures comforts too much. However, I couldn't live the life of Jesus, either, but that doesn't mean I can't do better. Every little bit helps.
You're right, every little bit helps. It is a very personal decision about which little bits - and how many of them - one does.
This discussion is fascinating, he's talking about how these decisions affected their daily lives in ways they didn't predict.
The question isn't about can you make a difference, it is about will you try to make a difference.
Beavan said he'd throw the question back on people, why would you live in a way that doesn't match your values?
Beavan: Some of my friends were glad I was doing it so they didn't have to [badly paraphrased]
Beavan cited proximity to farmer's market, short distances as a plus.... no way to get solar power or grow his own food as difficult / not possible
Beavan: So... we continue to buy second hand, that includes the hummer we bought. (laughter) Just joking!
It turns out there are some things for individuals to do, like getting electricity sustainability. We have electricity, but don't run the ac. The only way to get sustainable electricity is for us to collectively approach our representatives.
We ride our bikes [instead of going to the gym] food, local eating are easy to do as individuals.
Beavan explains that everyone has to make the decision about making a living and the use/application of a certain impact.
[His book is made from 100% recycled paper. ]
If we're going to make an impact make sure it is for the good of ourselves or communities.
Beavan said that they removed everything from their life that made an impact... and then made decisions that made them happy. Did removing it make them happy?
Beavan: The best answer I can give is that I personally don't know. I don't have a high income but I don't have a low income. [...] I think it is incumbent on me to make sure that there is fresh food available to all neighborhoods.
As a middle class person I think I have a responsibility to help, but [otherwise] I can't answer that question.
Seel: How do these messages get out on th emedia?
Beavan: We have to give up finger-wagging. The short version is first approach people with love rather than anger. We can change people in a few ways:
force people to change like legislation, but people rebel
persuasion which is talking to the mind, but minds change
inspiration is where you talk to the people's spirit, you don't tell them that they have to have less and be deprived but you tell them you can work together for a better life
Beavan: I think you need to segment the message. You seek to align values and goals - birkenstock wearers get a different message than a business person.
/badly paraphrased.
Beavan: during that year it was my job, so I had to learn how to bake bread daily.
What is more important to us? The big question at the bottom of this is... Why are we alive?
Beavan: I've thought about this, and that's why I'm not going to let her out of the house [laughter]
Truth is he doesn't know, and that his daughter make make decisions for herself and not force her to live to his values.
She gets to decide. What I believe is that she's going to find her own way in the world.
I just have so much faith in her.
Beavan: my understanding is that fossil fuel is way cheaper to use than sustainable energy
We need to invest hugely - like we did in going to the moon - in creating cheaper renewable energy technologies so the market eventually chooses to use renewable energy
We didn't decide, other than to let things organically happen. Electricity is on but we don't use AC. Food, biking is the same, there are no rules.
Beavan goes on to explain that he can't reconcile that they fly, because of it's impact.
I use the city bus for most of my needs.
It will soon be replaced by a motorcycle.
I will try to leave as small of a footprint as I can.
"I will try to leave as small of a footprint as I can."
A motorcycle? This might be another discussion, but what cycle are you looking at?
My first cycle was a Honda, fwiw.
Most of the larger ones get 40 mpg at the least.
I won't use compact fluorescent bulbs. Why? Does the mini-ballast and plastic base get recycled or just the glass with the mercury in it?
Carbon credits at San Fran Airport