The Green Thing

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my earlier days.”

The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations.”

She was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts — wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s right; we didn’t have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person.

Remember: Don’t make old People mad.

We don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to piss us off.

New and improved paper coffee cups. So much more eco friendly than current plastic ones at coffee shops!

check it out:

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665594/startup-radically-reinvents-the-disposable-coffee-cup-eliminating-plastic-lids

Your green product and green fundraising expert!

Koru Fundraising!

http://news.yahoo.com/bpa-pregnant-women-might-affect-kids-behavior-040221442.html

From colleges down to elementary schools, groups are more environmentally aware than in the past. And this is a good thing. Part of these groups’ mission is to better their community. This attitude has driven the rise in popularity of the green fundraising trend. Also, due to school wellness policies and legislation, schools are implementing fundraising guidelines that limits unhealthy fundraisers. A byproduct of these changes is that groups are coupling eco friend fundraisers in the same category as healthy fundraisers. Plus, there has been little resistance from school administrators and parents with the green fundraising trend.

It’s not the same old junk.

The bottom line with product fundraisers is that ones that are of high quality and useful are the ones that will sell. Consumers are buying green products on a daily basis and it makes sense that these products are now being offered as fundraisers. There are hundreds of different fundraising ideas available, but the ones that sell are the ones groups will gravitate towards. It was just a matter of time for eco friendly fundraisers to take off.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the creation of the Green Ribbon Schools program to recognize schools that are creating healthy and sustainable learning environments and teaching environmental literacy. The new awards program will be run by the Education Department with the support of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Preparing our children to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said at an event announcing the new program. “It’s work that will serve future generations and quite literally sustain our world.”

“Each day, we ask students across the nation to demonstrate excellence, integrity and leadership in the classroom, and in return, the Federal Government must do the same,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “The Green Ribbon Schools program will recognize healthy learning spaces that promote environmental literacy and prepare our leaders of tomorrow to win a clean energy future.”

“The schools taking part in this initiative will help kids connect what they’re learning in science class with the world around them, allowing them to envision solutions to tomorrow’s challenges while living healthier lives today,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “By making green living a part of everyday learning, Green Ribbon Schools will prepare our children to win the future by leading our global green energy economy.”

The Green Ribbon Schools program reflects President Obama’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and preparing today’s students for jobs in fields that provide clean energy solutions.

EPA Administrator Jackson and CEQ Chair Sutley joined Secretary Duncan at the announcement at a ceremony planting a tree at the Department of Education’s headquarters. The Texas live oak they planted is the same tree that is depicted in the Education Department’s seal, symbolizing the Department’s commitment to securing our nation’s future by promoting student achievement and fostering education excellence.

The Green Ribbon Schools program will be modeled after the Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which annually honors public and private schools that are either high performing or have improved student achievement to high levels.

Through the Green Ribbon schools program, the Education Department, the EPA, and CEQ will recognize schools for energy conservation, creating healthy learning spaces, and teaching environmental literacy.

“Environmental literacy is an important part of a well-rounded, world-class education,” Secretary Duncan said. “Through the Green Ribbon Schools program, we’ll be holding up schools that are leading the way in teaching science and in ways that show students the importance of developing clean energy sources and sustainable solutions for the environment.”

The application for the program will be released later this year, and the first group of “Green Ribbon Schools” announced next year.

Some of Koru’s great eco fundraising products are being featured on the great blog Eat Live Shop!

Have a look! http://www.eatliveshop.com/

Stay Eco!

Reminder…Earth Day coming this Friday April 22! What is your earth day plans?

Earth Day Canada is organizing a terrific campaign of give it up for earth day!!

Check it out! Great way to go green! Sign up today at

http://www.earthday.ca/giveitup/

If you didn’t remember, Earth day is coming soon! April 22!!! Our programs are a perfect fit! Raise money to support environmental projects!

Contact us at info@korufundraising.com for more info!