The Green Friday Manifesto

[FarCenter]

The Green Friday Manifesto

In order to reduce my impact on the environment and the waste of natural resources, and to live an ethical, moral and more satisfying life:
- I will buy goods and services because of needs and not wants.
- I will not buy things the first time I see them, and I will not buy anything for more than $100 until the next day.
- I will learn about product functionality, quality, reliability and longevity before buying.
- I will learn a craft or art in order to understand how quality things are made or repaired, and I will trade with others so engaged.
- I will buy a small number of toys that will be cherished and teach value, instead of buying a large number of faddish, expendable, and breakable toys that teach consumerism.
- I will buy classic clothes for work and leisure, and I will maintain and wear them as long as they are presentable.
- I will not keep things that I no longer use, but will donate or sell them to someone who needs them.
- I will only eat food as needed for nutrition and a balanced diet.
- I will eat food prepared at home instead of eating out.
- I will avoid expensive animal proteins as well as packaged, processed foods that are high in sugar, starch and salt such as cake, chips, cookies, crackers, ice cream and pie.
- I will not drink soft drinks, bottled water, beer or wine when water or inexpensively brewed coffee and tea are available.
- I will practice good hygiene and avoid risky behaviors to minimize illness and accidental injury.
- I will seek regular preventive medical, dental and vision care.
- I will prefer proven drugs and medical procedures to new and questionable drugs and medical techniques.
- I will buy or rent housing no larger than I need.
- I will furnish my living space modestly with timeless designs of enduring value.
- I will walk, bike, or ride public transportation instead of driving.
- I will buy or rent a car based on need for transportation and not for status.
- I will not travel except when necessary, but will keep in touch through communications.
- I will not pay for entertainment, but instead seek out friends, neighbors and family for community and conviviality.
- I will not attend spectator sports, but instead engage in sports with friends and family.
- I will not pay for gyms, training, yoga, or other courses and facilities, but I will exercise regularly inside and outdoors with friends and family.
- I will learn from libraries and online resources and courses, and I will avoid expensive training and education.
- I will minimize fees and interest by consolidating financial accounts to a small number of low-cost firms and by not carrying a balance on credit cards or other high interest debt.
- I will avoid fees for financial consultants, advisors, accountants, tax preparers and the like by learning about business and finance, and I will invest prudently in sound assets for myself, my family and heirs.

[LWolf]

1. Okay. nt

[NYC_SKP]

2. K/R suggest crosspost to Energy and Environment group and Frugal Living group nt.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I am proud to say

that not only do Mr. Dixie and I live almost all of those precepts ( we do drive when necessary)
but so do my 2 adult offspring.

Living close to the bone most of my life.....who knew it was a virtue?

[FarCenter]

4. The objective is liberation from exploitation

and being able to have what you really need, when you need it.

[Ms. Toad]

5. This manifesto would be a lot stronger

if it articulated principles, and provided this list as examples of the principles.

The details do not fit all circumstances - and focusing on the manifestation of principles rather than the principles means shaming (by implication that this is the only way to live out certain principles and values) those who make different choices which are also consistent with the underlying principles.

Two examples:

A principle might be avoiding making impulse purchases. I carry that out, particularly in costly purchases, by doing extensive research. By the time I hit the store I am almost certain what I want, and where I can find it most cheaply. So probably half of my >$100 purchase are made without waiting a day from when I first see it (in the store), but purchasing it when I first see it in the store is not an impulse buy - and if I have driven to the store, not waiting a day reduces my carbon footprint because I am purchasing it in one trip rather than two.

Another principle might be responsible and informed use of medical resources. "Proven drugs and medical procedures" are not necessarily a better option than "new and questionable drugs and medical techniques." If everyone made that choice, we would not have tamoxifen, or other other similar drugs available to reduce the breast cancer risk for people at high risk for invasive breast cancer (such as LCIS) - a study my spouse was involved in, or be moving toward a pharmaceutical treatment for PSC (a disease which is currently treatable only by a liver transplant) - a study my daughter was involved in. Someone has to test new and questionable drugs and medical techniques. It is how they become proven drugs and medical procedures.