The Environment Optimist Blog for Context and Continuity
Deciding what actions to take as an environmentalist and humanitarian can feel manic and haphazard. We randomly get thrust into the latest trend, and there is little to no continuity in anything. One minute the most important thing in the world is to call your senator about abortion rights and the next, it's signing a petition about a pipeline.
This blog is about addressing and aiding people as they deal with that problem. The posts are meant to provide context and connect the dots. Similarly, this blog tries not to assume you already know anything. If I introduce a term like Green Washing, you will be able to click on the word or near it to read about what the heck it is. I may link you to a literal definition or an article that more deeply describes the controversy around the term, whatever is needed to allow you to read the blog post with a reasonable understanding. The same goes for political figures, concepts, movements, or news headlines.
Taking Action Through Jo Shares
We are all gradually building a working understanding of the environmental history of our current environmental crisis. For some people, that in and of itself is enough, for others, they need to be able to contribute, even if it's only a little (#getactive). Jo Shares is a page on this site where I link you to basically every reasonable way on the planet that there is to contribute or get involved, as well as people to follow on social media who regularly teach about environmental issues and provide ways to get active.
These links will be organized in terms of least-to-most involved, time investment, and type of involvement. This is not to make anyone feel unvalued, or like they aren't doing enough, it's for the sake of utility. If you have read up to this point, you may be catching on to the fact that this whole site is thought up from a utilitarian perspective. (#utility #utilitarianism)
One last note, if you ever doubt an organization or charity, the links below are good ways to check if they are legit.
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Federal Trade Commission
Shopping and The Eco Store
I made the eco store to take the anxiety out of shopping. Originally this started out as a problem I was having myself. I went to different places online for different things, and sometimes I forgot what I bought and got flustered by competing places with similar items and trying to compare the products' environmental and humanitarian advantages and disadvantages. So I figured if I was doing all this work, why not just offer it to everyone else?
The Eco Shop is a place I made for me, my family and friends, and anyone who wants to use it. My goal with the eco-shop is to be transparent about pricing, where the items come from, packaging, chemical labeling, and reviews. Also, the goal is to keep from selling anything that you can find at Goodwill or another thrift store, because the most humanitarian and eco-friendly option is always, not to buy new. The most eco-friendly people I know are people who cannot afford to buy anything new and live in their cars. (#vanlife #buyless #shop)
For items I cannot find but are necessary for daily life I have found some of the best stores to buy them from and provide links. Eventually, I will be able to list those products in my store by way of associate marketing. Everything in it's time. The store is very new and I have a lot of work to do, but it is up and running in a bare bones kind of way.
The Art for Earth Gallery
The Art for Earth Gallery is pretty simple. Artists sell their art and receive some of the money, while a charity or cause receives the rest. Jo Rose is the first artist featured in the gallery, with the Honnold Foundation receiving 25 percent of the profits. Any and all are welcome to message and be featured next!
Events
This page shows upcoming eco or humanitarian events to attend or be a part of but is limited at the moment to one event per season. It will grow to show many events all over the U.S.
The Bowerbird Newsletter
Magpies get all the credit for being birds that collect shiny objects and bits of trash and use it in their nests. This is why there are tons of newsletters named after them, but hold on to your seats because I am about to shock you, it is the Bowerbird species that actually collect bits of ornamentation to decorate its nest. Male Macgregors Bowerbirds might be the most impressive with their towering structures built to attract mates. These structures sit on the forest floor, rising up to almost three feet and decorated in an almost Christmas tree fashion. This is why our newsletter is called The Bowerbird. (check out more about the Macgregors Bowerbird and other amazing tropical birds in the documentary Dancing With The Birds on Netflix.
Stay up to date with the Environment Optimist by recieving our monthly newsletter. It's an old fashioned email newsletter that provides links to what's new.
We hope this post has been helpful. For any additional information email.jorose@gmail.com
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