Response+1

'No Impact Man' Documentary Responses

 * 1. **

1. Transportation phase: Give up driving. Use sustainable ways like biking and using the scooter. 2. Reusing of bought materials 3. Eat locally: 100-mile diet, no imported foods, no restaurants. Food packaging, food waste is composted by the use of wormies 4. No shopping, no new clothes or material 5. No taxis, elevators, bussing, no airline 6. No television, wasteful electricity 7. Sustainable Consumption: buy nothing that is not needed, produces no trash (no packaged products) 8.


 * 2. **

The action that made the most significant impact in achieving Beavan’s goals is


 * 3. **

I think fashion trends play into the role of the hedonic treadmill significantly and I am guilty of this. Clothing stores are constantly providing advertisements about the ‘latest’ fashion styles, even if these ‘changes’ are miniscule and have probably been available previously. The changing of seasons and constructed events like going back-to-school are major periods that are promoted heavily to influence your wardrobe restyling. Clothes from last year are able to withstand the new trends yet we continue to purchase items that are slightly altered to have a different pattern or different shape.

One consumer product that truly improves my life would be my cell phone. I cannot deny that we live in a world where technology and life have become integrated. It has provided me with convenience that I never thought I needed. My phone is my planner, my calendar, my calculator, alarm clock, and a way to communicate with other people amongst other things. Although it is a large convenience, it is not a //true// necessity. I believe true necessities at its most base form to include shelter, food and water, clothing, medicine, and access to information. Everything else would be considered a comfort and a luxury.


 * 4. **

It does bother me when I purchase something only to find it and its components wrapped in many plastic bags or that there are so many pieces to its packaging. I try to use materials that would not be disposed of after its use, such as reusable bags for groceries instead of plastic bags and using sturdier plastic water bottles.

My community has programs that separates compost, recycling and waste. I make sure my household places their waste in the appropriate bin although I have little knowledge about what happens to them after their disposal. It should be up to individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to regulate waste. We should all inform each other of better practices about waste disposal and reduction by promoting better consuming habits to minimize waste in its first stage to habitually categorizing waste into their appropriate disposal units.


 * 5. **

I would choose to buy more locally grown food items similar to Beaven’s 100 mile food policy. Foods with a farther origin are often excessively packaged and wrapped for protection and heavily processed. Fuel charge and usage from shipping and distribution must also be taken into account. If our community were to all adopt eating locally, it would not only benefit ourselves, but also the local economy and environment.


 * 6. **

I have grown too used to living in a world where information is provided almost instantaneously. Having the ability to share and acquire knowledge to and from distant places is definitely advantageous to doing things ‘the old-fashioned’ way – this makes me happy. Slowing down would mean not having spontaneous and instantaneous Skype calls from across the world; it would mean waiting for updates of any sort even if it was happening at the moment. We live in a world where we can experience something live, no matter where we are. What holds me back from ‘slowing down’ is the acquired need to be updated, to be in the moment and to have instantaneous gratification of knowledge.


 * 7. **

To give up transportation that relies on fossil-fuel consumption would mean that any commute would require a much longer time. As some family are located in Hong Kong, a trip back would be very inconvenient without planes. Decreases in time, convenience and safety would be the greatest drawbacks in not using cars, taxis, buses, or trains. While there are many cities and communities that implement the use of bicycles and bicycle lanes for a large number of their populations, Mississauga’s and Oakville’s population and buildings for residential and businesses locations are too sparsely located to consider this. Cars will still be the predominant mode of transportation in suburban areas, outside of downtown Toronto.