Summer Banks
SaraJwhat is the compact?
April 11th 2008 02:14
:
what is the compact?
The compact is an agreement -or series of agreements- to adhere to a set of core principles, the sum total of which add up to attempting to have the smallest ecological footprint you personally can. The logic being if you don't buy new products you don't have an impact.
There are many different compacts around the Globe that have additional conditions/priciples to the original agreement which appears to have started as a New Years agreement between some friends to go off the consumer grid for a year to help the environment in 2006 and has grown from there, with groups forming their own compacts mushroomng around the globe. CLICK HERE for the original Blog with the Resolution Please note this is the frst one I found, there may be other compacts started earlier, I'd love to know about tem if there was, my research into this has only just begun, maybe Lilla could come to my aid, she is the master of well researched posts.
The basic priciples are as follows (from CLICKHERE)
Here is the link to the Yahoo Compact, a group of them has agreed to attempt to adhere to the following principles for the Calendar year 2008
There is an australian compact called NO MORE STUFF click here to check it out The site is great, it outlines all the contributors attempts at consuming less and is handy for when you face dilemmas like dry cleaning, dog poo bags to name but a few.
There is also a great site called no impact man click here thatis full of great tips on how to alter your behaviour to make a difference.
Realistically I could go on all day with the links on THE COMPACT site, each link is useful in a different way.
I think these priciples are wonderful. Our society has gone product crazy, with all the cheap goods available you don't have to spend as much as you used to to consume way more than you need. I think if we were all honest withourselves we would realse that a huge percentage of what we buy, we actually do not need. We all learnt about the differences between a want and a need in school, I think its time we remembered that difference.
I can hear people thinking, why is consuming so bad? Well for products to be maufactured there is not only an economic cost but also an environmental cost, whether it be use of natural resources or the pollution generated in manufacturing, every thing we do, everything we use, everything we buy has some form of impact on the world we live in. One of the simplest ways to combat climate change and help the earth is to simply consume less. That is what I like so much about the compact, it goes back to the essence of the problem and addresses it. Evey lttle bit helps, if we all consume less then we can genuinely help this planet we are putting so much pressure on. It is a simple solution to a complicated problem but if we all thought before we bought this planet would be far better off.
I am going to try. How about you?
Maybe we could start an ORBLE COMPACT SITE where we can all contribute to what we have done for the environment. If anyone is up for it, Ill organise it.
cheers
Louie
Happy Friday.
There are many different compacts around the Globe that have additional conditions/priciples to the original agreement which appears to have started as a New Years agreement between some friends to go off the consumer grid for a year to help the environment in 2006 and has grown from there, with groups forming their own compacts mushroomng around the globe. CLICK HERE for the original Blog with the Resolution Please note this is the frst one I found, there may be other compacts started earlier, I'd love to know about tem if there was, my research into this has only just begun, maybe Lilla could come to my aid, she is the master of well researched posts.
The basic priciples are as follows (from CLICKHERE)
THE COMPACT
1) TO GO BEYOND RECYCLING IN TRYING TO COUNTERACT THE NEGATIVE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF U.S. CONSUMER CULTURE, TO RESIST GLOBAL CORPORATISM, AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, FARMS, ETC; 2) TO REDUCE CLUTTER AND WASTE IN OUR HOMES (AS IN TRASH COMPACT-ER); 3) TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES (AS IN CALM-PACT
1) TO GO BEYOND RECYCLING IN TRYING TO COUNTERACT THE NEGATIVE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF U.S. CONSUMER CULTURE, TO RESIST GLOBAL CORPORATISM, AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, FARMS, ETC; 2) TO REDUCE CLUTTER AND WASTE IN OUR HOMES (AS IN TRASH COMPACT-ER); 3) TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES (AS IN CALM-PACT
Here is the link to the Yahoo Compact, a group of them has agreed to attempt to adhere to the following principles for the Calendar year 2008
Welcome to The Compact.
We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2008).
The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.
We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2008).
The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.
There is an australian compact called NO MORE STUFF click here to check it out The site is great, it outlines all the contributors attempts at consuming less and is handy for when you face dilemmas like dry cleaning, dog poo bags to name but a few.
There is also a great site called no impact man click here thatis full of great tips on how to alter your behaviour to make a difference.
Realistically I could go on all day with the links on THE COMPACT site, each link is useful in a different way.
I think these priciples are wonderful. Our society has gone product crazy, with all the cheap goods available you don't have to spend as much as you used to to consume way more than you need. I think if we were all honest withourselves we would realse that a huge percentage of what we buy, we actually do not need. We all learnt about the differences between a want and a need in school, I think its time we remembered that difference.
I can hear people thinking, why is consuming so bad? Well for products to be maufactured there is not only an economic cost but also an environmental cost, whether it be use of natural resources or the pollution generated in manufacturing, every thing we do, everything we use, everything we buy has some form of impact on the world we live in. One of the simplest ways to combat climate change and help the earth is to simply consume less. That is what I like so much about the compact, it goes back to the essence of the problem and addresses it. Evey lttle bit helps, if we all consume less then we can genuinely help this planet we are putting so much pressure on. It is a simple solution to a complicated problem but if we all thought before we bought this planet would be far better off.
I am going to try. How about you?
Maybe we could start an ORBLE COMPACT SITE where we can all contribute to what we have done for the environment. If anyone is up for it, Ill organise it.
cheers
Louie
Happy Friday.
the compact
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Abso-bloomin'-lutely...
I think I went almost a decade without one new thing. Ofcourse these days I have children/teenagers and they have...you know, 'needs... ' *erghm* I guess I ahve a reputation as a 'compact nazi too...'
*sigh* my husband was raised to dispose and buy new - a constant challenge *slapping my forehead* but I think this is so awesome...because, /seriously/ when one person shops there isn;t much impact, but times it by 20 million and boy oh boy does it add up and if you looked at those statistics, which form mountains and mountains of polyesterine and other crap, to me it accounts to breaking the first commandment (and we all know how big that controversy can get)... why not wasters and environmental abusers?
Count me in twice for a Co-Orble-compact ... just let me know if you need some help.
Sorry to dash, but I have to get the groceries in ...again... *laughs* oh God if only you would remove this cup from me each week....
Great to be back and to chat again.
Lilla ...
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love it!!!!!
Comment by Louie
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here's hoping more orblers get into it, if john doesn't come on and pledge help ill email him direct
happy shopping
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I really love this idea......and I'm the ultimate consumer! I find it quite ironic that in the name of being "green" companies have created entire new products.....just to add to our overconsumerism.
I'm not sure how I'd go.....12 months is a long time!
Kylie
Comment by Louie
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Hey Kylie......you win by just trying and
you will never know unless you try, the important point is that even if you try and fail you will consume less just by trying because you will realise you don't need a lot of the stuff you buy,,,and hey you will save money, can't argue with that!!!!!!!
i am going to count you IN
Comment by Krystal
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It is so refreshingly green here, and you must be a very patient gal.
Comment by Rosemary
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Things are constructed so they can't be repaired too, that's so annoying.