A random conversation with a stranger, a regular thought with myself Written by Toro Adeyemi Even though I’ve moved from Westchester to Brooklyn and am now working in a different field, ECOBAGS® has remained a part of my everyday life. Last week, I took the D train from Columbus Circle after a workout at NYSC. Whenever I travel around the city and see a cotton tote bag, I can’t help but to direct my eyes to the top right corner, searching for the identifiable, green ECOBAGS® logo. This happens at least three times a week when the weather is cold, and much more frequently when it’s warmer out, sometimes multiple times a day! On this day, I saw a woman with a WNYC Radio tote bag, which I see most regularly around the city. It’s easy to spot given the bold, red graphics and the big W N Y C blocking. Most times, I’ll snap a picture and send a text to Sharon, Eco-Bags Products Founder, sharing where exactly I’ve spotted the tote. I’ll either ask the person to pose in a shot, or take one in action (not showing the identity of the person, because to stop everyone I see with an ECOBAGS® tote would be quite the task!). I sit down in the subway, and the woman happened to sit right next to me. I said, “You’ve got an ECOBAGS® tote! I used to work at the company up in Westchester.” We then got into a conversation about what I used to do there as a Brand Strategist, how she uses totes to transport her plastic waste out to recycling, and how she still uses plastic bags sometimes, though she attempts to reuse them as much as possible. I shared that there are certain brands that produce biodegradable trash bags, which led to discussing the conundrum of paying for what you could easily get for free. That is a general theme for people who are comfortable in their habits, and it’s understandable. Why spend money on something that betters the environment when you can do what you normally do, for free? Firstly, I think most people don’t even think about their actions when it comes to plastic waste – it’s just a non-factor in their everyday lives. Those that have the thought but still use single-use bags tend to feel that their contributions are miniscule -- “Oh, I’m just one person, I’m not really ‘destroying the planet.’” Using the rule of generalizability, imagine if everyone were to feel and act that way… All of these individual actions create massive effects! I’ve always appreciated the ECOBAGS ® motto, “Cleaning up the planet, one bag at a time TM“ for the concept it suggests. Every plastic bag you don’t use is a step towards bettering the planet. The next time you’re at the grocery store or the deli and picking up a few small items, ask yourself, “Do I really need this plastic bag?” I see this in my office, too. Colleagues go across the street for a sandwich and come back with it in a plastic bag. Is this necessary? Really, it’s not. At the start of the day, I want people to be more conscious of their actions and the greater consequences on the environment. If we all keep these habits in mind, we’re doing a greater part to keeping the planet Green! The woman got off at West 4th and made a transfer to the F, and I eventually transferred to an M train. With every conversation I have such as this, I wonder if our dialogue will be enough to inspire a bit of change. ~*T*~
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I have to remember when I visit my friends that they don’t work for a reusable bag company, and therefore they may not be as perpetually conscious about plastic bags as I am! The issue is serious, though I find it funny how often I catch myself cringing when walking down the streets of New York City, seeing them everywhere. They’re in the streets, they’re in the trees, they’re being used by the people… Now, I’m not going to reprimand any passerby’s and wave my canvas tote in any faces… the most I’ll do with strangers is speak just a smidge louder at a check out when saying, “No, I don’t use plastic bags, I brought my own.” When out with my friends, it’s much more certain that my voice is being heard. ”We just picked up a 6-pack… do we really need a plastic bag to take this to the car?” Whatever the item may be, the response is usually, “Oh, I didn’t even think about that..” or “Fine, whatever [insert eye roll due to constant reminding on the topic].” Makes me wish that cashiers would encourage customers to bring their own bag when shopping! Wouldn’t that be ideal… I carry my ECOBAGS® totes everywhere. My favorite is one made from recycled cotton that I used as gifts for this independent film I worked on last summer. It’s a lighter material that fits well into other bags if need be. I see a lot of canvas bags out there too, don’t get me wrong, but I’m looking forward to the day when reusable bags are the go-to choice over plastic! Let’s set the example and BYOBag!
Of course! And eat well so that you can focus well. Maybe also engage in some physical activity to exercise the body. Just... put your best foot forward.
Happy Thanksgiving!! — with Toro Adeyemi. Written by CEO & Founder, Toro Adeyemi Last week, the Ossining Documentary & Discussion Series met and screened Bag It, a humorous & informative film that deals with issues surrounding single-use plastic bags. This documentary was well time as a movement towards charging for plastic bags (and banning them altogether!) has gained momentum throughout the country as well as the world. The film queries, Is Your Life Too Plastic? “We need to understand that our modern day convenience of single-use plastic bags seems free but actually comes at a very high cost to our health and environment. When we put our garbage at the curb we think it goes away. But where is away? There is no away,“ says panelist, Sharon Rowe, an Ossining-based business owner interviewed in the film. What did I take away?
It really is crazy how much plastic we use and waste and just toss away. In the images above, the OD&DS committee took on a challenge: 5 of us would collect all of the plastic we saw in the streets for 3 days before the screening.
Imagine how much we would have collected after a week. Imagine, what’s going on in your neighborhood? Written by CEO & Founder, Toro Adeyemi Last week, before this government shutdown had begun, the Ossining Documentary and Discussion Series met to watch Dear Governor Cuomo, a concert protest film that raises awareness surrounding hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock found deep within the earth. It’s no bueno. Here’s some of why:
While it would be great if the US had an independent source of energy, the fracking solution is too short term. Once natural gas depletes, where will we be? My thoughts are we should find more sustainable methods of energy retrieval – solar power anyone?? This documentary was incredibly insightful and pretty entertaining given the intermittent musical performances. We were fortunate to have an amazing discussion panel as well! I asked Jon Bowermaster, writer/director of Dear Governor Cuomo, Paul Gallay, President of Riverkeeper, and Catherine Borgia, Westchester County Legislator, to role play: “We’ve seen this film, we’re discussing how horrible this process is for the environment and for people in general. I’d love to hear from each of you, what is something good about fracking?”
Short story shorter, none of these experts could come up with an answer. Governor Andrew Cuomo has the power to stop this from happening in the State of New York – Tweet #banFracking @NYGovCuomo and let him here your voice! This is an issue that affects us all. Want to learn more? Get the lowdown on hydraulic fracturing at http://nyagainstfracking.org/facts/ Written by CEO & Founder, Toro Adeyemi Wednesday night's screening of Seeds of Freedom was an insightful look into the story of seed: "...From its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. The film highlights the extent to which the industrial agricultural system, and genetically modified (GM) seeds in particular, has impacted on the enormous agro -biodiversity evolved by farmers and communities around the world, since the beginning of agriculture." Some takeaways I left with include:
You can watch the 30 minute film, Seeds of Freedom, here. It's not asking you to change your habits... ...It's asking you to be aware of your options and make educated choices. Spread the Seed! Written by CEO & Founder, Toro Adeyemi Today was a lovely Sunday: I woke up nice and early, went to the gym for spin, had a shake and was getting ready to go into the city for a trip to The Standard Hotel. I peeked outside and saw my neighbour and asked her what she was up to. Low and behold, she and another neighbour were on their way to Hastings-on-Hudson for a studio tour of local artists, featuring various sculptures, paintings and other creations, on display and available for purchase. I decided to join them. There are many things I appreciate about Artists: I appreciate their talent, their style, their craftsmanship, their ability to communicate a message or an idea... it's a refreshing feeling to be surrounded by creative minds. Personally it gets my mind racing--what can I do to channel my creative energies? What activities might I take up to feel more innovative or expressive? The last stop on our studio tour was to a home--I climbed up the stairs to the attic and entered a sunny room with high ceilings and water colors all around. I sat and observed as the Artist spoke to other guests and explained her work. As I sat, I looked at the bookshelf nearby and saw a small, unmarked brown book which, after inspecting, had no content. I asked if it was for sale and as the Artist was moving out of her home, she sold it to me for a couple of dollars, pointing to a stack of over 20 sketchbooks she had filled. After this, and an impromptu conversation with an admirable Broadway choreographer, I left feeling I had some more direction--curiously received from a book with blank pages. I also left the tour with a lovely clay turquoise bowl! |
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