I'm going to try a new experiment this new school year, starting now. In an attempt to further put my life in line with my belief system, I'm going to be trying to implement some core 'green' changes. And as corny as that sounds, this is something I feel is very important to my children's future and to the conservation of society and the natural world.

So, I was thinking: I can be annoyed that the powers that be aren't doing more for my children's safety and success, but really, what does that say about me? I've raised my children to take responsibility for their choices and to take initiative (that's probably not spelled right, but take it as it's meant)..... and yet, if I'm not part of the solution.....

This, of course, encompasses more than how I dispose of our household waste. It's an attitude. Are my beliefs sincere or am I just giving lip service?

I was not aware of this, but did you know that a direct correlation has been found between rising prices of oil and the decline of societal freedoms in oil-rich countries? That the discovery of oil subsequently stifles broad education and creative enterprise in these nations? That oil sales go directly to fund militaristic extremist groups?

So, in short, if I can't back up the talking with some walking, maybe I should reconsider just how I'm raising my children. In reality.

To begin: I'd like to cut our household waste down to mostly recycleables and biodegradable material. I want my food pesticide free and local. I'd like to decrease my use of my car, or at the very least, maybe figure out a car pool for my kid's school stuff. I'd like to start paying my bills online and getting my paycheck deposited (although, they still print you out a copy and mail it to you, so maybe that's not necessary). I'd like to talk to Memorial Hospital about possible donation of some of their outdated material for the raptor's house use. I'd like to figure out an alternative heat source for our home, possibly a heat pump, and I'd like to figure out where I can talk to other people about this without sounding like an alarmist, although, really, I think it is something to be alarmed about.

When you consider that some people are worried about bike-sharing programs being the gateway to forced abortion, really... well, let's just say that there are crazier things to be worried about than global warming or the effect of oil dependence on societies.