No. 66: What have I been up to?
Hehe no spoilers here!
Hi pals, happy end of October! Sorry it’s been a few weeks, I’ve been dealing with writer’s block while staying busy with schoolwork and planning the next clothing swap! You might recall I last hosted one in June of this year, collecting over 400 clothing items from college students that without a doubt would’ve ended up in the dumpster.
This time, college students will be able to attend (since school will be in session), and it will be more organized. That was my biggest takeaway from last time, as hosting a bigger swap with so many items got disorganized fast, and after a certain point, there was no salvaging it.
Pictured below:
Last time I unsuccessfully encouraged attendees to “check in” (how many items they brought, if they’d like to sign up for the contact list and Green & Salty), but only left it sitting out and rarely mentioned it. This time with the help of 8+ lovely volunteers (an 8-hour event in total!), I’m planning on setting out a designated check-in table and asking every attendee. What can I say, I’m an information hoarder!
On another note…
The past two weeks have seen the most gorgeous fall colors, and no one should have any shame in accepting and appreciating the fall season. It’s my favorite; it’s a popular choice for good reason! But, of course, climate change ruins everything.
Would a mall resurgence be pro-climate?
Specifically malls as in-person shopping, you know the buildings with the food courts that don’t really exist anymore?
This is more of an essay and less of a researched piece!
As we all know, malls are dying. Our society is built on convenience; we as a society have now deduced that driving to one place to spend your entire day is quite cumbersome. In its place is the comfortable, lavish experience of online shopping. It’s now hard to consider spending an entire day in a shopping center (I have never been a big mall fan); could we ever return to the overcrowded food courts and indoor play areas?
I’m not offering a mall resurgence, but is online shopping all it’s cracked up to be? Both options have their pros and cons; both encourage consumerism (BAD), malls can encourage community and get-togethers (GOOD!), and are arguably anti-urban sprawl, as they offer a one-stop place for everything you could need, reducing commute time, while encouraging turning errands into fun outings with friends. So malls are like nuclear power plants; I would argue we shouldn’t build more, but there isn’t harm in using the structures already built.
But, online shopping cuts out the “middle man” by reducing the emissions of the store, and it’s more accessible, providing consumers with access to smaller, more sustainable businesses worldwide. But, I think we can all agree online shopping has gotten out of hand, likely due to social media. Massive hauls and ”check out my Amazon storefront” are promoting overconsuming because it’s trendy and cheap, even though those several purchases each month add up fast and they’ll likely only be in style for a few months. Even making one less purchase per month could make a big difference!
That’s why clothing swaps are so great; they’re a fun, free, or cheap way to update your wardrobe, give your old pieces new life, and hang out with friends! ;)
What do you think?
Pumpkin Positivity: A History of Pumpkins (Sustainable Baddie)
How radical should you be when you’re trying to save the planet? (Vox)
Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall (NPR)
Wrap-up
As an environmentalist, would it hurt more to see the past of ignorance and lack of knowledge or the future, likely devastation and continued greed? If I traveled to the past, I’d want to see the ‘70s, and possibly other decades, too. Many futuristic fiction, comprised mainly of sci-fi and dystopia, promote the future as an anarchistic hellscape. I’d like to hope that’s not the case! What do you think?
Regarding your clothing swap and let the leaves do their work, I, like I am sure all your subscribers, believe it’s a no brainer. I love buying secondhand clothes and other goods. And not raking but mulching.. well... that’s the way to lighten my workload, support other creatures, and feed the earth. It’s all good. I know some of my neighbors may be less enthusiastic, but who knows? Maybe it will catch on.
RE: your poll -- I would love to visit the past, specifically the times and places centuries ago where we have very little to no record of how communities interacted with and cared for their environment prior to colonization / capitalism!