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Wednesday 17 August 2011

ARE WE ANYMORE ' GREEN ' THAN WE WERE ? ..........


In the line at the supermarket, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own carrier bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologised to him and explained that ' We didn't have the green thing back in my day '. The cashier responded ' That's our problem today.....YOUR generation did not care enough to save OUR environment'.
He was right ........

 OUR GENERATION DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING IN OUR DAY.





Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drinks bottles and beer bottles to the shop or off-licence. They sent them back to the plant to be washed, sterilized, refilled and re-used so that it could use the same bottles again and again.........so, they really were recycled..........

BUT, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING IN OUR DAY.

We walked to the local shops and didn't climb into a 300 horsepower machine every time we had to go to the supermarket.




We bought fruit and veg loose .......... and washed them at home. We didn't have to throw away bins full of plastic, foam and paper packaging and need huge recycling plants fed by monster lorries all day, everyday..........but, he was  right..........

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING IN OUR DAY.




Back then, we washed our babies nappies because we didn't have disposable ones and we washed up as we didn't have dishwashers.


We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts .......... wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.


Children got hand me down ( mostly hand made and hand knitted ) clothes from their brothers and sisters, not always brand new clothing, shipped from the other side of the planet. But, he was right ..........

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING BACK IN OUR DAY.






Back then, shops repaired things with funny things called spare parts .......... we didn't need to throw whole items away because a small part failed. Back then, we had one TV and one radio in the house .......... not a television in every room and, the television had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of Wales.



In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.




When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used lots of newspaper to cushion it, not bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to mow the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.
We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a brightly lit, air conditioned gym to run on treadmills that operate on electricity and then drink millions of bottles of that special water from those plastic bottles but, he's right ..........

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING BACK THEN.





We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a plastic cup or a plastic bottle every time we wanted a drink of water.
We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new plastic pen and ..........






.......... we replaced the blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole plastic razor just because the blade became blunt, but..........

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING BACK THEN.







Back then, people took the bus and children rode their bikes to school or walked, instead of turning their parents into a 24 hour taxi service.
We had one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power dozens of appliances..........and, we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal, beamed from satellites 2,000 miles in outer space, to find our way, but then ..........

WHO WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING ?




DON'T FORGET TO RECYCLE WILL YOU ?







images 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 : via Brown Dress with white spots, image 2, 6 : We Heart It, images 3, 4, 17 :  Crush Cul De Sac, image 15 : Ahhhlala, , image 16 : by Claire, image 7 : Vintage Rose Collection, image 11 : Lucyina Moodie,  image 13 : The Telegraph,



Jackie

89 comments:

  1. Jackie
    Brilliant! But this shouldn't be brilliant of course - this should be obvious. Well said. I'm just off to the garden to hang out my washing.
    Carmel
    x

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  2. Amen, Jackie!
    Well said! Youth's ignorance...

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  3. Loved this!
    Remember when we used to have to rise and walk across the room and change the television channel?

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  4. you go jax!!!

    i remember everything you are talking about...
    does that mean i am old ????
    yep.
    xx

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  5. Perfect!
    And remember getting your Frye boots re-soled?
    :)

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  6. OMG I love this post!!!

    Must share it with others
    Amy

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  7. I agree, great post and how true.

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  8. What a wonderful post....I so had to share a link on my facebook page.

    Hugs,
    Tami @ A Girls Gotta Nest

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  9. Bravo my friend! Well said! I can't remember a time when energy was a big issue until everyone started going "green". I really take offense to young people telling me I screwed up THEIR world. It was mine before you were even a thought and I took care of it just fine!

    Come and enter my giveaway!

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  10. Fabulous Jackie!! Those were the days..may we never forget them and strive to keep those simple pleasures with us every day.

    Imagine the cheek of that guy to say something like that!
    I think you should print off ths post and give it to him!

    Happy Green Thoughts of Yesterday Jackie. :)

    Jeanne xxx

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  11. Exactly!....certainly could go on with that one...love the pics for illustration too!

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  12. hi Jackie so true and quite brilliant. In fact it seems to me that the green movement is just a re-adjustment BACK to the way things were. And don't forget leftovers and food recycling. I still CANNOT BEAR to throw out food. Hope you are well. xoxo ps love pic of Madonna washing up. As if.

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  13. Bravo Jackie. Mind you, I am as much a fan of the interweb as I am of recycling! Moderation :))

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  14. So well stated, Jackie!
    ~Lynne
    [w/l]

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  15. Fantastic post.

    And remember that thing that's only just been discovered - the compost bin. If only we'd known back then...

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  16. Dear Jackie,
    yor´re so right!
    Beautiful post!
    Hugs,
    Yvonne

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  17. Hear, hear!!! Can't believe someone working in a supermarket can make such rude remarks.

    You are right. It wasn't that bad in the old days at all. No. 1 on my list is getting rid of the plastic wrappings in the supermarket!!! I find them so useless. In Holland lots of vegetables and fruit are wrapped in plastic. I believe in England this has already changed. Hurray for that!

    Enjoy your day!

    Lieve groet, Madelief x

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  18. Hello Jackie

    Thank you for this.

    I can't wait to throw-out the dishwasher and washing machine and see my hands turn red and chapped after all that time in soap suds.

    I'll surely have to give up work too, so I have time to re-cut and hand sew last year clothes into this year's fashions. Not to mention walking to the butcher, baker and candlestick maker every day because I don't have a fridge.

    Consequently, I'll probably die young and exhausted, so, I'll not need a pension - that must be positive for the planet.

    Instead, we could go down the path of Hedonistic Sustainability which simply means being more clever at thinking out new solutions to maintain the equilibrium of the planet and our modern lifestyle.

    Anna

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  19. Beau post Jackie.

    Amicalement,


    Manon

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  20. Great post !!.....i shall not forget darling......live is too beautiful...we must be proud of our world........love love love Ria...xxx...

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  21. One of my most favourite posts of yours Jackie,, absolutely brilliant!!!

    Lovely images.....and so well written, You get my vote!! X

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  22. Oh my goodness! I was about to write this is one of my favourite ever posts - not just of yours - but of anyone's. Then I saw Simone's comment! We are like twins sometimes! I love it though and feel like I live in some sort of bloated, broken society at the moment that I have somehow become a conspirator to without even knowing what I agreed to. If there was anything I could do to go back to how things were and when they were more simple I would but I just don't know where to start! Fabulous post - full of wisdom... Lou x

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  23. You've made your point wonderfully well, Jacqueline. Absolutely beautifully constructed and paced post. You will have us all looking at how we live, and rightly so.

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  24. Wow ~ really makes you stop and think now doesn't it! Well said Jackie. xo

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  25. You hit the nail on the head, which of course we did with a hammer with a wooden handle, not a power nailer :-)
    Good one!
    Dianne
    X

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  26. Love it!! This is so true! My generation has NO CLUE!! I am 31, I make some of my and my daughters clothing, yes, I make cloths for her using my old cloths at times too! I can fruits and veggies when I get the chance, I have a compost pile, normally I have a veggie garden. I am still of this generation though, I have a smart phone, and computer, and I love my Kitchen Aide Mixer. Sorry! I totally agree with your post, in fact it is wonderful! Any chance you would let me repost it on my blog, giving you all credit of course? I really feel more people my age need to read this! I hate it when young people are rude and inconsiderate of their elders, it is just wrong!!!! Unfortunately a lot of parents don't teach their kids to be considerate, it is all about me these days, and I hate that!
    Melissa

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  27. This was masterfully written, Jackie. People forget that the general public are not the ones who create everything to be disposable, consumers have been left with little choice in recent decades. The manufacturing establishment and government legislation are largely responsible for the way things have been and then people want to blame private individuals for the gross abuse and irresponsibility of the people who have set everything up the way it is. Well done! xo

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  28. Oh I remember the good ole days when we were really green Jackie. This is such an awesome post!!!!!!!!!
    My husband used to have his cowboy boots resoled over and over. And I made all the children's clothes for school. I don't think I would want to do it again, but that's just what we did.
    So thought-provoking and I LOVED it!!!
    Sending a big squeeze your way...

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  29. This is a brilliant post. I wish it were printed in every newspaper and plastered over every television screen. And how rude was that cashier to that older woman. Makes my blood boil.

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  30. Amazing post, Jackie. It really opened my eyes as to how bad we have gotten. It's all about wastefulness and it saddens me to no end. I think everyone should have the opportunity to read your words!

    XO,
    Jane

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  31. Hello! My first visit, will visit you again. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed your posts.Very understandable ... Congrats for your work. If you wish to follow back that would be great I'm at http://nelsonsouzza.blogspot.com
    Thanks for sharing!

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  32. You are sooo RIGHT... we actually do MORE harm to our planet NOW!!! MORE industry MORE polluting!
    SIMPLE life is gone!

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  33. What a wonderful posting! And another thing that makes me livid: when people find it surprising that a seventy-year-old woman like myself is so proficient at using computers and any other electronic device. I remind them that my generation invented the damn things and the software that runs them and tell them that I've beta tested more software than they have used.

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  34. Great post and sad but true. Also, children played outside after school and didn't use up more electricity playing video games, watching TV, and surfing the internet. They soaked up the sunshine and ran on their own version of solar power!

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  35. Great post, beautiful pictures... times have changed but olden days were more peaceful, fulfilling and happier. Anyway, my first time here and this is a great blog.

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  36. Very well said !
    Really great post and such beautiful photographs.

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  37. This is brilliant Jackie. You are right we didn't need all of that....we lived more simply. I liked Laura's comment..about Frye boots getting resoled. I had those and I did have them resoled. We still do have a cobbler in town...thank goodness but i have to say I haven't been in so long. None of my shoes are worth it honestly.
    I really hate the water bottle thing. I never buy water...but hubby does...he's not a good eco consumer. I keep working on him.

    thanks for this post.

    Carole

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  38. Love this post
    will link to it in my next post, I think it's brilliant and beautiful.
    Carole @ Maynard Greenhouse sent me over- so glad she did!
    Suzan

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  39. Amen my sweet friend...love this post. We have a lot to learn from our past!

    Hugs to you ...happy weekend.

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  40. Hear Hear Jac's...well done...and what a cheeky bugger that cashier was.

    Good on you, xxx Deej

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  41. Terrific post Jackie I'm back for another look at the wonderful photographs. I love the first one especially, but they're all lovely!

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  42. Hi Jackie
    This is just brilliant... well said and so true. I just don't get all the packaging now days, it takes 20 minutes to get into anything now and double that if it is a toy! Such a waste. Your images as always are stunning.
    Blessings
    Rebecca

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  43. Well said! :) It's our parent's generation that started the throw-away trend though. Maybe it was a backlash against all this scrimping and saving ... hmm...;)xx

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  44. Jackie great post!! I am in the generation that remembers doing all of these things! Service was something to be proud of....the shoe repair man, the saving of everything that might be needed one day.

    My Father says if he throws out a part or piece, sure enough he will need it to fix something!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  45. Oh dear lady......I found you through Old Grey Mare.....THIS is one of the greatest posts I've read in a long time. EVERYONE on our planet SHOULD HAVE TO READ THIS.

    THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

    XO

    JO

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  46. This is a great post! Very well said!

    I hung up laundry to dry the other day outside, and my mom actually complained that it was not soft enough...

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  47. Brilliantly stated my namesake!

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  48. I find it so interesting seeing the "young" trying to teach the "elderly" how to suck eggs..oh my goodness Jackie - how right you are today.
    x

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  49. *love* this post and your blog! So happy Z sent me your way...I am a happy new follower!

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  50. Love your text, its soo true! :) In Norway we use plastic bags to pick up the grozeries in the store, not so good for the envirement. But we do return our bottles, so that they can be used again.

    I hope you are fine, and doing well.
    Hugs from me, Siren :)

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  51. I just found you through Suzan at oldgreymare. I love your blog! Can't believe I haven't stumbled across it before!
    Brenda

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  52. Oh Jackie how wonderful. This post is just so right on and leave it to
    you to say it in such a creative and thoughtful way. When I first lived in England in 1982, I had to get used to going to the market with a bag. I would stand there at the checkout dumbfounded and felt so entitled. England had the green thing. Then it had to get all americanized and bring in plastic bags. You guys had it going on before it was cool and now look what happened. Last time I came over, Plastic bags were all wedged up in hedgerows. horrifying....bring back the old days. what a brat to say that thing to the old gal. he ought to be fired.

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  53. 2 yrs. ago our State Govt made a somewhat token gesture of banning plastic shopping bags. At that time 48 million Glad bin liners were sold in South Australia, 2 yrs on that has now soared to 84 million. A good many of those shopping bags were used by folk to line their kitchen tidy bins - repurposing
    at it's best. The only winners here are the corporate chaps @ Glad & their shareholders. Despite MOTH being a self-avowed environmental vandal, I found him hacking up a promotional beanie someone had given him that was far too small for his gigantic boofy head. It's now a tea cozy for his favorite tea pot. Maybe there's hope for him yet. Fabbo post Jac, you star.
    Millie xx

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  54. This is a wonderful Post! Exactly the way it was according to my mom and dad!

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  55. Wonderful post, Jackie...you should print out this post and take it to that cashier to read...I aspire to that kind of life once again..I wash my own dishes (don't use a dishwasher), I buy from farmers markets with my own canvas bags, and I pedal my bike when I need to go to the market. Of course, I do use a computer and drive a car, but I try my best to live a simple life as it used to be! xxoo :)

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  56. So absolutely brilliant! You observed what we all pretend not to think about - the complete obvious truth!

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  57. It's funny what progress brings isn't it? Sometimes we forget that some things don't need to be changed. And the Earth would be a whole lot better off if they didn't!

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  58. Hi Jackie, great post!
    Thank you for your kind words and for visiting my blog.

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  59. '...screens the size of wales'.

    You are so right! But I doubt you were happier with all that hard work, ha ha. Needless to say which generation I belong to.

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  60. Love the green post!

    mimilovesmimi.blogspot.com

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  61. Hi Jackie,

    Good to be back "HOME"! :) Your lovely place always warms my heart.

    Love you....

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  62. Well said Jackie. Today's younger generation has alot to learn don't they, listening to too much mainstream media. I'm with Jeanne, print this out and let that 'whipper-snapper' (hey, I must be old to say that) have a copy.
    Bonne week-end,
    Mimi

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  63. Fantastic post - loved reading it.

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  64. Truly a great piece. Shows how the greed for the $ is behind so much. And these younger generations can't and won't do work like past people did to thrive and survive. Too many will depend on government to supply their needs and then ask for more and more. Too sad.

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  65. Hi.
    We go to the flea market on September 6 in Ardingly ..
    This year, unfortunately not to Lille
    Nice to to hear from you a bit ..
    Everything good with you ..?
    Good weekend.
    greeting

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  66. I knew there was a reason I read your blog. RIGHT ON! This post was fantastic. I have always said, that "being green" is just a feel good word. This post needs to be spread around the world. You deserve the Pulitzer award for this. Thank you!

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  67. It's a wonderful post ! Thank you for reminding us.

    Take care !

    XX
    Anci

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  68. Wow what a wonderful blog do you have. I have put me in, to follow your blog. Maybe do you like it to visite my?
    Have a great weekend, enjoy ☼
    Hugs from Holland
    Patricia

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  69. I've read and re-read this brilliant post. I've told everyone I know to check it out. Now I am going to show my students - maybe they'll get it and carry on.

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  70. So very true. And I was old enough at the time to see the changes happening. I remember the
    Boy Scouts going door to door selling, of all things, green garbage bags to replace the paper sacks (reused from the grocery store). One year they were even selling bags of fertilizer to make the grass grow and kill the weeds. How innocently stupid we all were. Patty/BC Can

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  71. As everyone has commented - this is a brilliant post. I remember my mother buying goods loose, sugar, flour, currants, biscuits, sweets etc and cheese cut from a block not in plastic wrap. Everyone grew their our own vegetables and had chickens. The Rag and Bone man came round to collect our unwanted stuff, and his horse would mess on the road, and someone would quickly run out, scoop it up and put it on their garden! If the sun's out, so is my washing!!!

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  72. I totally agree. Eco-friendly is the best way to go. Granted, some people aren't used to thinking in this manner because they didn't have it when they were growing up. Still, we have it now, so we should use it.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  73. I somtimes wonder if a huge amount is hype....not the bags thing...but the shops that burn electric all day with their doors open! we pay for that...or the packaging on our food not only do we pay for that then we have to dispose of it and pay for that too...no lets look at the bigger picture.....oh but of course the Government don't want to do that, they want us spending our money in all those wasteful places to give them an income....how can we be Eco and live in this country...sorry no chance. You can do your best but it is nothing compared to the big boys blowing it away...
    Sorry too serious for tuesday morning but I love your pictures as always xxx
    Hugs Lynn xxx

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  74. Wonderful post dear Jackie, maybe someone should make that cashier read it....
    And thank you for your welcome back comment dear!!!
    Hugs!
    Mara

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  75. Just read your wonderful post and I look up and see the laundry hanging to dry on two racks in the livingroom; we only have one TV, not a big thing, an old-fashioned thing really but it still works, we don't have a dishwasher, our children have to help drying the dishes every day, they ride their bikes to school, my husband rides his bike to work, ... Your post actually gave me a good feeling of doing something good, instead of the almost always bad feeling of not being able to show off a beautiful house and not having everything spic and span all the time. Guess not having so much to spend makes a greener person too....
    I'm glad to have discovered this post; you really point things out so clearly. Everyone should read this!
    Bye,
    Marian

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  76. J...only you could make this so wonderful and remind us of what really happened. Paul Newman said "we live throwaway lives." He didn't like it at all. We throw away everything, even relationships when they get difficult. I'm definitely into recycling, but you have reminded us that the fastness of everything is what has created all the crap. Well done !!!

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  77. Amen, sister!!! You said it!!!! I love this post. I was thinking this very thing last night at Whole Foods as I watched people climb in and out of their SUVs with their little reusable bags in their hands, but you have put it so eloquently. Everyone should read this post!!!

    love and a big hug to you,
    Gigi

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  78. So true. So very true. Great post! - Kathy

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  79. Hi sweet Jackie, thanks for dropping by and for your lovely words, you are so sweet.
    Nice post!!!!
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Hugs Gerda

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