This year, resolve to make your voice heard for sustainable practices

So, what does sustainability mean? The Wikipedia definition states, "Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well-being, which has environmental, economic and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use. "

It is clear that many of the processes that we’ve grown up with (and take for granted) are just not sustainable. This ranges from fossil fuel-based energy generation to industrial agricultural practices, from landfilling so-called “waste” to rampant use of single use items, from use of chemicals on our yards to pollution of our fresh water supply.

It’s the time of year when we contemplate change, make New Year’s resolutions, decide to exercise more and eat less. It’s a great time to look at your individual or family habits and resolve to make a few changes to become more sustainable in your personal life. There is a real power to individuals making changes.

As more and more of us understand what’s truly at stake and begin to make the changes, these values will become apparent to the companies that we buy from. More sustainable products and services will emerge as part of the free marketplace. It is already occurring. And the public officials that we elect will begin to pay more attention to sustainable practices. These values will show up in public policy and lead to accelerated changes that are not only beneficial, but critical to the health and well-being of the next generation.

So, this year, resolve to make your voice heard on sustainability. Email or write your congressmen/women to let them know what is important to you. Support local and sustainable products and services. Institute more sustainable practices in your daily life, and teach your children the value of sustainable practices. It does make a difference.

To learn more about what you can do to support sustainable practices, come to our monthly Bay Village Green Team meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bay Village Community House, 303 Cahoon Road.