Garage Sales

It's garage sale season again.  Every year, the city holds a Garage Sale Day, in which all households in the city are encouraged to hold a sale, or go shopping at the many houses in the various neighbourhoods.  Since moving to this city, we've gone shopping on Garage Sale Day every year.  We choose our neighbourhoods, make a list of the houses we will be visiting, pack the car with the kids and various snacks and drinks, and make a full morning/afternoon out of it.  We've developed our own strategies and methods for this annual event!

In most of our previous years, we've purchased kid books and games, toys, kid clothes, CD's, DVD's, a shelf, etc..  Since starting a family of our own, we've realized how quickly babies and toddlers grow out of their toys and clothes.  Buying new at full retail prices is a waste of well-earned money, and so long as the used item can be washed or cleaned, Husband and I are in complete agreement that buying used is the way to go.

I know there are some people who get icked-out from buying used, but there really should be no problem in buying used if the item can be cleaned or washed.  I also see it as a boost to healthy environmental practices.  If more people purchased used, then it would be less of a toll on our landfills - something that our city recognizes.

I'm sure I've posted about this many times before, so to re-iterate the "fun" of garage sale shopping, I'll list a few items that we've purchased in the past:

• Record player
• Shelf (for storage under our stairs)
• Toddler slide
• Peg Perego stroller
• Play-pen
• Kiddie Pool
• Toddler chalkboard
• Outdoor play-kitchen
• Numerous Kid DVD's, and books

We've also contemplated on used chairs/couches, barbecues, camping gear, exercise equipment, bags/purses, kitchen items, etc..  I always feel like a Prospector, when shopping on Garage Sale Day.  :D

Economies of Scale for a Greener Planet

The fate of a greener world lies in the principles of economies of scale.

If more electric cars or hybrid cars were created, they would become cheaper, and thus the demand for these "green" vehicles would rise.

If only communities were billed for their water consumption (household water metres etc), we would begin to value the "privilege" of having access to clean and fresh water, where other parts of the world don't.

But then... rise in cost of anything will be met with nay-saying. And rise in cost of anything will only continue to create larger gaps between the rich and poor.

Industry needs to step in and take more responsibility for their products. The production of computers, cell-phones, laptops, games, etc... all create pollution, either during it's production, or when it is put in dumpsters and replaced all too quickly by something "new" and "faster".

In a TRUE digital age, we would have no paper, yet there is probably more paper in the work-place now, than there was 10 years ago, due to everyone printing off multiple copies of emails and documents.

This is a very idealist post, and perhaps this will never happen in our life-time, but the purpose of this post is food for thought. Too much emphasis is put on the individual, and while each one of us can change our habits by recycling everything, composting, and driving less, we can only do so much. Industry can influence the world more than the individual can.

Concrete economic incentives need to be put in place before large industries will change their practices. So long as oil is in demand, car manufacturers will continue to produce cars as is. So long as plastic bags are around, everyone will continue to use and discard them. Create better choices, or better yet, limit our choices to more earth-friendly products.

It is a sad thought, but one individual can only do so much, and it will be too little too late.

Carbon Tax

The carbon tax is not well-thought out. Raising the price of fuel by adding another tax won't make others think twice about driving. Why is that?

• Well, the convenience and time-saving elements of owning and using your own vehicle outweighs the extra few dollars it takes to fill up on fuel.
• With the steep gas prices in recent times, some have driven less, but no one I know has changed their habits by much (although every little bit does help).
• If you already tend to be a transit user, that practice will continue, but if not... nothing will change your mind about that "loser cruiser"... yes, that great big smelly bus.
• If you live outside the Vancouver Lower Mainland, you do not benefit because transit systems in rural areas aren't as efficient. Think of places like Prince Rupert, Boston Bar, Revelstoke, Trail, etc.. There are no "alternative" forms of transportation, especially if the bus runs only once per hour, on a limited route during weekends, or if you live on a farm and need the truck to travel everywhere.
• I am already imagining BC using the tax to "buy" environmental credits to lower their rating on pollution... rather than actually solving the REAL environmental issues here.

Also... if they are taxing carbon pollutants, might as well tax plastics too, as well as toxic materials like construction materials, liquid cleaners, and pesticides. Aren't all pollutants made equal anyway? Why only tax the fuel for transportation? Pollutants, whether in the air or in the ground are harmful to the environment, plants, animals, and humans.

It is the cynicism in me that is talking... but I don't see how the carbon tax can fight pollution, as it will NOT affect human behaviour.