Q. Dear Umbra,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’m a single gal, living in Seattle, <\/p>\n Single and Ready to Mingle <\/p>\n A. Dearest Single,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By “single gal, living in Seattle,” <\/p>\n Admittedly, I haven’t been on the <\/p>\n If online dating’s not your thing, try <\/p>\n You know, I actually saw an ad <\/p>\n You could also meet peeps by going <\/p>\n And if there are any eco-minded, <\/p>\n Chuck Woolery-ly, <\/p>\n Q. Dear Umbra,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have you pointed out to your readers which individual-level decisions matter a People can spend a lot of time and money sweating the small stuff, or they can The Union of Concerned Scientists has done some research on this, I understand. Yours truly, <\/p>\n A. Dearest Dave,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have an avalanche of <\/p>\n I addressed this question a few years ago<\/a>, and a lot of the <\/p>\n However, now more <\/p>\n Get on the bus-ly, <\/p>\n Q. Dear Umbra,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’m <\/p>\n Tom <\/p>\n A. Dearest Tom,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Use a spoon. Please.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Obviously, Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Ask Umbra’s pearls of wisdom on Bruce Willis<\/a><\/p>\n New York City gets big reaction to new sex symbol<\/a><\/p>\n Ask Umbra on paint that’s better for the planet [VIDEO]<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwhere one would think it might be easy to meet a socially and environmentally
\nconscious, yet non-douchey fellow, but it’s actually really difficult to find any suitable guy to go out with. It’s
\nlike if I meet a dude who cares about decreasing his carbon footprint, then
\nhe’s also a d-bag that irately lectures everyone around him about what they’re
\ndoing wrong. Where, oh where, dear Umbra, might I meet a nice, funny, decent
\nguy who cares about living a green-lit lifestyle but won’t chide me for eating
\na steak, say, three times a year or driving somewhere it would take me two
\nhours and three transfers to get by bus?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Seattle<\/strong><\/p>\n
\ndid you really mean “single guy, living in LA, who also happened to be on a
\nrecent episode of the ridiculousness known as The Millionaire Matchmaker”? I was forced to watch this show in the
\nname of research, for yours is not the only dating conundrum I’ve received of
\nlate. And in the recent ep, this—for a lack of a better word—douchey guy who owned an eco-clothing company
\ntold his also eco-minded date that he (the date) shouldn’t order steak because
\nit came from red animals. Which are bad for the environment. Um. Yeah.<\/p>\n
\ndating scene for awhile, but I totally feel your plight. It always seems sort
\nof miraculous to me that anyone winds up together—I mean, really, what are
\nthe odds of meeting someone and him\/her liking you the same way you like
\nhim\/her at the same time? And unfortunately, there are always going to be
\nd-bags out there, green or not. I suppose it’s no wonder, though, that being eco-aware
\nis now on the list of date must-haves. And luckily, the dating scene seems to
\nbe keeping up with the times, as there’s
\na whole crop of green dating sites<\/a> out now. I can’t vouch for any of
\nthem in particular, as a spoken-for lady, but it can’t hurt to give them a
\nclick: Earth Wise Singles<\/a>, Green
\nPassions<\/a>, Green
\nSingles<\/a>, and Planet
\nEarth Singles<\/a>,
\namong others. In fact, if you really want to cut down that carbon footprint,
\nyou could exclusively date online,
\nnever actually meeting the person in real life. Sure, your relationship may not
\nbe as rich or fulfilling, but you’ll cut way down on transportation emissions
\nand there’ll be zero chance of procreation.<\/p>\n
\nhanging out around the organic produce at your favorite local food co-op. When
\nyou see a hot tamale carrying some grass-fed steaks in one hand and a reusable
\ncup of fair-trade coffee in the other, clumsily drop an apple on his foot “by
\naccident” (note: You’ll probably have to buy the apple). Pending that he
\ndoesn’t spill his coffee (note: If he does, you’ll probably also have to buy
\nhim some more coffee), it’ll be a good excuse to strike up a conversation.<\/p>\n
\nyesterday that said, “Go Green, Date Your Neighbor.” I have no idea what it was
\nsupposed to be advertising, but it’s not a bad idea. Is your neighbor single?
\nIf not, perhaps try to find love within a 10-mile radius<\/a> of where you live, preferably
\naccessible by bike, foot, or bus. A friend who may or may not also work for Grist made the mistake of falling for
\nsomeone a plane ride away. Thusly, their collective carbon footprint stretches
\nfrom Seattle to Detroit.<\/p>\n
\nback to school to get that MBA in sustainable business you’ve been pondering,
\nvolunteering for a favorite cause, or hitting up a local Greendrinks<\/a> event. The point is that you really
\ncan meet people anywhere—it sounds a touch trite, I know. It’s just about
\nhaving the gumption to actually chat these people up, ask them out, and then
\nbeing open to whatever happens.<\/p>\n
\nnon-douchey dudes out there who want to give things a try with Single, shoot
\nme an email<\/a> and
\nI’ll see what I can do about making a love connection.<\/p>\n
Umbra<\/p>\n
\ngreat deal, and which do not?<\/p>\n
\ntake a few simple steps that will dramatically reduce their environmental
\nfootprint.<\/p>\n
\nSo which ones should we focus on, and which are nice to have?<\/p>\n
Dave<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nsmall-stuff questions crowding my inbox (see Tom L.‘s query below, par exemple). And I actually feel like many
\nof the peeps that are faced with these vexing (to them) micro-dilemmas totally
\nget that it’s small stuff in the scheme of the environmental issues we collectively
\nface. And I do indeed try to temper the guilt people often inflict upon
\nthemselves for falling prey to these little things like using a tissue instead
\nof a hanky or how to recycle a toothpick.<\/p>\n
\ninformation still rings true. My answer relied on
\nthe Union of Concerned Scientists’ excellent book, The
\nConsumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices<\/a>. Being scientists,
\nthe authors studied the answer to your question with utter thoroughness,
\ndeveloped elaborate ways to calculate the effects an individual has on the
\nenvironment, picked out the most fruitful possibilities for effective change,
\nand presented opinionated answers in this informative book.<\/p>\n
\nthan ever, the truly important individual-level decision is to stop looking at
\nthings on an individual level. In other words, band together, get your
\nneighbors involved, your friends, your co-workers. Not only is there safety in
\nnumbers, but there’s also immense opportunity to effect real change. Bothered
\nthat your building doesn’t compost? Don’t just opt to get a little automatic
\ncomposter for yourself; hit up your neighbors, talk to your landlord, get the
\nwhole building on board. Irked about a power plant moving into your ‘hood? I’ll
\nbet you’re not the only one. Find out who else is and team up. Don’t just be
\nsatisfied with changing things within your own four walls. I think that’s the
\nbest decision you can make as an individual.<\/p>\n
Umbra<\/p>\n
\na coffee hound and daily buy a cup at the local store. Trying to be good, I use
\na stainless mug. But after adding milk and sugar, they always have a plastic swizzle
\nstick to stir it. I secretly shake the plastic straw or paddle and replace it
\nin the cup, rather than add its tiny addition to the waste stream. I don’t lick
\nit! Am I contributing to the public good, or am I a Typhoid Mary in the making?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nL.
Ashfield,
\nMass.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Umbra<\/p>\n