Cross-posted at DK Greenroots
Today marks the 350.org International Day of Climate Action.
TODAY, the 24 October, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.
And so, here at dKos, we're blogging for climate action. I had planned to write a diary about my day in Washington, D.C. at a 350 climate action event, but a rainy day (coupled with a sniffly toddler) kept us home. So instead, I put down a few personal thoughts about sustainability and making personal changes to reduce carbon emissions. And...chickens.
Yes, chickens (I swear it's relevant to climate change. Seriously).
Most of us do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint. We know all of the handy tips for using energy efficiently at home. We turn off the compact fluorescent lights, lower our thermostats, and unplug appliances. We recycle religiously. Outside of the home, we think about how we get from point A to point B. Maybe we drive less. Maybe we bike or walk or take public transportation. Maybe we drive a more fuel-efficient car or a hybrid.
And then...there are our food choices. Of course, we all know that what we eat impacts the planet. But the one thing I've noticed--and I talk to a lot of folks about treading more lightly on the Earth--is that while we know what we eat makes a difference, not many of us realize just how much of a difference it makes. I'm a guilty party here, I admit. I've been a vegetarian for nearly 15 years for a whole litany of reasons, not the least of which is the positive impact of a vegetarian diet on the planet. However, I had no idea (until recently) that reducing or eliminating beef in your diet does more to reduce your personal carbon emissions than recycling, driving less, unplugging your appliances, etc. Livestock production accounts for approximately 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions--more than transportation.
I'm not in the business of preaching a vegetarian lifestyle at folks, so please don't mistake my intent here. This isn't about vegetarianism; it's about thinking about the impact of our food choices with the intent of making choices that are more sustainable. My personal belief is that if we're going to get to 350, we need a revolution--and that revolution is going to have to turn the current food system upside down. We're mass producing so much to feed so few, and we're pumping out a disproportionate amount of the world's carbon emissions in the process. We cannot sustain this way forever.
So where does this revolution start? For me, the revolution started with chickens in my backyard. I wanted to rely less on what I see as the problem (corporations, capitalism, factory farming)and more on myself and the resources locally available to me to feed my family. I wanted things to be more...simple. Not being hugely successful at gardening (though I do give it a good attempt every year), I wrangled a free coop out of a family member and found an acquaintance selling extra laying hens. I brought home a motley crew of 4 hens, each a different breed. They provided nearly instant gratification: a few weeks after they settled in, they gave us our first homegrown eggs. They also quickly proved themselves to be entertaining and endearing little critters. I had interesting, funny, pretty little birds scratching about in the back yard--and they made me breakfast!
The backyard chicken can be the centerpiece of a personal model of self-sufficiency and sustainability. Garden. Feed hens table scraps. Eat eggs. Compost chicken manure. Garden more. Eat more eggs. And while I'm lucky enough to have acreage, keeping poultry in small--and even urban--backyards is possible and quickly gaining in popularity.
Maybe more important than providing me with a relatively sustainable source of food, my chickens have provided me with something else: they're part of the bigger picture that has made me think. Once I started on the path to a more sustainable way of living, I had to keep thinking about my personal impact on the planet. I now give more thought to what I'm buying and what I'm eating. I stop and think more often about making smarter choices, choices that have a smaller carbon footprint. I have a long way to go--there is much more that I can do. But I'm heading in a more sustainable and self-sufficient direction, and discovering that the simple changes are often the ones with the biggest impacts--and often the most personally satisfying.
So, where did the revolution start for you?
If you've read this far, please see below for a list of links to all of the other Day of Climate Action bloggers that have posted today--and go take a look at all of the great work these folks have done! My original diary plans being waylaid, and not wanting to skip out entirely on the climate action blog-a-thon, I wrote this quickly and on a whim. Please forgive me for the rambling, personal, and not very substantive diary!
International Day of Climate Action. All times Pacific:
9:30 dsnodgrass
10:30 LaughingPlanet
11:30 Kitsap River and Charles CurtisStanley
1:00 dadanation
1:30 Patriot Daily
2:00 Patch Adam
2:30 bob zimway
3:00 Seneca Doane
3:30 Patric Juillet
4:00 RLMiller
4:30 RunawayRose
5:00 B Amer
5:30 rb137
6:00 boatsie
6:30 Captain Future
7:00 ALifeLessFrightening