do your homework

In my daily blog-reading ritual, I've come across some really great articles. And I've learned that it's really important to do your homework. So, I'm trying to take a lesson from a couple of veteran bloggers that you guys might be interested in.

Yesterday, this treehugger article was posted by Karin Kloosterman about an "Israeli electric car scheme" called Project Better Place.

Another great blogger, Heather B. Armstrong of dooce linked this article to reference her current opinion on the US Presidential campaign.

I bring this up for two reasons.

1. I'm researching a new post about film vs. digital. There are the obvious reasons, like the chemicals of film, the carbon consumption of transporting and using film, the lesser carbon consumption of hard drives for digital. And there are the not-so-obvious reasons, like the viability of archiving digital files for hundred's of years or the longevity of archiving on film. So if any of you have any suggestions or facts on this issue, I'd greatly appreciate it.

2. I'm tired of having conversations like these:

Friend: What's your blog about?
Debbie: Eco-conscious filmmaking
Friend: Ohhhh, I had no idea you're a tree-hugging hippie.
Debbie: (sigh)

OR

Friend: What did you do last night?
Debbie: I watched the Democratic National Convention.
Friend: Yeah, everyone was watching that last night. What's the big deal about it?
Debbie: (blank stare)
Friend: I was gonna vote for McCain.
Debbie: Why?
Friend: I dunno. I don't really know much about either candidates. I just figured.
Debbie: (sigh)

Friends please do not take offense. I wholly acknowledge that my obsession for things is slightly OCD, and that I can't expect people to care about things as passionately as I care about them.

But, for the record, I'm not a tree hugger, just a realist. Besides, do you want to be responsible for killing this little guy?

That's what I thought.

It is in my research about biodiesel that I discovered the horrible affects that our consuming culture has on the world. This is what made me realize that it takes more than calling yourself an environmentalist, it takes more than recycling, it takes more than buying a hybrid. It's about truly understanding the repercussions of our actions as human beings that are a part of something larger than ourselves. I hate that environmentalism is such a political issue, but it is. So, when all you Americans close that curtain behind you to cast your vote, I implore you to educate yourselves about your decision, regardless of where you stand on the issues. That little polar bear is counting on you.