Good morning! My name is Samantha Skye, nickname Sam, and I am a big fan of sustainability. I don’t always make the most sustainable decisions, but I did just get engaged! 💍 For my first blog post, I’m going to explain why I chose this title and what you can expect from The Sustainable Hypocrite moving forward.
Nobody’s perfect. If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that there is always room for improvement (even if someone chooses not to – not gonna lie, I can be pretty stubborn). No matter how hard I try to be the most sustainable babe I know, my consumeristic nature creeps in and slaps my credit card with a charge for something new that I really didn’t need.
Sustainability is a continuum and choosing to live this way isn’t an all or nothing deal. Every decision we make has an impact. Every time you recycle, every time you BYOBag, every time you buy something that is plastic-free, you are protecting Mother Nature.
Out of all the places I could live (in the U.S.), I’m grateful to be based in St. Petersburg, FL. This city is committed to fighting climate change, “implementing progressive policies and effective programs” on a regular basis.
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where I’m pursuing my B.A. in Digital Communication & Multimedia Journalism, charges students $1 per credit hour for the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF). “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency,” investing in alternative energy, reducing waste, and improving conservation are the main goals of SGEF, which is run by faculty and students.
It’s much easier to be conscious when you’re surrounded by people who care, in a city that is so eco-friendly. Here, judgement tends to plague the people who use single use straws, so on and so forth. I understand that, in some places, sustainability is looked down upon. If you aren’t creating waste, you aren’t cool, and if you are, you’re considered a “dirty hippie” (What’s so bad about that?! We should really be called clean hippies. Lol). Keep up the good work and society will follow!
Think about it! When I chose to be pescatarian at the age of 10, I was a trailblazer. It was really hard to find tasty alternatives, if any, but my sister and I survived on fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. Now, as more and more people choose to cut meat from their diets, big brands are meeting the demand for delicious alternatives, from meatless patties to chick’n nuggets.
When it comes to buying tech, I am the last to purchase as I want all the bugs to be worked out. But, our planet doesn’t have much time. If we don’t start making changes now, there won’t be a beautiful world for our children’s children, hypothetically typing.
Let’s make Earth a greener place by reversing our lazy tendencies to reach for what’s easy. Turning the tables is a challenge and we’re ready to face it, together! Thanks for sticking around. 🌎