Ecodecade: devoting 10 years to Earth's well-being

The Project:  Ecodecade
Dedicate the next decade of my life (2015-2025) to helping the environment.

The Goal: 
To have the biggest possible net positive impact on the environment in this decade (2015-2025).

Alternate goals (in case the first one doesn’t work out):
Plan B: To have a net positive impact on the environment in the decade – even if not very big.
Plan C: To have net zero impact on the environment in the decade.
Plan D: To shrink my carbon footprint.
Plan E: Not to grow my carbon footprint as much as I have in the past.
Plan F: To buy a Prius or equivalent.

Plan of Action:

1. Identify the right questions.
   
2. Find the answers.
   
3. Use the answers to determine the most effective use of my time and abilities to help the environment.
   
4. Use my time and abilities accordingly.
   
5. Reassess periodically and change course as needed.
6. Keep a blog to inform and inspire you.
   

Limitations:

• I won’t do anything that jeopardizes my (or my family’s) health and safety.
  
• I’ll maintain a healthy balance between work and home/family.
  
• I won’t let the serious nature of this endeavor drag me (or my family, or anyone else) into a pit of depression.  These are 10 good years of my life – potentially 10%! – so I better have fun during this decade too.
  
• I’ll maintain a sufficient income stream so as not to put a financial drain on my family.
  
• Our family will still take vacations, even if it means emitting lots of CO2 on the flights (although we’ll probably feel more guilty about it).
  
• I won’t take such extreme measures to reduce my personal carbon footprint that people refer to me as “that crazy lady.”
  
• I won’t let politics defile the purity of my quest. Improving the environment helps our Republican and Democrat children and grandchildren alike.
  
• I won’t judge friends and relatives for their negative impact on the environment, even if it turns out they’re doing some pretty harsh stuff (because probably so am I).

Writing a blog keeps me on task and honest. I’ll ‘fess up about everything to you. You’ll know how ignorant I am at the start, and hopefully how informed I become by the end. You’ll learn everything I learn, and hopefully you’ll get some sparks of ideas, bursts of inspiration, something to share with your kids, or at least where to get the best deal on a Prius. In return, I ask this of you:

Your Role:

1. Weigh in. Share your thoughts and questions.   
   
2. If you disagree, provide the support for why my statement or conclusion or citation to an alleged authority is dead wrong.  I’m starting from ground zero here, so may not get it all correct the first time.
   
3. If you agree, do so heartily and publicly.

(I’ll probably add more to this list as the project continues.)


Allllllrighty! Let's do this thing!