Rising Costs Inspire Lifestyle Changes

Rising gas prices are changing every part of life in the United States. People are losing their jobs at the thousands and have less spending power at the same time that the prices of all goods are increasing because of increased transportation costs. Families are increasingly hard-pressed to make ends meet and pay mortgages, let alone pay for higher education or other "optional" expenses. It feels like our culture is finally facing the costs of our wasteful ways and our foolishness at creating an economic system that depends upon fossil fuels.

The only positive part of our current crisis is that finally the majority of people are truly questioning our country's priorities and the way we have set up our lives. Commuting long distances alone in big vehicles now seems ridiculously indulgent, leading people to downsize their cars, park their gas guzzlers at home, take public transport or car pool. People are expressing feeling trapped by their lifestyles. More people than ever are asking the United States government to make changes to improve public transportation and asking their employers to accept four-day work schedules or telecommuting agreements. Small things, like forgoing plastic bags for reusable grocery sacs are finally catching on as we get a deeper understanding of the personal cost wastefulness can bring. Maybe Americans are finally getting it: resources are limited.

I hope that the next step in awareness includes a deep understanding that conservation and low-waste lifestyles are the first step, and that the next step is to replenish what we have lost. When that happens we will truly find hope in rising above this crisis. Making one change can truly create the growth of hope: hope that we will change our lifestyles, hope that we won't feel trapped by old choices or political price changes, and hope that the planet will continue to provide for us if we take care of it properly. Hope is why I believe in building our bamboo resources. Conservation is essential for today, and hope will get us to tomorrow. Hope, and work to replenish and restore.