Clare-Dragonfly

The 2009 Transportation Bill

2008-07-18T17:09:59Z

Walk Score is urging Congress to improve the new Transportation Bill, moving funds away from building more highways and toward improving accessibility for walkers and bicycles as well as public transport. To that end, there's a petition here. I know there are a few people on my friends list who don't or who rarely drive, and I hope you and everyone else will sign the petition. Whether you want safer roads, energy independence for the US, cheaper gas, or just, you know, to save the earth, this is really important. I just got back from driving my sister to the train station, and couldn't help noticing with disappointment that the main road I drove on, as well as most of the cross-streets, had no bike lanes. I'm trying to get better at riding my bike, and hope eventually to be able to bike regularly to the library, which is just down the street from the train station... but since there is only one street that goes the whole way from my house to that intersection, it's not going to be easy with non bike lane.

While you're at the site, check out your city's and neighborhood's Walk Scores (if you're in the US). I was very pleased to see that I live in the 5th most walkable city in the US, but disappointed, if not surprised, to see that within the city, my neighborhood ranks 50th (out of 56)...

More thoughts on yarn

2008-04-05T19:28:26Z

Don't worry, these are more interesting to the non-knitters!

I feel guilty about the Calmer. I feel guilty for buying--and so far, loving--a yarn that is part conventionally grown cotton (one of the most resource-intensive crops that exists) and part synthetic. I want to be environmentally friendly. I want to buy and use yarn that is good for the environment. Like bamboo! Yay, renewable resource! Yay, plant fiber!

But as I learn more about yarn I find that it's not all so good. Bamboo is not as natural a fiber as I thought it was; instead of pulling long fibers from the stalks and spinning them together, it's actually made in much the same way as rayon, broken down and made into yarn with harsh chemical processes. And most of it comes from China, where the regulations are much less strict than in the US, so who knows what kinds of dyes are used. In fact, it seems like the only good ways to be sure of getting environmentally friendly yarn is to get organic colorgrown cotton (not very nice colors and not very versatile), wildcrafted silk (way expensive), or humanely raised wool (I'm allergic). These are not good options! I want to knit stuff I like and can afford!

Now, fast forward... after more thought and more reading, I've come to another realization. Really... I'm already doing my part. I do try to get more environmentally-friendly yarns, even if everything isn't. And it's already significant that I'm mindful of my purchases. And the biggest thing? I'm making my own clothing, and therefore offering less and less support to mass-manufactured clothing probably put together by underpaid children in sweatshops. So really, I'm doing pretty well.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

2007-12-29T02:29:21Z

Those are three words I grew up with. And they're things I've adhered to, at least the latter two--reusing glass, plastic, and metal containers is nearly an obsession with me and my mother, and we recycle everything we know how to. But more and more, lately, I'm thinking that reducing is, in fact, the most important of the three. Reusing and recycling are easier--but maybe that's why.

No Impact Man says that the most important, easiest tip for something one can do to help the environment is "Don't Waste." To me, that seems to say pretty much the same thing as "reduce." Reduce consumption, reduce packaging, reduce driving, reduce whatever you can. Then again, it also says "reuse," since throwing out or even recycling something you (or someone else) could reuse seems pretty wasteful. But while trying to reuse and avoid waste may be at the heart of my clutter problem, reducing will help a lot. If I don't buy more trinkets or craft items, then they won't be around cluttering my room, and I might be more motivated to use the craft items that I have.

Related to these random musings (brought to you by the fact that I have random minor injuries on my hand and knitting hurts), a couple of weeks ago I discovered a website called Change Everything. It's a Canadian blogging/networking site with a twist--all of the blogs are about changes that people are trying to make in their lives or in the world. It's great for motivation! I've been writing about my adventures in trying to declutter my room...