thoreau

I am so happy we got through the inauguration with little or no serious kerfuffles or embarrassing missteps. Now that we have President Obama - what are we doing personally in our communities to get down to business the way the President has? I totally dig the spirit of the video above - 'The Presidential Pledge'.

So - what is my pledge? I have two things on my list:

1) Continuing the fight for equal rights for LGBT people: It is no secret that I'm a passionate believer in the reality of equal rights vs. the discussion of equal rights. I also don't believe that marriage equality is the only fight we have on our hands. I have written letters to my senators and representatives applauding President Obama's plans to expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act; his belief that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity; repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'; and finally - protecting the constitution from any kind of anti-gay amendment.

While marriage is hot in our heads because of Prop 102 (AZ), Prop 2 (FL) and Prop 8 (CA) - - it is clearly one of many issues that having Obama in the White house and a democratic majority might allow us to work through. While things seem cheery on the national level - many states (like here in California) are deadlocked and legislative quagmires of inaction. So I'll be writing my representatives in the State house and demanding action.

I also have plans to attend City Hall meetings and become more familiar with the political process in San Francisco. and in general - get reacquainted with all the ways my elected officials represent me in the legislative process at the city, county, state and federal level. I plan to watch my elected officials much more closely and hold them accountable.

2) To not only think green - but be green: I am not always the best at this and pledge to be better. I'll drive less. I'm replacing the lights in my home with low-energy lights - and I'll remember to turn them off when I'm not at home. I'll reduce my shower time - and won't run the shower "to warm it up" before hopping in. I'll recycle always. (or my boyfriend will slap me upside the head) I'll watch the packaging that I purchase and choose products that are not only good for me - but that are also packaged in environmentally sensitive fashion.

On one hand we consumers have to exercise the ethical value of our purchases: forgive the admittedly heretical paraphrasing, but we need to buy the change we want to see in the world. On the other hand, the reality of our worldwide environmental crisis is now being joined by the reality of a worldwide economic crisis. On the personal level, it’s going to be hard, some pay periods, to do the right thing regarding both calamities. But we can avoid the American-style kneejerk reaction to "buy our way" to green-ness; because well - there aren't extra dollars in the budget to do so. Besides - I don't think buying a 'green cleanser' is the point - the point is making lifestyle changes to reflect the reality of our impact on the world around us.

How about you? How much environment can you afford this paycheck? And how are you making these decisions around your no-doubt-made-from-sustainably-harvested-wood kitchen table?

So - now it's your turn. :)

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