How to Use Your Green

The aforementioned Ford deal brings to mind a point that's worth making. I believe the thing that gets lost on a lot of environmentalists is that any positive change is good for us and the planet. Sure most corporations care more about profits than they do the environment, and they make deals like the one Ford made to improve their public image. But if we stay positive and realize that--no matter the impetus behind the move--it's a step in the right direction, we may just get somewhere in halting global warming and other problems facing our society. That's what makes this new movement of environmentalists different -- we understand the market; we know how to use it in our favor; and, while we know a little skepticism is beneficial, we remain optimistic that we can change society rather than just dropping out of it.

With that in mind, the most important thing we can do right now is make our voices heard with our dollars. By purchasing fair-trade clothing, hybrid automobiles, organic foods and more, we're forcing major companies to take notice and change their practices. As much as we'd like corporations like Wal-Mart to just go away, it's not happening. So let's take things like their choice to sell organic foods as a positive...even if we'd still never be caught dead there.