One neighbor at a time. One neighborhood at a time.
by Mary Lockwood
THB Group Webmaster
The Household EcoTeam Program uses neighborhood groups to teach about resource–efficient lifestyles. With an easy–to–read workbook and a proven format, even a veteran recycler like myself learned a trick or two. Better yet, I got to spend time with my neighbors.
Created in 1989 by Global Action Plan for the Earth, the Ecoteam program has worked with over 15,000 people and hundreds of neighborhood groups throughout the United States. Over its first 10 years and with more than 12,000 participants, the savings were dramatic:
14,557,200 pounds of garage recycled
48,524 trees saved
762,851,344 gallons of water saved
3,632,639 gallons of gasoline saved
87,988,178 pounds of CO2 not dumped
Total: $8,825,057 saved
If you doubt these numbers, consider one of the ideas from the workbook. For just one day a week, take public transit or share the ride. You will instantly stop 20% of the pollution generated in your commuting.
Kansas City’s EcoTeam program works by bringing neighbors together to encourage each other to follow new habits. The workbook presents a list of do–able actions to start today. Participants commit to specific tasks, then come back to report. Meetings are times of shared experiences and pats–on–the back and eating good food. Often good things happen, like one EcoTeam that built a neighbor’s wheelchair ramp.
After about four months and seven meetings, the old team scatters like bees into the surrounding neighborhood to gather members for a new team or two. So it grows. One neighborhood at a time, one neighbor at a time.
Neighbors becoming part of an international effort operating in 17 countries involving over 150,000 people. Neighbors becoming part of each others lives. Small acts of consciousness making life simpler and richer.
Currently Kansas City has the only community EcoTeam campaign in Missouri or Kansas. But anyone can start an Ecoteam program, anywhere, with the support of the National office. More information can be found athttp://globalactionplan.org, under "sustainable lifestyle campaign".
Or contact KC’s own June Holte –
Email: Ecoteams@kcmo.org
Voice: (816)513–3480
A Sustainable Future...It Starts Where We Live
Americans make up only 5% of the world's population, yet we consume a third of the planet's resources. We waste up to 75% of what we consume due to inefficiency and lack of awareness.
In the US, between 35% and 85% of a community's natural resources are used at the household level. Even more resources are consumed indirectly through the purchase of products and services. Households are also a major source of air pollution from auto emissions and a source of water pollution because products with toxic chemicals are used and enter the ground water.
How we live is a big part of the problem. It can also be a big part of the solution.
If we exercise more care, or stewardship, in our use of the Earth's finite resources (trees, water, energy, minerals, land) we will develop more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. Sustainable lifestyles ensure that there will be enough resources left for our children and their children.
Global Action Plan's Household EcoTeam Program helps individuals lower their environmental impact by adopting more resource–efficient lifestyle practices.
"The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in the industrialized countries. Developed countries must take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption."
– United Nations Agenda 21
–from the EchoTeam website at Global Action Plan
http://www.globalactionplan.org/