OpinioNation

On August 18th, residents in Seattle will be asked to vote on Referendum 1 which, according to a recent article on Grist.org, "would require consumers to pay 20 cents for every disposable bag (paper or plastic) they get from grocery, drug, and convenience stores. Small businesses—those with under $1 million in annual revenue-would retain the entire 20-cent fee. Other businesses would get to keep five cents, with the rest going to Seattle Public Utilities to pay for implementation and oversight of the program, and to provide free reusable bags to low-income families, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters." Disposable bag charges are becoming increasingly popular, and have had much success, particularly in areas outside of the U.S. Would you vote for Referendum 1, or a similar program, if it were proposed for your city?
 

The results of this poll will be available after the next Greenzine is published.


Why is taking action to reduce global warming most important to you? Taking action will...


A. 73% - Provide a better way of life for future generations; reduce the destruction of plant, animal and human life.

B. 27% - Create green jobs and build a stronger economy; free us from dependence on foreign oil.
 

What one sustainable activity will you focus on most this Summer?


A. 69% - Buying locally produced foods or growing/raising my own

B. 15% - Xeriscaping my garden or lawn, reducing water use

C. 12% - Walking or biking more often, reducing time in the car

D. 4% - Pulling the plug, reducing energy use
 

Have you made the switch to BPA-free products?


A. 57% - Yes - Baby bottles, water bottles, toys, canned goods - you name it, I have replaced it with a BPA-free alternative.

B. 33% - I try to avoid the chemical whenever possible, but it's just so hard to keep track of which products have it. Who has the time?

C. 5% - While I would love to, my budget just doesn't allow for buying more costly BPA-free products.

D. 5% - No - I really don't think BPA is as big of a threat as it has been made out to be. The FDA approves small amounts of BPA for human consumption, so it must not be that bad, right?
 

Recycling is finally becoming a mainstream concept, with more curbside programs and initiatives popping up every day... But what about recycling your water? It's becoming more and more popular to utilize "greywater" (water that's been used for washing dishes, showering, laundry, etc.) as a way to save drinkable water and money. What about you? Have you heard of greywater, and would you use it?


80% - Yes - I already re-use greywater to irrigate my garden and lawn, wash my car, etc.
20% - No - I'll leave the water conservation up to my local water treatment plant.
 

This is the official month of being kinder to Mother Earth, and even though it's something that should be part of our daily lives, Earth Day is a great time to focus, assess, and pledge to redouble our efforts. So, we want to know: Will you be doing something special to celebrate Earth Day?


90% - Yes! Although I try to be green year round, I will be celebrating by attending an event or participating in a special project.
10% - No. Earth Day is just a marketing tactic designed to ease the conscience of people who feel guilty for driving Hummers.
 

The President's recent call for cap-and-trade legislation has everyone in Congress in a tizzy- including some democrats who claim that because this legislation could have such far-reaching affects, at least 13 different subcommittees will need to discuss it before action can be taken. What do you think?


76% - The planet is warming as we speak -- cap-and-trade needs to be put into action now.
24% - Haste makes waste. Let the committees hash it out for another year or so.
 

Warmer days have started to emerge and across the country Spring will soon be here! Sustainability and savings enthusiasts alike are calling for a return of the victory garden as a way to return to simpler, cheaper, more self-sufficient living. So we want to know: will you tread more lightly on the planet and save some green by growing your own?


74% - Yes, my backyard is turned over and my seeds are already germinating.
15% - Yes, but mine is an urban green thumb…bring on the window boxes!
11% - No, I leave the growing to my local CSA.
 

We all sort-of know the foods we should stay away from; fatty, sugary stuff with a lot of preservatives and chemicals, right? But do you know those chemicals by name? We want to know: how often you really read ingredient lists and make decisions based on what you find?


56% - Always. I purchase old favorites that I know taste good.
41% - Sometimes. But only when comparing a new product to my usual brand.
3% - Hardly ever. I can define Disodium Inosinate, use it in a sentence, and name 3 products that contain it
 

Now that more restaurants are seeking recognition for their green accomplishments by getting certified, GenGreen wants to know: Would you be more likely to support a restaurant that has received a third-party green certification?


92% - Yes. I like knowing that a respected organization has done the research for me.
8% - No. I choose restaurants based on menu and service alone.
 

The renewable energy industry has been heralded as a potential savior of the U.S. economy. Do you think the proposed $150 billion investment in private alternative energy businesses will really create more jobs?


90% Yes. Fossil fuels and traditional manufacturing corporations are a dying breed.
10% No. I think it's more realistic to invest in making fossil fuel technologies more efficient.
 

It's one thing to be a dedicated bike or foot commuter in the summer when the days are bright and warm, and quite another in the dark, snowy mornings of winter! Will you persevere and continue to use alternative methods of transportation to get around this winter?


67% - I am boxing up my faux tree and using it again next year.
26% - I will recycle my tree using a private or municipal program in my area.
7% - I chose a living tree so I will plant it as soon as the ground thaws.
0% - I can recycle my tree?
 

Environmentalists everywhere are bemoaning falling gas prices as a dagger in the heart of alternative fuels. Experts say they're unrelated. Be honest...are you less concerned about the development of renewable fuels now that gas has decreased so dramatically in price?
 


It's one thing to be a dedicated bike or foot commuter in the summer when the days are bright and warm, and quite another in the dark, snowy mornings of winter! Will you persevere and continue to use alternative methods of transportation to get around this winter?
 


Should the U.S. require explicit labeling of GMOs in all products and industries?



Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms whose genetic makeup have been changed through genetic engineering. DNA from various sources are combined to create a new set of genes, which are then transferred into another organism, modifying that organism's traits.
 


Do you think an extensive cap-and-trade system* (proposed by both presidential candidates) will be effective in reducing US industrial emissions?



*Cap-and-trade is method for reducing industrial emissions that sets goals of "acceptable" amounts of carbon emissions, pollutants, etc. for a certain geographical area (the CAP) and then allows those producing the emissions to purchase or TRADE for carbon credits to cover their emissions. This allows those who produce less than their allotted amount of emissions to sell their unused credits to others on the open market who exceeded their limits.