Hilary's Op-Ed

Today, I emailed the son in law of Oscar Arias, the Costa Rican president. I hope he responds, because that would be so cool if we could get the president down to our project to see what we’re doing! Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world that is pledging to become a carbon neutral place in the next couple decades. The Finca is well on its way to helping achieve that goal.
I’m really proud of the project, where it’s headed and how hard everyone has worked to make the idea a reality. The earth is in dire crisis and in need of all the support it can get, no matter how small. It’s impossible to undo all of the harm that has been done to our planet, but we can certainly make a difference in the way future generations treat their planet. That’s what we’re working towards. I think that my generation is in a place poised to change the way people perceive sustainability and eco friendly living because we are the closest generation to have to deal with the issues that have been handed to us. If we can all make a conscious effort to reduce our carbon footprints, no matter how small the action, the after effects will be noticeable. For starters, buy some grocery bags that are made of bamboo or any other sustainable material so that you don’t have to use plastic bags at the store, which are horrible for the earth on many different levels. We need to all realize that we have been depending on consumption rather than production for our selves. We rely too much on other people to do things for us, things that are easy but we’re scared to do them all on our own. I admit, it’s easier to run down to the grocery store and buy a package of carrots than it is to plant a garden, wait for the carrots to grow, and then pick them. But, have you ever had a carrot directly from the earth? It’s incredible! We need to stop demanding, and start supplying for ourselves. We need to ask ourselves, “is this a need, or a want?” We are a nation of needy people, and a world so overpopulated that we can’t afford to be needy. We must change our ways, we must become self sufficient. It’s the only way to go, it’s not hard and it's worth the effort. I promise.