Cathy Haukedahl

There are some people who are always going to tune out a message, especially if the message is controversial. As a generality, most people don’t like change. They don’t even want to hear about change! So for many people a subject like climate change is threatening, and they react defensively by relegating it to “just politics.” Then they can…[Read more]

I’m sorry to say my life is much more fueled by “fuels from hell.” We use them to heat our home (and live in a climate with 5 months of serious winter weather and lots of darkness),run our two cars,travel, etc. It would take A LOT to transition completely to “fuels from heaven” and I’m not sure it’s possible here. But I’m sure I could do a…[Read more]

I see all three of them at work in my community. The “subprime nation” mentality has declined since the Great Recession, but not disappeared. The other two are both prevalent, with “dumb as we wanna be” probably more so. But I feel there’s an increasing optimism of innovators in sustainability that I find encouraging. There’s so much more…[Read more]

I agree the book is interesting. Finally finished the first 200 pages! I think the world can change. Friedman points out that there have been many other sea changes in society (he mentions the Industrial Revolution and the Tech Revolution), and he thinks that can happen for sustainability as well. I agree with him that it can. Sustainability…[Read more]

After reading Emily’s ideas, I thought of Represent, Raise Up and Recommend. The first two in particular have kind of an advocacy connotation. Other words not starting with R might be Advocate, Champion, Campaign, Promote, Advance, Elevate. Maybe a word at the end with a different letter (not R) works!

I’m a bit of an idealist and like to think her vision is possible. But I think it will take a very long time and many incremental steps. Vanna, your experience demonstrates what a long road is ahead. It’s ridiculous for people to judge you based on not using single use plastics. Good for you for hanging in there.

However, I think it will take…[Read more]

I learned a number of interesting things, for example, how to recycle makeup, reselling books on Amazon, ways to get rid of junk mail, to name just a couple. I also realized that Johnson’s super-minimalist approach to zero waste is not mine. I can just hear her disapproving of me, but that’s ok.

I think the statement is a bit simplistic. Some conveniences that are time-saving aren’t tricks of marketing companies. They really do save time, for example, some packaged foods that would take significant time (and sometimes more money) to make from scratch. And saving time and money is critical for many people who must work outside the home…[Read more]

Vanna, I agree that thinking “upstream” is important. It would be great to think of an “R” word for it!

I think her statement is a bit extreme, which is how I felt about her voice throughout the book. Purpose to me is much bigger than any one commitment, zero waste or otherwise. And I’ve always valued experiences over things, long before anyone talked about zero waste. (I’m 65 so have been around awhile!) I’m thankful to be much more aware of the…[Read more]

Sometimes people look at my multiple bags and containers, but I don’t care. Sometimes I look at all the plastic in other people’s grocery cart! 🙂

I’ve really enjoyed these responses! Darcy, you summarized my thoughts very well. 🙂 I feel that Johnson seems to expect everyone to give up a lot of other activities to focus on making their own soap, etc. However, many people must work in full-time jobs outside the home, and many people want to devote time to their community — which their…[Read more]

I agree that it’s easy for people to become disconnected from their actions, and I’ve very much appreciated the Zero Wasted website and other resources making me more aware. I was more connected when I was young, growing up in with parents who had grown up in the Great Depression and did not tolerate waste. I loved many of the new conveniences…[Read more]

I think you retain some ideas and practices that you agree with, discard some you don’t agree with, and retain some you wish you could get rid of but you can’t (too ingrained!). My husband’s and my parents grew up in the Great Depression, and the men all served in World War 2. As a result, they raised us with a strong sense of “no waste allowed”…[Read more]