The other day my friend told me that she "hates nature." Although this disturbed me and I had to seriously question our friendship, it struck me that maybe she had a legitimate reason.
I immediately wanted to change her mind.
This friend is from Long Island - in her mind New York City is the source of all things beautiful: bagels, pizza, hot dog vendors, and taxis. That mindset, along with a few bad camping trips, is all it's taken for her to deem the natural world a "dirty" and "gross" place.
Maybe a happy life in NYC calls for no need to admire nature's wonders and no desire to rough it out in the woods for a few days. But for me, the natural world is where I find my beauty.
It's easy to forget that in a big city or here at UB our natural environment absolutely controls our quality of life. Resources like food and water, the air we breathe, politics, and recreational activity are obvious answers to what the environment dictates for all of us.
To think that someone could simply not care about this is hard for me to accept.
You hear a lot about saving the environment these days, and many swear it off as something for neo-hippies to complain about and nothing of importance.
They say: "Somebody else can save the world; this all doesn't really affect me in my perfect little world."
It does.
Luckily you don't have to care. You can even "hate nature," because when you live a life that's more sustainable and good for the environment, it is good for you. Plain and simple.
Regardless of your attitude toward sleeping on the ground or hiking in the woods for hours, making a few eco-friendly changes in your life can bring happiness to you and to those of us who really care about good ol' Mother Earth.
Ride your bike.
You'll get in shape and become healthier overall. You'll also reduce your carbon footprint, which will benefit the environment. Who knows? You might even meet your future lover while untangling your locks at the bike rack.
Turn off the lights and open your window.
Natural sunlight and fresh air are both good for you. Let the breeze take over your room while saving energy. Not only will your electricity bill be lower, but you'll also be helping out society.
Recycle.
TOMRA Systems reverse vending machines on campus offer a refund on certain plastic recyclables. In no time you can turn that soda money into beer money.
Get one of those stainless steel water bottles.
Refill stations for water bottles are all around campus and they are free. You will save money on overpriced water and save plastic from going in the landfill. Come on, it's impossible to look bad holding a CamelBak.
These simple steps are not asking much but they will help the environment a lot. Being conscious of the environment can be challenging and burdensome at times, but it's something we will all benefit from.
Thinking more about our reliance on nature may even inspire you to do more.
"Students should get involved because, simply put, they are our future," said Jim Simon, UB Green's sustainability engagement coordinator. "What better place than a university to serve as a living laboratory for ideas and change surrounding sustainability?"
As much as I want to change my friend's mind about nature, there's a chance that may never happen. Despite that, I can trick her into benefiting the environment, and I hope I've done the same to you.
Email: maxcrinn@buffalo.edu
