My HP digital camera has decided not to work. When I turn it on, the display flashes for two seconds and then nothing. It's probably something to do with the programing or electronics but it is very frustrating. My other camera is a 30 year old Olympus OM10 and has been around the world with me twice. It takes great pictures - way better than the 3.2 MP HP camera. It's just a bit bulkier, has three lenses and uses rolls of film that are not the best for the environment when it comes to processing etc.
I've been thinking of this in the light of the movie "The Story of Stuff," the movie that got me started on this blog in the first place (see my first post last week.) The digital camera is only almost 5 years old. (But it seems contradictory to say "only 5 years old" in today's world especially when it comes to electronic goods as it seems that things get out of date in a matter of months.) In the movie, Annie Leonard tells of how manufacturing began to shift to "planned obsolescence" in the 50s. I don't know if that's what's happened to my camera but I am willing to bet that the manufacturer hopes that I "upgrade" sooner rather than later and, if it's a forced "upgrade," oh well! It's true, they don't make things like they used to (and I'm beginning to sound like those older people who always seemed to say "they don't make things like they used to.")
Well I can sit around and mope and gripe about it or I can think in terms of solutions. Now I know I am not going to have any direct influence on manufacturing practices but I began to think how it might be possible to change things. Manufacturers need to always have a market for their wares and today that means either planning that they will wear out after a period of time and people will buy another one or that you come up with a newer, faster, better model that the consumer will just have to buy and throw out the old model. But in a world with finite resources that doesn't really work.
So here's my little contribution to the problem, applied in particular to digital cameras.
What if the manufacturer designed a number of camera shells that look classy and that would build brand recognition? Build it to last with quality lenses and mechanical parts. Of course there is a large electronic component to digital cameras. Design it so that the electronic part or programming can be exchanged out for an upgrade or in my case, a replacement (although I would probably want to be able to upgrade at this point.) They can focus on developing better and better software and electronics but not have the hardware changed out each time. If someone wants to change the look of their camera and buy a newer or different 'model,' the old one would still be serviceable and could be sold on or passed on to someone else. The point is that it wouldn't have to end up in the landfill.
Sometimes a first small step starts with just changing the way we think about things. A shift in thinking can open out to new horizons. (We call this "reframing" in coaching.) I don't know if my idea is possible but it might spark another line of thinking that would help change the way we produce, buy, use and throw out digital cameras. Who knows what might happen? (Are you listening HP?)
That's my small step for this week. What's yours?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Beginning
I have thought about starting a blog for many months now. My initial thought was to blog about my garden. Yes, my garden! But actually not just about my garden, more about my exploration of lifestyle, how to live in harmony with nature in the suburbs, create both a flower and a vegetable garden out of a yard that would be organic (as much as possible) and in harmony with nature, be pleasing to the senses, be functional as well as beautiful, and be an invitation to sit a while for all who pass by (though probably few would dare unless directly invited.) However, circumstances have changed in my life and, while my garden has taken shape around my house, my plans have changed. I will be moving in the summer leaving my house and garden in the care of others. (I'm getting married and starting a new adventure in another state!) And the thought of my blog got shelved.
A few weeks ago I came across another blog called "Sustainable Dave" which totally inspired me. And through that blog, I discovered the video and website called "The Story of Stuff." Wow, that got me thinking! I immediately sent a link to the site to a number of people I know who I thought might be interested. (It's only 20 minutes long and very thought provoking.)
It rekindled in me the thought of writing a blog. Of course I questioned myself; Who will read my blog? (some of my long-suffering friends, no doubt, and the odd curious visitor who happened to stumble upon it,) and, What do I really have to say that hasn't been said before? (nothing really but perhaps I'll reach people who haven't been reached before,) and, Can I really make a difference? (who knows but it's worth a try.)
OK, so why the title "A Step at a Time?" I recently trained as a Health and Wellness Coach and one of the foundational tenets of our work is that change happens a step at a time, sometimes just a tiny baby step. As a coach, I help people to look at where they are in their life, where they would like to be and to make permanent changes in whatever areas of their lives they want to change. It happens one little step at a time with lots of encouragement and support. We all know what we need to do but sometimes we need help to get there.
It's the same with our world. Green living is the 'in' thing these days. We know about switching out our light bulbs to more energy efficient ones or getting a programmable thermostat installed in our homes or using one of those cloth bags in the grocery store. But lets face it, most of us are not going to make drastic changes in our lives, at least not immediately. However, we can change little things that will add up to make a big difference. And the first step is increasing awareness.
So that's what this blog is about. It's an exploration of how we can become more aware of our impact in the world and make what little changes we can in our own unique circumstances. Of course I will be reflecting on it from my point of view but I want to learn about other points of view also. This is my present first step. It's actually been a very big step for me but many little steps led up to it. I'll be sharing my steps with you along the way. I'd love to have company - do you care to join me?
A few weeks ago I came across another blog called "Sustainable Dave" which totally inspired me. And through that blog, I discovered the video and website called "The Story of Stuff." Wow, that got me thinking! I immediately sent a link to the site to a number of people I know who I thought might be interested. (It's only 20 minutes long and very thought provoking.)
It rekindled in me the thought of writing a blog. Of course I questioned myself; Who will read my blog? (some of my long-suffering friends, no doubt, and the odd curious visitor who happened to stumble upon it,) and, What do I really have to say that hasn't been said before? (nothing really but perhaps I'll reach people who haven't been reached before,) and, Can I really make a difference? (who knows but it's worth a try.)
OK, so why the title "A Step at a Time?" I recently trained as a Health and Wellness Coach and one of the foundational tenets of our work is that change happens a step at a time, sometimes just a tiny baby step. As a coach, I help people to look at where they are in their life, where they would like to be and to make permanent changes in whatever areas of their lives they want to change. It happens one little step at a time with lots of encouragement and support. We all know what we need to do but sometimes we need help to get there.
It's the same with our world. Green living is the 'in' thing these days. We know about switching out our light bulbs to more energy efficient ones or getting a programmable thermostat installed in our homes or using one of those cloth bags in the grocery store. But lets face it, most of us are not going to make drastic changes in our lives, at least not immediately. However, we can change little things that will add up to make a big difference. And the first step is increasing awareness.
So that's what this blog is about. It's an exploration of how we can become more aware of our impact in the world and make what little changes we can in our own unique circumstances. Of course I will be reflecting on it from my point of view but I want to learn about other points of view also. This is my present first step. It's actually been a very big step for me but many little steps led up to it. I'll be sharing my steps with you along the way. I'd love to have company - do you care to join me?
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