Green websites: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg interview
Posted by DavidM in Green websites | 28 February 2007
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg is a busy guy. Not only has he written Sustainablog since July 2003, runs The Green Blogosphere on Squidoo and edits Green Options he is also a regular contributor to Treehugger and other environment blogs.
Sustainablog captures Jeff's views on interesting and useful environmental stories and services on the internet. Recent posts cover everything from renewable energy in Colorado to why eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch can save the earth.
The Green Blogosphere is more of a directory of green sites, with Jeff's comments and categorised. It's a useful resource for finding websites covering different aspects of the environment.
Green Options is described as "an online hub for all things green", with a blog written by a team of contributors, discussion forums, The Green life - containing articles on making different aspects of your life greener, and the Green Report, capturing a range of environment and other news.
For such as busy man, I was pleased that Jeff has some time for an email chat and to answer a few questions;
What got you into environmentalism and sustainability?
"Most importantly, from my parents getting me into the outdoors when I was a child: we were always camping, hiking, canoing, etc. More recently, reading Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce, and Ray Anderson's Mid-Course Correction -- all really changed my view of what environmentalism could be.."
So what changes have you made in your own life to reduce your environmental impact?
"I compost -- both an outdoor pile for yard wastes, and a worm bin for kitchen scraps. I recycle more, though I could still do a lot more in this area. I pay much more attention to energy use at home, and how/when I drive. I've changed the cats' litter to a recycled pine product, we use Method cleaning products almost exclusively, and I try to buy the greenest alternatives of everything... I now telecommute (my current job as Senior Editor at Green Options came up because of sustainablog). Still lots to do, but it's a journey."
What do you see as the biggest challenges, areas of progress and barriers for environmentalists?
"Without a doubt, getting the public behind substantive efforts to address global warming is the biggest challenge we face right now (at least in the US). People are certainly concerned, but until we can get them to both make some changes in their own lifestyles (and not necessarily ones that involve less comfort or convenience), and to make these issues a priority in terms of their dealings with business and government (what they buy, how they vote, etc.), we'll have a tough time making real progress.
At the same time, the progress we have made in raising awareness is encouraging. This past year looks like a watershed -- businesses, the government, and the general public seem more aware of the environmental challenges we face then ever, and the critics are losing their audiences. But, until we can turn awareness into sustained action at all levels of society, we're still behind.
I think the biggest barrier we still face is the conception that the environmental movement wants to revert to a 19th century (or earlier) standard of living. Along those same lines is the notion that we're socialistic in our outlook. Recent successes in the private sector help, but we've still got a lot of work to do to prove to some naysayers that we're not out to make their lives less comfortable - we simply want them to consider the impact of their 21st century lifestyle, and make choices that lighten that impact. "
How did you get into writing Sustainablog and The Green Blogosphere?
"I've got an academic background (Ph.D. in English), and taught at the college level for 11 years. Sustainablog started as a "writing to learn" experiment. I wasn't an expert in these areas, and wanted to see if keeping a blog would be a good way to learn more about them. It worked - I still don't consider myself an expert, but I'm definitely a more advanced student!
The Green Blogosphere lens was my first effort at building a Squidoo lens - it seemed like a natural topic for me to cover. It also sprung from my (ongoing) efforts to promote the Green Blogosphere - there are quite a few of us doing good work, and I want to help get the word out about all of us, not just Sustainablog and Green Options. "
How have the blogs changed your perspective of environmental issues?
"I'm much more optimistic. I see innovative work going on around the world, and believe we can get ourselves out of the messes we've created, or at least minimize them. Despite being a bleeding-heart liberal for the most part, I also have developed much more respect for the private sector, and believe that business can be a major force in creating a more sustainable world. I stay skeptical, but also try to give credit where credit is due. At times, that's led me to clashes with more activist elements in the environmental community, but I really believe we all need to be at the table on these issues."
What key things would you want your readers to do to make a difference?
"Stay informed. Act on that information. Buy and vote according to their values. Green their lives as much as possible. And talk -- talk to neighbors, friends, family members... we've got to 'evangelize'."
Thanks to Jeff for making the time and good luck with Green Options.
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In a break between writing on Sustainablog, The Green Blogosphere and Green Options, Jeff McIntire-Strasburg told Real Life News what got him into environmental blogging... [Read More]
Tracked on February 28, 2007 10:09 PM
