I've been meaning to tell you . . .

. . . about this great article I read in one of my new favorite magazines - Dwell.

If you haven't heard of it, I highly encourage you pick it up. What is Dwell - it is a modern, eco-friendly, architecture, home designing magazine. It has cool projects on how to be more kind to mother-earth in what you do and how you approach your dwelling. (excuse my play on words)

Anyway - the article in questions was about the "big box" stores and their impact on our world. Here are some of the stats to ponder.

Average square feet of an American home: 2,495
Average square feet of a Target supercenter: 174,000

Number of people who ttend religious services every week: 55 million
Number who shop at Walmart: 136 million

Number of trees needed to offset annual CO2 emissions from a high-energy-using American: 150

Number of trees Ikea plants each year to offset CO2 from customers/employees traveing to and from one store: 33,100 (Ikea rocks! Love it!)

Number of colleges and universities in the U.S.: 4,140
Number of Wal-Mart owned stores: 4,191

Percentage of eligible Americans who voted in the last presidential election: 60%
Percent of American who will shop at Wal-Mart this year: 90%

2007 revenues for Wal-Mart: $379 billion
2007 GDP for Sweden: $384.1 billion

What does all this mean -- for one, VOTE! The election is coming up in November. It is important for every American to get out on election day and cast their vote. If you don't like the "crowds" at your polling place, send for an absentee ballat or do early voting. There is no reason why you are not taking the time out of your "busy" schedule.

The other point I'd like to make . . .well, it's really just to get you thinking. Think about where you shop. Think about your impact. Do you bring your eco-friendly bags into the store vs. using plastic? The bags aren't just for grocery shopping, you can use them anywhere! The hardware store, the home repair store, the bike shop, the craft store, the clothing store. Everywhere!!! Review you errand route, do you really need to be driving all over town? Have you thought about recyling at home? Plastic, aluminum, paper. Think how dramatically you can impact the amount of "stuff" going into a landfill by setting up a simple recyling system at home.

Ok, so those are my random ramblings to today about Mother Earth.
I always knew I was a closet tree hugger, I can proudly say that I am taking action. I am making better decisions. I am recyling. I am being a better steward. . . . you should too.

K