I marched in the first Earth Day, and all I got

was another massive oil spill.

Seriously, what else can one do? I am not going to give up, but what else can be done.

Having tried the following:
Support environmental groups and causes - check
Support elected officials with pro-environment records - check
Support and apply energy conservation measures - check
Email and call people with control over policy - check
Demonstrate - check
Boycott - check
Piss and moan - check
Warn people - check
Donate as much money as possible to whatever people or causes seems to be effective with their message - check
(No doubt I left out some)

I know each one of these should have been done much earlier and using different methods in some cases. The original environmental push did have some progress in some areas. It was a good idea whose time was past due coming.

However, ONE oil well rig debacle now threatens the Gulf and who knows what else. Off shore arctic drilling is still on schedule. And on an on and on.....

I am reminded of the Garth Brooks song,"I've Got Friends In Low Places." That seems to be the crux of the matter for environmentalists and regulators. Even when we think we have friends in high places, it turns out that some are suspect, and there are other people in even higher places that rule.

To paraphrase, "The heartless want what the heartless want." ANYTHING to maximize profits is what they want and consequences be damned.

I don't know if it's original, but I appreciate the cleverness.

Corporate money/power have been controlling. Now, polls indicate a real change in public perceptions/opinion. As tragic as the consequences may be, it's perhaps better that we experienced this disaster now, rather than face the risk of many more in the future. Even the Exxon Valdez experience didn't have much impact for long. Now, there is reason for optimism. Apart from a few diehards, the "Drill, baby, drill" crowd is suddenly silent. We in low places have a chance to finally prevail.

and drive as little as I can. I have always been very frugal with gas, combining errands into a single trip, preferably on way to or from work.

This past winter I kept my house at 53 degrees and heated one room -- my bedroom -- to 60 at night only, plus electric blanket. I also tucked rolled up shop towels into the windows and hung a curtain to close off the upstairs. (In its 2nd year on the market, somebody *finally* came to see my house last week. They couldn't believe it when I told them I used 300 gallons of oil this past year -- in Maine. I'm still finishing up that 300 gallons too...my house is current set at 50 so only on the coldest nights does the furnace kick on.)

I already cook as little as possible -- generally once or twice/week -- in large batches that I can freeze and microwave. That cut my propane use dramatically, and the microwave uses much less fuel than the stove.

This summer, I plan to buy a hotpot and instead of grilling, start experimenting with cooking solar. If it's a go, I'll get a second solar setup so I can make breads and other stuff. I hope to not have to cook anything on a stove for 8-9 months of the year, if possible to set myself up so I rarely have to use the stove again.

I also will buy local produce as soon as it's available. Local produce uses less fuel because it isn't transported around the world, only around the block. Once I'm out of school, I'll be back to growing my own produce again.

This past winter I also took to showering only on alternate days. In the hot weather I'll have to daily, I'm sure. But for 9 months the year, I can do bird baths on alternate days. That cut my propane use even more dramatically.

If/when I'm able to sell my house, I'll be downsizing significantly -- as much as 50%. THis was always more house than I wanted or needed. In my 2nd house, I'll be more prepared to deal with contractors. I plan to either build new or retrofit an older, cabin-sized house with wind ($12-15K up here), possibly solar and back-up pellet stove...unless I'm able to move further south, in which case I'll do what's appropriate for the region. Hopefully I'll be able to set up close to work. Walking distance if at all possible.

Later this morning I'll be calling around to local hairdressers until I find one that is collecting hair to be made into booms. By next week, I'll be shorn and my hair will be en route to soak up oil.

That is all. I can't think of any other way to cut my use.

adding to the list of effective action?