Pandemic Pause? Or reset?

Here we all are, emerging from lockdowns of various degrees of stringency, at varying rates of easements. We’re climbing out of the hole, “babes in the blinkin’ sun”*. We gave the planet a two-month reprieve. We saw the dramatic decrease in air pollution. Our various fauna made pilgrimages to their ancestral habitats, aka our cities. Will those compelling images compel us to make the oh-so-needed changes?

Last week I made my first foray into town in six weeks. While driving in, a service vehicle in the oncoming lane belched black exhaust. Alone in my vehicle, I shook my fist and cursed him (it?) aloud: “You idiot! See what you’re doing?! Stop trashing the planet!” I was mad. And pretty powerless. What was I going to do? Had the vehicle been in front of me, I’d’ve memorized the license plate number and tracked it to report it. But we were traveling in opposite directions, at high speed. Thus, this post. I lost the black smoke belcher, but there’s still something(s) I/we can do to heal the Earth.

Pre-pandemic, our Earth was suffocating under disposables. Now it – and we – face a tsunami of latex gloves, antiseptic wipes, and surgical masks, on top of the crud that was already here…not there…here. Since the Industrial Revolution, and accelerating since WWII, we in the West have pursued an inconvenience-free life, the centerpiece of which was and still is…disposables. We love our disposables. Of course we do. But unfortunately, they’re a scourge that we’ve imperiously dumped upon the Earth. I am asking each of us to transition:

·        Reusable diapers – These are the scourge of the 20^th century. The argument that we use water to launder them doesn’t hold up. Water is a manageable, conservable, and – if we treat the Earth right – renewable resource. Chemical beads and plastic don’t break down. Human feces seeping into our soil and groundwater can be neither removed nor disinfected. Cloth diapering systems have come a long way since last century’s foldables. They nearly match the convenience of disposables; I’d say an “8” on a scale of “10”. Will you take “2-point convenience hit” for the Earth? Please?

·        Baby wipes – When my eldest was born, before releasing us from the hospital, a nurse admonished me to use nothing on her skin except water for the first six months. She explained that the skin cells are still shedding and renewing. I followed her advice. I kept a squeeze bottle of water and a bag of cotton (not balls, but the single long piece that you pull pieces off of) on the changing table. Outcome: Eldest is now approaching 30; no known dermatological issues.

·        Feminine hygiene products – Save tons of $$$ and relieve the Earth’s suffering: We now have Earth-friendly alternatives in the form of reusable pads and menstrual cups. Another 2-point convenience hit. It’s worth it to leave a cleaner planet for our children, is it not?

·        Reusable panty liners – I bought three six-packs on eBay last summer. They’ve already paid for themselves (I’m a high-use gal). Do they stay put like disposables? No, not quite. But I give them a “9” out of 10 on the comfort scale. I’ll take a 1-point hit for the Earth.

·        Tissues – Consider cutting up old t-shirts for use when at home. This eliminates at least some manufacturing-packaging-transit in the supply chain.

·        Cow’s milk – Consider soy, rice, oat, and other bevs, at least partially. Hey. I love cow’s milk. Nothing like it in my coffee. A 10 for taste and consistency, no doubt about it. I switched to soy. I’ll take a hit for the planet. And most recipes that call for milk work just fine with the aforementioned bevs. Ditto for coconut oil subbing for butter. At least give it a try.

·        Eggs – I know: Nothing substitutes 100% for that fluffy, egg-induced texture. I know folks who sub chickpea flour to make an omelet, and the Insta results of course look exquisite; can’t vouch for mortals. What I can swear to is that in most baked goods, applesauce, banana, or flax seed can sub for eggs without compromising on flavor. Yes, the texture’s not as fluffy, but again: Take a 2-point hit for the Earth? I surmise that if we’d all been raised on eggless baking, the flatter texture would seem normal to us. As long as chocolate’s involved, who cares?

·        Straws – I bought myself a few stainless steel reusable straws on eBay for a few dollars. The first time I remembered to tell waitstaff to hold the straw and used one of my own…I forgot it at the restaurant. Then I realized: Why do we need straws at all? I surmise that sometime around WWII, someone decided that there was something less-than-sanitary about touching one’s mouth to the beverage glass at a restaurant or the bottle or can of cola (how come beer is never drunk through a straw? Are beer bottles exempt from germs?). Or maybe someone decided that straws are festive, add flair? And then convinced us all thereof? Well, the 10-point convenience scale is officially out the window for straws: They offer zero convenience or protection, and kill wildlife. Let’s just take straws off the table, both literally and figuratively, OK?

Look. Most of us are not going to go full-on vegan-and-reusables. I’m just asking you to consider one or more of the above transitions. We most of us live unimaginably comfortable lives. We can take a hit for our planet.

* “Babes in the blinkin’ sun…Mama, we shall overcome” – Laura Nyro