What's your carbon footprint?

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America runs off of machines. Think about it. Most people wash their dishes using a washing machine, wash and dry their clothes using a washer and dryer, mow their lawn using a lawn mower, flush the toilet, use a machine to open a can. The list goes on.

Why have American become so dependable on machines? Is it because our lives are so busy that we can’t spare 10 or so minutes to just do something ourselves?

In Zambia, mostly everything is done by hand. There are no machines. People burn or have to slash their grass, hand wash their clothes and dishes, walk or bike everywhere, go to the bathroom in a hole in the ground, and get water from a well. And because I am living here, I do the same as the rural villager. I hand wash my clothes and dishes, bike everywhere.

But I can’t be too critical because I don’t do everything. Doing things by hand, sometimes isn’t easy. I let little kids slash my grass just because my water source recently became inaccessible so now I have kids fetch my water from a couple kilometers away. And I do admit that I do miss the modern conveniences. I miss having a washer and dryer. I miss not having running hot water. I can’t just turn on the faucet and jump in the shower. I have to fetch the water, start my fire to heat up water, then take a ‘shower’ by using a bucket and a cup.

The fact that Americans use more machines may be due to the fact that people have less time in America. Zambia is not like America in which everything is rushed. People in the rural villages of Zambia, for the most part, have a lot of time. In America, many people work 8-5 jobs. When they get home they are tired. So it is understandable not wanting to get home then hand wash your clothes. Also in Zambia, people have many more kids, that the parent can give tasks to.

But, I still think there are things in America we can do without. An example, the electric can opener. I don’t think American should totally be dependable on machines. So, take the carbon footprint quiz. See how you are impacting our world and try to make changes. Walk to work, turn out your lights, hand wash your dishes. Like I said, I’m not a saint but I still live a life where I am not depending on machines.

http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/