Just Post and Just Because

It's time for the Just Posts over at Jen's place and the feeling of optimism and concern regarding issues that matter is larger than ever. I can't properly do all these writers justice, as they share what is important to them, what pains them and what they want to change about the world we live in. I am just in awe to be in their company and you will be too, I promise. There is an amazing list of posts just waiting to be devoured and enjoyed.

Speaking of writing about what matters, I passed out a Just Post to Kevin Charnas, for his post about plastic grocery bags and the harm that they inflict upon our environment. This month was the month that I bought my very own re-usable canvas bags to tote my groceries home in, and even though I've forgotten them a few times, I believe that this habit will begin to stick and pretty soon it will be second nature to bring them with me everywhere.

So, go out and get yourself some canvas bags for your groceries! Go! And at the very least, reuse those plastic ones as many times as you can stand it. Most of the major stores are now carrying reusable canvas bags in the store and you can also check out some great online sites , like Earth 911, a great source for recycling ideas of all kinds!

And, just because I'm all fired up about recycling, here's another issue that has been eating away at me all week:

There has been an ad running on tv for Wal Mart that tries to appeal to the budget conscious family grocery buyer.

The ad states that the average American family saves $2,500 per year just by shopping at Wal Mart.

$2,500 is a lot of money.

That is what I would spend on groceries for 4 whole months!

That's a lot of saved dough.

But is it really? What are the hidden costs to shopping at Wal Mart?

$2,500 is what Wal Mart thinks is the price tag for our souls. Wal Mart will pay the average American family $2,500 to look the other way when it comes to where the products at Wal Mart come from. $2,500 is what Wal Mart will pay for us to look the other way when it comes to how they treat their employees and run generations-old family businesses into the ground without a care in the world. $2,500 is what Wal Mart will pay for us to accept them into our lives, our homes, our bodies and our wallets without doing a speck of good for the communities in which they reap all these benefits.

I think my conscious is worth more than $2,500, I am worth more than $2,500.

And if Wal Mart thinks they can buy those things, they are crazier than I thought.