What can Older People tell/show us about living a greener lifestyle?

Question

Older people did not have as many things. They learned eco friendly skills.

What can they tell us/show us today about living a greener lifestyle?

Answer 1

Hi Bella,

It really depends on the generation...

In tune with a previous posters response, before the industrial revolution the world didn't have much of a choice but to be eco-friendly.

If you look at those who were "younger" and spent time in the 60s and 70s they are probably good role models for green life style as they were there when the environmental movement began, however if you look at those who were born in the mid 60s and on again there is a generation that cared little about the environment, mostly because those people didn't want to turn out like the "hippies".

Those born in the late 70s through now again are greener because of realization of what we are doing to the planet (and because the hippies got an education and turned into teachers).

Its interesting though, if you look at those born in the early 50's and before (20s-30s-40s) the "True older people" in my opinion, they are perhaps the biggest consumers and wasters of all time. This is no doubt because they grew up through the depression or perhaps one of the world wars and were FORCED to conserve their entire child hoods. In retaliation most of the folks from this era are still consuming at an alarming rate and do not recycle or practice any conservation.

My grandmother is a baby boomer, I asked her why she consumes so much and refuses to recycle. She simply replied that the culture then was to conserve everything, once she grew up she decided she would live as she wanted and consume what she wanted. (This is part of that 60's free spirit...)

To summarize depending on which "older people" we talk to we can learn how to conserve or how to consume out of control. There really isn't a black or white answer to your question.

Regards,

JL

Answer 2

They can tell us a great deal, and it is not always in the obvious currency of "back when I were a lad workin in't pit".

Some of the best things they have told me, is how far we have come. Not in terms of the latest combine harvester, or mass transit, but in some very subtle currencies.

Metallurgy and material science now enable us to build hand held tools which are robust and efficient than ever before.

Small technologies like water turbines which will fit into a stream and generate enough electricity for a household.

An internet which puts just about every topic one could care to research at the distance of a couple of mouse clicks where previously it would have taken an archivist to find.

That it has only been during the last 40 years that women's views have been given the same respect across broad spectrum issues as men (and if you don't see the link, get someone to build you a bridge).

They, more than the young are hope-givers because they can help us dispel our fears that returning to the land means returning to caves. It doesn't. We are greatly advantaged in subtle ways.

And yes, they have many skills to teach, or at least some of them do. Others were down in't pit at 5am, back home for midnight and you were happy with what you got.

As with anything, you need eyes which can look and ears that listen if the wisdom of ages (and indeed youth) is to mean something to you.

Answer 3

I think those who believe recycling is actually doing any good is mistaken; although the efforts of all are admirable. The facts are that to reuse materials that are recycled cost companies more than to just put out 'new'. Most of what we put in recycle bins ends up in our landfills; I have personal testimony on this from someone who works in this department. The recycle bins are set up more to appease people into thinking they're doing something good than anything else. As consumers, we need to demand 'greener' packaging; packaging that isn't oversized. If everyone start shopping with canvas totes it would save a LOT of plastic going to the landfills or paper. We need to support the companies that are taking more efficient steps to operating greener.

Answer 4

This gets me, yes the war and pre war generations were eco frindly, but they didn't have a choice, and therefore can't really be applauded on any environmental basis, the same way that tramps live lightly on the earth, but is it coincidence or choice?

Some of the pre war generation will have skills and knowledge which would be worth taking on, but it's dying out. The war in Europe 'Dig for Britain' has something to teach us well, but the poloitics around supporting the war effort is much more interesting to me. Imagine if Ricky Gervais had an ecological streak!

Answer 5

Well, you got me. I am an old hippie.
Back in the late 60's early 70's, we lived under a political force that did not give a rip about the environment.

Factories were free to pour their waste into rivers, streams and the ocean. There was no emissions standards.

Nuclear plants were built without warning systems or accountability.

Landfills were just holes in the ground.

The skies were grey, the water was yucky, and poisons were seeping into the ground from all the refuse...

A bunch of us youngsters got to protesting and demanded enviromental accountability, and the world started being a cleaner and more contientous place...here is history repeating itself.

The scariest thing I see, is that it looks like it is still our generation who stand up and fight for betterment. We are getting older and if the younger generations don't start to care and show it, it will be sad for us all....

Answer 6

You already mostly answered your own question - they didn't have as many things and they learned eco friendly skills....

Note that older people who lived all their lives in large cities probably won't be able to help much - what you want i s the high percentage of older people who grew up on farms and rural areas....

Answer 7

For many older people (80+), replacing is their last resort. When something didn't work, my grandfather tried repairing it first, he also used things that might be thrown away to make something he needed. It wasn't that he couldn't afford to buy new, he just didn't see the point.