Let it rain..money?

It's a Saturday night and it's just pouring like the world is screaming GLOBAL WARMING to us. Sometimes we need the rain to remember and appreciate a sunny day after.

I find it amazing how much more it's going to take in order for someone to start small to make a difference for the bigger picture. After watching the video Dr. X posted on her blog, it was an uneasy reality check to see what really goes on behind closed doors.

I have been working in retail for almost 3 years and I have learned many things that is involved with the process of working for a name brand store. Famous words of a former co-worker of mine will always stand out. "The only reason retail stores sell their clothes at an expensive price is because there is always someone out there willing to pay for it". Why does this have to be the case? Bottom line- it is always about the money. We use it to buy more things that give us a false sense of security and comfort at the price of those who make ridiculously less than us. Minimum wage for some is 7.50 an hour here in NYC...a decent jump from the measly 5.75 an hour it was before.. we have that luxury, being in a city that never sleeps--but never acknowledging those who made 75 cents a week making at least more than 30 shoes or shirts that can sell for at least 50$ a piece.
Working at my job, I have even seen clothes in the labels, where it was made in my home country- The Philippines.

I always wonder, how much was the person who made the shirt was paid. Perhaps a solution to consumer awareness would be to put both the price of the shirt the company is charging for it, as well as how much it took to make. In a "third world-country" like the Philippines, where the monetary exchange rate of one US. Dollar (1$) is equivalent to about 40.5 pesos., there are many poor and homeless. Some of the outskirts in the major cities have no resources to better improve their way of life and would work for US sweatshops at 6 cents an hour, sadly.

In regards to our enviroment here at home, the basic question is this-- do we want to consume so much of what is available to us now, that we leave nothing else for future generations? Money plays as the devil's advocate in the circle of consumption. Everyone just needs a reality check the next time we step out of our homes and use that piece of paper called the dollar bill. Money can buy a lot--yes, but our life-changing decisions are non-refundable.
There must be a better way to get through to people and educate those to save not just ourselves, by protecting our enviroment, but by protecting life itself on our dying planet. We are at each other's mercy--let's see where it goes. The thing to do is spend money wisely. it is not to just benefit one's self, but to benefit the welfare of others and the general population on this planet.

The thing that concerns me is that more often than not, our habitual spending and lack of awareness will get the best of us. I wait till the day arrives where people are smarter and more aware of what they are doing to help the planet and those of us who are still alive to enjoy what's left to offer. As for me, I plan to keep doing what I do. Recycle, take mass transportation as opposed to carbon monoxide pollution of cars, use less water, and definitely be aware of what i spend my money on.

I've used enough electricity typing this post as it is..this is me saving energy..

Goal: Use less today, save for a better tomorrow.