What Does it Mean to Be Green?

That's an interesting question. But, it's difficult to come up with a good answer, since the Online Dictionary has no definition aside from "one who is concerned with, or supporting, or in conformity with the political principles of the Green Party". This is a legitimate political party which has candidates in all of the Presidential elections, and many state and local elections as well. Since it doesn't appear to be so much associated with environmentalism, this definition doesn't appear to fit with my personal definition.

I feel it's possible to be concerned with protecting the environment where it is reasonably possible. However, although I have been known to pick up cans and paper cups in parking lots and put them in the nearest receptacle just because; and have a litter bag in my car at all times, so I don't have to throw the smallest item out the window; I most likely will never be called a "tree hugger", in that I'm not the kind that will ever pick up a picket sign and march, or stand in the way of bulldozers to prevent trees from being turned into someone's house.

With that in mind, when I found out about the "green" workshop over on Bali in Indonesia which produces handmade, eco-friendly photo albums from items found in the adjacent jungle--things such as seeds, leaves, flowers and bamboo in various forms, and yet are beautiful and unique, I knew this was a real find. These items are, in all probability, all readily at hand there, completely renewable 12 months of the year in that tropical environment.

Also, because these photo albums are handmade, there are, no doubt, no expensive machines in that workshop which could be damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster such as an earthquake or a tsunami. This, obviously, would keep the costs down considerably. Another point is that there would be no need for smokestacks spewing out air pollutants on a daily basis, thus helping to protect Bali's air quality. Thus, this is a green business by doing its small part to protect the world's environment, rather than adding to the problem, something for which I see as an outstanding idea.

Jim Green lives in Rockford, IL, and owns forestcityphotoalbums.com [http://www.forestcityphotoalbums.com/], which offers eco-friendly photo albums in more than 80 different designs broken down into over 20 categories.