I went to see a free showing of No Impact Man (click link for trailer) at the Peggy Notebaert Museum this week. (They also have a great exhibit on bikes that closes on Sept 9 if you have a chance to get there. It is part of their “Green Revolution”. It was also sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. They have a series of programs on Sustainability, as well.)
The protagonist and his (somewhat willing) wife and unsuspecting toddler embark on a year-long project to attempt to make no impact to the environment. They use only person propelled transportation (including using the stairs to their 9th floor co-op), eat only foods they can source locally (in NYC!), etc. They make a pact to buy nothing new – only used. He has a compost bin in their kitchen. He forces his wife to give up coffee and laundry detergent and toilet paper – which would be grounds for divorce in my house! And midway through the year, they turn their electricity off.
His “guidelines for a low impact life”:
(Click here to see the details in a readable format!)
What I liked:
– An attempt to see if you could make some drastic changes for a period of time to see what changes you could live with long term. Kind of like following an elimination diet for a period of time.
– The clear bonds that were formed in his family by unplugging and getting outside.
– The (obvious) health benefits of walking and biking over driving.
– The protagonist’s sharing of his findings with many groups to inspire action and environmental awareness.
– Some of the “guidelines”. Love local food and “free water” and need to do better in terms of buying less/using less resources. Getting places on foot or bike (proud to say that for the last several years I have run more miles than I have personally driven my car (but I also think public transportation is a viable option!)). Of course I agree with service and financial/volunteer support of organizations you believe in (but many of us have other main causes – so #4 and #6 are tricky.)
What I did not like so much:
– The protagonist’s relentlessness. He seemed to force his wife to follow his rules. My husband drives race cars. It is his passion. I barely drive. That is cool. It was “No Impact Man” – I felt bad for the family.
– It seemed like an experiment to garner attention and not necessarily driven originally from his passion – that said, he did develop a passion that has spurred positive outcomes and a not-for-profit.
– I found that some of the rules did not make sense for him or his family and instead of modifying and learning, it seemed to me that he acted like a martyr for the “cause”. He could have adapted his plan, been better off and offered more realistic suggestions to follow.
– The book No Impact Man is available on Amazon but only in PAPER – not on Kindle. While he may not have full control of this, it seems ironic to me that his book is only available if you use the valuable natural resources he is trying to save (not to mention trucks to ship it places, etc.) (Need to check for it in the library!)
All in all, I am glad I saw the movie as it made me think about small changes I could make for the long term to have less of a negative impact on the environment. What do you think? Awesome? Crazy? A publicity stunt? Other?
And back to our regularly scheduled program… some DEALS (to support the economy if not the environment!)
Daily Candy has several deals at the moment that give back! And you get $10 off with the code LABORDAY if you buy ANY deal today (September 7.)
– 60% off Jana Feifer’s (super cute) customized Letters for Literacy tote. Feifer donates 10 percent of all proceeds from the canvas and leather-trimmed Letters for Literacy bag to UNESCO’s Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), which promotes adult literacy in 35 countries around the globe.
– 50% off of Roma Boots off (already affordable) rain boots for children or adults. Better yet – they have a not-for-profit subsidiary, Roma for All, dedicated to distributing rain boots to children living in poverty. For every pair you buy, a pair goes to a child in need. And 10 percent of all proceeds buys school supplies for those children.
– RATS – SOLD OUT Love with Food – 50% off curated gourmet snacks delivered monthly. Plus, for every box ordered, Love with Food donates a meal to hungry children via organizations such as Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength. (I am mentioning this one b/c Stacy and Lori got it so hopefully they can report back on all of their yummy finds!)
– Gilt City (Chicago) has 49% off ($17) on a digital download of Music That Changes the World: Volume 1. Featuring tracks from Alanis Morissette to Iggy Pop and everything in between, this compilation benefits the David Lynch Foundation’s efforts to promote the Transcendental Meditation program.
– Hey Chicago athletes – Want to STORM THE STADIUM? Get 40% off with the promotional code Storm904 through Sept 7. Storm the Stadium challenges participants to scale 6000 stairs at Soldier Field on September 22, 2012.
– I was secretly delighted to see that Rue La La has a deal on Spanx… for MEN! (and women, too) Well they only have three compression t-shirt options but at least some men can feel the squeeze!
Last thing for today if you are still there. My Chicago Foodie Give Away and free Glamour subscription!
– Every year I buy the a la card Chicago deck that offers $10 off of 52 locally owned, restaurants all over the city to promote local, independent chefs. Every year, I put it in a drawer and forget about it until around September 1st and then I cram trying to get to places (or give the cards away)…. so with that said, if you want to try any of the restaurants listed above or here, be the first to call a restaurant by name in the comments here and I will mail/give it to you.
– I also have a gift subscription to Glamour magazine for a year. Call it first in the comments and it’s yours!
Have a great weekend all!