Today I read with some dismay about the latest plans from the energy companies in Alberta. Plans for the largest man-made lake district on Earth have been submitted to the provincial authorities, for the flooding of abandoned tar sand mines with a mix of tailings and fresh water. Syncrude have already started to flood Base Mine Lake which will measure 2000 acres. The plans say that these artificial lakes will eventually replicate a natural habitat, complete with fish and waterfowl – they think, they don’t know, it’s all experimental…only it’s not being done in the confines of a research area like Ontario’s ELA, but in the tar sands – the economic centre of the Harper Universe.

Why am I dismayed – it’s reckless – they don’t know if these lakes will remove the pollution they contain safely.

How did we get into this mess, I hear you cry?

It’s through our want for oil-based products, plain and simple.

Oil drives so much of our lives – not just our cars. From the lenses in my glasses, the elastic in my lingerie to the soles of my shoes and the keyboard I am typing on. So many of the day to day items we use are oil-based.

A ‘google’ search came up with a number of websites giving hints on how to reduce your personal oil consumption. There were the obvious ones like driving less, driving slower, maintaining your tire pressure, not idling, taking a reusable bag and buying less stuff, but I also came across some good hints for avoiding oil in other areas of your life.

  • Avoid plastics and nylon (petroleum products) and buy items made from recycled plastic
  • Avoid Styrofoam, bubble gum, and disposable ball point pens
  • Give up bottled water and fizzy pop – carry a BPA free or stainless steel travel bottle and refill with tap water as you go
  • Buy fresh bread in paper bags or make your own
  • Buy used (thrift store, kijiji, garage sales) and repurposed to avoid packaging
  • Ditch nylon and polyester and choose natural fibres (I can personally recommend bamboo for the softest towels and socks)
  • Wax floors with beeswax
  • Buy all-natural scents made from essential oils or even design your own personalized fragrance
  • Buy beeswax crayons for the kids and use soy-based inks in your printer
  • Remodeling the house – avoid tar on your roof in favour of aluminum or clay tile; avoid wall to wall carpet with its synthetic backing; remodel your shower with a glass panel screen to avoid the need for a new plastic or nylon shower curtain every few months; and maintain your wooden deck with natural oils.

I’ve stopped at 10, but there are many ideas out there. Just check out Plastic Free Guide for a whole range of practical ones, many of which require very little effort.

I can hear you thinking ‘it’s too hard’, ‘it sounds expensive’. I can’t deny that some oil avoidance will take a little effort, but saying ‘no thanks’ because something comes in plastic is easy and saves you money!