Simon Mitchell - Green hedonism

In reality I view my values as a green person as relatively meaningless in the scheme of things. I know that at a global level for everyone of me, a person who makes careful choices about what they consume and tries to limit consumption, there are probably 100,000 people who don’t, many of them because they are simply unable to have this wealth of choice. I know that even if every person in the UK became carbon neutral overnight, it would take China just 83 days to make up the difference in global pollution terms.

I see the greenwash of successive governments who say one thing ‘Yes we intend to decrease greenhouse gases’, and then do another ‘and by the way we are building another runway at Heathrow and building more roads to cope with the increase in travellers’. In reality, my choices are pretty meaningless given the hypocrisy of governments and the mass of humanity intent on unwittingly changing the nature of our planet.

In fact, I don’t believe that my choices as a green person make one iota of difference on a global scale, which begs the question, ‘Why do I bother?’

Well, it’s simply a matter of conscience. When Bangladeshis drown en-masse or hurricanes render millions of people homeless in China or the US, I certainly feel remorse, but because I don’t drive, because I limit my use of money to a minimum, because I am stringent with power or water, because I don’t use a kettle at home or own a fridge or washing machine, I don’t have to feel guilty, or find ways to avoid thinking about it altogether, and this means that I can get on with enjoying my life, which to me is the most important part of being a green person in the 21 st century.

Actually, I believe that the devastation of the earth is part of our destiny. Given present circumstances it’s unavoidable. Because of the processes we have set up, such as money and investment, the system trundles like a leviathan towards total global pollution, unable to change because there are too many people with their status, greed and ignorance invested in the easy profits of planetary abuse. Sure, the good consciences of the few or the brilliance of technological invention may delay things a while, but unless we completely rethink how we live on this earth we will basically be forced to, by the laws of nature.

Given that, I enjoy my life to the full. The earth is still a fantastic place to live, with an abundance of beauty and nature. I have a better quality of life than any other person I know. It seems contradictory to claim to be green, but also to be a hedonist, but the key for me is in making the hypocrisies of my life conscious, and simply accepting, even enjoying them.

Within voluntary simplicity there are great riches to enjoy. A simple walk in stunning nature with friends, a meal at home made from the purest of materials, a hand-made gift to or from a loved one, a cycle ride in the woods, kayaking on the river, spending the day by a fire – these cost next to nothing and contribute towards a life of amazing quality.

SECRETS OF THE GREEN KITCHEN by Simon Mitchell - print & ebook

One way to a greener lifestyle starts at home – in the kitchen! Here’s holistic thinker and wild food enthusiast Simon Mitchell with a radical new book that celebrates the awesome power of natural foods for managing health.

Here is the WHY and the HOW of reaching for a holistic lifestyle from the heart of your home. Discover for yourself the power of Mother Nature’s Gifts – a real integrated medicine working for you from your very own kitchen. Hiding in your meals, is a whole FOOD MEDICINE for health, for healing – and for fun!

SECRETS OF THE GREEN KITCHEN