A sustainable lifestyle is something I am constantly striving for personally, and have been (in varying degrees of dedication) doing for most of my life. Conservation and a healthy planet were important to me well before I could readily define either of those terms! I am sure that this is the case for most of those who have entered into the Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition as well; starting a sustainability project is not just a project but a mindset! But do you remember your first thought towards an environmentally conscious existence? I can! 

When I was probably around 7 or 8 years old (way too long ago..) I first learned how the plastic rings on a pack of cans could choke turtles in the ocean. It did not take me long to realize that this could also harm other animals as well. From that point on, I always cut those rings to ensure they were not able to throttle any animal, aquatic or otherwise!

From there, it has just always made sense to me that science and morality say we should treat other animals and the planet as we would our own family and home. What has never made sense to me is why people purposely choose to not live this way; it just sounds cruel and lazy. In summation, my thoughts are perfectly stated by this famous cartoon by Joel Pett. All sustainability does is create a better world. Why do people try to fight it so hard?