A few years ago I read a book by Charles Mann, The Wizard and the Prophet. Mann proposes two competing theories of environmentalism, theories which have gone on to shape every environmental movement or policy for the past 50 years in one way or another. The Wizard refers to Norman

A large part of this blog is to hold ourselves accountable.  In that vein, I'm writing to give an update on the bank switch.  Earlier this year I committed to switching away from RBC. I was dismayed to find that my bank, RBC, is Canada's largest

I've been thinking about this challenge for sometime, years actually, but made a firm resolve in December.  Being COVID, perhaps I let myself off the hook a little bit Not much for online shopping,  going out less naturally means less exposure to things to buy.  However, I thought

I've banked with the Royal Bank of Canada, RBC, since I first got a bank account, about half my life.  The service has been exceptional and the product offering has fulfilled all of my needs which, as a frequent border hopper/resident can be somewhat more complex than

In our capitalist system there is a myth of constant growth.  It is based on the assumption that growth can be constant and that it is good. While financially speaking the stock market has been a good investment over the course of the last 100 years this idea of constant

In order to hold ourselves accountable and create some guidelines we have outlined the following 6 rules: * We will not buy any new consumer goods * Used goods are ok: thrift stores, garage sales, Kijiji, Craigslist * Consumables such as food, toiletries and cleaning supplies are not consumer goods and are not

Travis and I are forever discussing the climate crisis, plastic waste, consumerism and other topics that are depressing and frustrating. I feel like every time I buy something I'm angry that the box it came in was stuffed with styrofoam or that I didn't consider how

In the past few years I've become concerned with the amount of stuff in my life. Specifically, the things I accumulate, it's never really enough. It's not that I don't feel unfulfilled in what I have and what I get, but no