This contrasts with the well-known environmental footprint that signifies the damage one does. The best one can get with a footprint is no impact at all. The potential of a hand print is unlimited.
There are lots of examples of the environmental hand print. The science educators of Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO) teach first through fifth graders about streams and the soil. Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring
A modest goal for an individual is to have a bigger environmental hand print than one’s footprint. If I fly across the country, I can buy “green tags” from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to pay for solar electric systems on schools. In principle, some of us can buy enough offsets and donate to enough causes to atone for our environmental excesses.
The idea of the hand print has even more meaning when celebrated on its own merits, not just in terms of numbers. If I ride a bus instead of driving I support an entire mass-transit system, as well as reducing emissions. If we reuse containers while buying bulk walnuts at the food coop, we save raw materials, reduce waste, support regional organic agriculture and support a cooperative business. A child educated in the ways of the environment might become an environmental heroine herself. Such is the potential of our environmental hand print!
I came up with the concept of the environmental hand print on my own. I have since found three related concepts on the Web. Carbon Hand print out of England, collects pledges to “adapt your lifestyle for a greener future.” Bruce Sterling on the Veridian web site envisions cars that take carbon out of the atmosphere. He says, “Instead of creating a lighter environmental footprint, these industries would have a deliberate environmental ‘hand print’”. The Centre for Environment Education in India proposes the Sustainable Hand print as a tool. “The hand print analyses positive impact on the three aspects of sustainability: environment, society, and economy.” I had best not hang on to the idea too tightly.
To bring the environmental hand print down to Earth, I suggest a simple exercise. Draw outlines of two hands on a sheet of paper. Near each finger of the left hand, write down one of your environmental accomplishments. It is okay to give yourself credit for signing consciousness-raising save-the-whales petitions. On the right hand write down five ways you want to create sustainability. Intentions can be powerful, especially when witnessed. Share your picture with a friend.
By Jon_Biemer
Ode is a print and online publication about positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. If you would like more stories like this, click here to get a free issue of Ode.
