Health & Fitness
Go Green Wilmette and Wilmette Public Library Second TED Talk
An enthusiastic crowd greeted “TED” on November 20, 2013 at 1:00 at the Wilmette Public Library. The program included two short, excellent TED Talk videos by Graham Hill, "Less Stuff, More Happiness" and "Why I'm a Weekday Vegetarian".
Graham Hill is the founder of the eco-blog, TreeHugger.com.
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Green Wilmette president Beth Drucker welcomed the attendees and explained that two Go Green Wilmette members worked hard to arrange for the TED talk to be offered. Graham Hill’s presentations were short and informative. The idea that < = > was introduced. The video made a good case for this. The group offered several ideas about how one can begin to decrease the amount of “stuff” we don’t need or use. One person gives an item away for every item she purchases. Getting gifts from thrift stores was mentioned. Having a large box available and placing items one doesn’t really need in it and then giving it to charity was another idea.
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
His idea of being a weekday vegetarian evoked a somewhat negative response from many people present. In general, the group seemed to think this was not a useful or healthful approach but the discussion was enlightening and many different points of view were offered.
A review of the first TED talk revealed that some people who were present at the initial TED talk that showed very disturbing information about the way plastic is ruining our environment were moved to change their way of doing things. One person kept a dairy of when she refuses plastic and then how much plastic she could not find a way to refuse. One person mentioned taking containers to restaurants for the leftovers she brings home. The discussion of paper or plastic resulted in cloth/reusable, which is always the best approach.
Watch for Go Green Wilmette participants on November 23rd at Wilmette's Holiday Parade.
Another TED talk will be offered sometime in February. Watch for it! You can also pull up all the TED talks mentioned.
For more information about Go Green Wilmette go to: www.gogreenwilmette.org
