Statement, Lifestyle or does it matter?

The first time I saw a Prius, Dustin Hoffman was behind the wheel. Then celebs like Leo, Cameron and Jennifer Aniston were seen pulling up to red carpets all over Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Brentwood in the hyped hybrid. That’s when I began to dismiss the Prius as merely a “statement car.”

And then my dad, who has always been a car guy at a distance, got into an argument with a friend of his over his friend’s recent purchase of an SUV. My dad’s argument was that in this day and age the environment had to be considered when buying a car. Now keep in mind that, while my dad does enjoy outdoor activities, he has never been considered exactly ecocentric. In fact, he himself drove a Hollywood-type car without a conscious.

The next day my dad literally drove his statement home- he bought a Prius. Though at first the car was merely a way to say “see!” to his friend, he quickly found that he loved his newly minted statement and went as far as to put his old beloved icon in storage.

So what’s my point? I have heard, seen and argued with deeply rooted greenies who are deeply offended by a newbie’s purchase of a Prius for sheer statement-making purposes.

If you are buying a Prius and pulling up to your neighborhood farmer’s market for a car load of locally grown organic produce for the

first time I applaud you- regardless of your reason. So what if celebrities are helping to drive the environmental movement? So what if Schwarzenegger- a known Hummer collector- is now fighting, actually suing on behalf of the environment.

In my opinion, environmental showmanship is a welcome form of snobbery. It’s better than parading around in a Hummer, Ferrari or Bentley!

Don’t get me wrong, die hard environmentalists are at the core of the eco movement. But there are millions of others, like my dad, who never before really considered how their lifestyle choices were in fact contributing to global warming, but now they may be ready to explore new options. If making a statement is their initial eco choice- great! They now have an awareness that didn’t exist within them before, and they will- I guarantee you- make conscious decisions from now on.

Don’t own or not interested in owning a Prius- no problem. Make a statement in your own way. Here are a few ways you can try:

• Wear a “Green in Sexy” t-shirt
• Carry a reusable bag at the grocery store
• Buy local at your neighborhood farmer’s market
• Install solar panels on your roof
• Show off your own personal wind mill in your front lawn
• Include your GreenIQ Score in your email signature

It IS time to make a statement. Let your greenness shine and inspire others to do their part too. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

xx
Laurel