Spring 2010
Member Profile
Parents Who Think Big
"My generation has inherited a multitude of environmental, social, and political problems," says Michael Mills, a member of the UCS Henry Kendall Society, "and I don't want my children to inherit those same problems and more. I want to be a part of the solution."
Michael and his family have been changing their lifestyle to minimize their environmental impact, and are deeply committed to supporting UCS. As he explains, "The degree of change needed is enormous. The problems won't be solved by personal choices alone." UCS, in Michael's words, has the influence to deliver the "game-changing legislation" needed to address these problems.
Changes Begin at Home
| In this issue of Catalyst:
> Securing the Skies |
Michael appreciates the practical, science-based approach UCS takes to both public policy and consumer advice, including our book The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, which helped him prioritize the lifestyle changes that will have the greatest impact. He learned, for example, that he didn't need to worry about using paper bags versus plastic when the kind of car his family was driving made a much bigger difference. They now drive a hybrid model.
After learning about the environmental impact of their food choices, the family also changed the way they eat, reducing their consumption of meat, growing many of their own vegetables and herbs, and buying the rest of their produce from a local CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. Leslie Mills blogs about cooking healthy food that her two daughters will enjoy, which isn't always easy.
Nevertheless, she and Michael believe their new lifestyle will set a responsible example for their children. And they see their support for UCS as a measure of insurance on the cleaner, safer world they hope to leave their children.
