The valued niche of your guilty conscience

In the quest for tips to live a more environmentally friendly life I came across National Geographic's True Green 100 everyday ways you can contribute to a healthier planet.

For a mere $19.95 (not including tax and shipping and handling) you can buy yet another book about how to save the planet.

These books of tips pop up all over the place, lining shelves of Barnes and Nobles, Whole Foods, and apparently National Geographic.

It is oxymoronic to spend 20+ dollars on a product that you could just as easily access on the internet without the use of resources like paper.

When did saving the planet become a niche in the already densely populated consumeropolis? Rather than coming to the table to share knowledge about preserving our planet, we have bullied our way to the market, milking consumers' guilty consciences to the last drop.

Telling people they are irresponsible if they spend their hard earned income on gas or food and not "green" products is not a valid response to the catastrophe that is today's environmental woes.

It is unethical to charge for a product that will advise them on something that should be part of the universal collective. It would be nice to see more sites and organizations that care more about the planet than profits.

Unless I see a disclaimer that profits from the product will be given to an organization doing work in environmental issues and that the product in question is made from reused materials, I see no justification for charging people for information that should be shared willingly and freely.

These are a few site I have found that provide useful greening tips freely online:

1. The Green Guide (National Geographic's very own website where you can find some of the same information as in their True Green)
   
2. Green Living Tips
   
3. Green Tips at About My Planet
   
4. Eco Tips from Global Stewards
   
   
   Happy greening everyone!