Simply Tracey

The best way I found to “downshift” my life was to get rid of my car and bike, walk, and use public transit more. How can we convince others that driving less — not greenwashed cars — is the best solution?    — Lisa Phillips, Chicago, Ill.

Tracey Smith, advocate for simple living.

What a refreshing question, and put forward with personal, positive experience too — well done to you for making the change. Let me begin with the greenwashed cars — by that, I take it you mean the emerging ranges of LPG cars, hybrids, etc. I feel very confident that they will soon stop being the “freaky vehicles” and come far more into the mainstream — they will also come in line with their prices. Anybody who purchases such a car, or converts his or her car to run on cleaned-up fuel (see Biosulis as a great example), is making a great step in the right direction in my view. They are clearly more aware of their road miles and making a conscious effort to leave a lighter impact on their environment.

However, the crux of it all lies absolutely in the great point you have made — as a matter of some urgency, we do need to convince people to drive less! Now, I think this can be achieved in a number of ways, and I favor those ideas that encourage and praise more conscientious travelers, rather than those that take a more persecutory route. That said, the large congestion charge we have for vehicles in London has made a significant and positive impact on our city streets. If it is brought in with force and a vengeance, we have little choice but to toe the line and swallow it!

Certainly, in the U.K., we need elevated public awareness of the fabulous existing car-share schemes already in place. Businesses should be compulsorily contacted with tried and tested frameworks to easily set corporate schemes up for car-share and car-pool vehicles. A powerful, upbeat public-awareness campaign put out via our radios and televisions could have a marked impact.

I think “slowing down and greening up” is key to sustainability, both for social and ecological reasons. I often have a difficult time promoting this concept — it flies in the face of conventional economic and development theory, which is based on the premise of infinite economic growth fueled by ever-increasing levels of consumption. What arguments would you put forward on the macroeconomic scale (say, to Tony Blair) to promote simpler living as something our rich, often overworked and overconsuming societies should embrace?    — Emmanuel Prinet, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Whilst I do promote a positive withdrawal from the present über-consumer society we seem to be swamped in, I also encourage wiser spending and investment in goods and products that will save us money and be kinder to the environment in the longer term. I believe the power of the green pound (or dollar) is going to increase at an incredible rate over the coming years, and many a business will be born and broken by a new wave of ethically conscious consumers. I believe my ethos makes a compelling argument, not necessarily telling people to downshift, but simply to get a firmer handle on the work and life balance. They can find their own comfort level within it.

As for Mr. Blair, I understand he will soon have a little more time on his hands. As he is still a relatively young dad, I imagine he may well naturally lean toward some of the ideas I promote. Perhaps he will be a sparkling, early retired, post-PM downshifting role model, which will put me out of a job! I wonder what sized wellies he takes …

I live in Anchorage, Alaska, and wonder if it is morally where I should live. Most everything here is shipped by barge from Seattle or is flown in from around the world. Plus to visit family, long-haul flights are a necessity. Do I need to move to the Lower 48?    — Rita Shirley, Anchorage, Alaska

I can see you are devoting much time and thought to the bigger picture, and I can hear such resounding guilt in your words. You must stop! Guilt is such a destructive emotion. I think it’s important we ditch the guilt for what we are not doing and start feeling good about what we are doing! If you love where you live, stay — and perhaps use your positive green energy to set up a car-share group or a shopping cooperative with friends and colleagues, or set up a Freecycle group to help keep things out of the landfill. Make positive progress to lighten your footprint in whatever way you feel drawn to. I would only move to another area if you have a heartfelt desire to do so, but I suspect there are no perfect states, as, indeed, there are no perfect countries. But certainly, feel happier about the beauty that surrounds you wherever you are and actively contribute toward its local environment.

Do you find when you are in contact with people in high gear that you are regarded as lazy or selfish for working less and making more time for yourself? How do you deal with these attitudes?    — P.L., Leonia, N.J.

Actually, I’ve been called lots of things — a bit “left of field,” an eternal optimist, even “a green visionary” — but certainly never lazy or selfish. I would like to say, if you do a big downshift (change career, move house, etc.) you actually have to work harder than ever before and be quite entrepreneurial to make all the ends meet — the difference is, you’re working to your own clock.

The Sustainable Living Organization (appropriately nicknamed SLO, as in SLOw down!) at Ohio University is trying desperately to create a place for students to live more sustainably. We carpool to the farmers’ market and recycle paper into notebooks as fundraisers, but it’s hard to find students who “get it.” They’re all busy trying to speed things up to get ahead and fear that sustainable living means sacrifice. How do you translate “less is more” to eager young minds who want it all?    — Katie Harris, Athens, Ohio

Thank you for raising the issue of the young and impressionable! I work a lot with schools and preschools too, trying to get the kids on the right, green track long before they step into adulthood. I’m a strong promoter of the Eco-Schools project.

To be honest, I think for the really young ones, this should be a walk in the park! The college and university age group I think presents us all with a tougher nut to crack. They are being driven by aspiration and the need to do it all better, faster, and with shiny, polished knobs on! For the ones who are more easily led to water, I believe influential, hip, trendy celebrity role models have a duty to set and endorse the trend. If those young people cannot get a grip on sustainability now, with such global public scaremongering and awareness going on, it’s going to be a real struggle when they do have to! I believe infecting a friend is one of the most amazing ways to penetrate these hard-liners. Make it your mission to get one a week on board to your way of thinking, and encourage them to do the same. Tell them, “I’m your mum and I said so.” It might work — anything’s worth a try!

I have been conscious of simplifying my life and making more time (or at least trying to) for the past year or so, especially after reading Better Off by Eric Brende and Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin. Are you aware of these books and/or have you been inspired by them?    — P.L., Leonia, N.J.

I haven’t read them but have read many extracts from the latter. Books of this ilk can be very inspirational, even epiphanical (made-up-word alert! — but you know what I mean). A few reads that have helped me on my journey are In Praise of Slow by Carl Honoré, Save Cash and Save the Planet from Friends of the Earth, The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency: The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers by John Seymour, Scenes From a Smallholding by Chas Griffin, and the WI Book of Biscuits from the Women’s Institute, along with a whole host of cookbooks from my local charity shop.

I know I should try to work less, but can you pass along some additional advice for those of us trying to downshift on the other side of the pond?    — Holly Richmond, Seattle, Wash.

You know, regardless of where you live on our planet, I think many of the problems we face are the same. In fact, a recent study of some 22,000 consumers in 46 countries at the turn of the year, asked, “What is your New Year’s wish/resolution for 2007?” Fifty-one percent wanted a better work/life balance — of U.S. consumers, it was actually one in three. I believe there is much inner power to be discovered with the willing acceptance of positively embracing living with less. I still encourage everyone to start by dipping their toes into a bit of downshifting. Analyze how you feel after making a few simple changes, and if you enjoy it and are hungry to take things to the next level, go ahead! Print out the Downshifting Manifesto (yes, I can hear you yelling, “Print out — argh!”) and pin it up on your refrigerator for starters. Please drop me a line if you want some additional one-to-one — I’ll do my level best to help you on your road to a simpler, happier life.

Do you think Brits need to downshift as much as Americans do? I have a rosy image of Europeans in general, taking a break for tea while we put in frenetic overtime, but maybe that’s just a stereotype.     — Keith Alan, Oregon City, Ore.

I think the world over we could all benefit from a little time and/or financial downshifting! The survey I mentioned earlier showed 80 percent in favor of more work/life balance in emerging economies, like Vietnam and Indonesia. I find it almost inconceivable how little vacation time is offered to folks in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.K., it’s a pretty standard 20 days. I am in support of Take Back Your Time Day and Shorter Work Week. I sincerely hope your legislation changes. Regarding the tea thing, there was actually a strong decline in the institutional tea break what with the rise in coffee houses here in the U.K., but the newspapers have just reported an 80 percent rise in teapot sales, amongst other tea paraphernalia, and I suspect the balance has been corrected in favor of putting the kettle back on!

I am an urban downshifter. Even though I sold my car and I now buy only what is necessary for me, it seems I spend a lot of money and resources (travel or shipping) to get good food, treats, and vet care for my dog. Any suggestions on how to downshift my pooch?    — Jodi Minion, College Station, Texas

A doggie can be a very relaxing companion, particularly when traveling and discovering new places. I certainly wouldn’t say trade him in to save on the dosh! Maybe offer your vet a skill-exchange service. Is there something you can offer in return for reduced fees — painting up the surgery or something of that nature? If not, I guess the bills are just one of those necessary evils.