FYI: Oil at Walmart

[glenn]

Awesome replies, nice and civil too! It doesn't have to be black and white though, we all do what we can - it's just good to think about these things

I only buy organic free range beef from a local farmer that I can shake hands with. We eat less beef, but boy is it ever good. I almost entirely buy organic fruits and veggies, but you can't always find what you want. I also gladly pay $6 a dozen for organic eggs - a good egg is worth 50 cents to me - who hasn't payed $1.50 for a bottle of water? I have not eaten a fast food burger in years (have you ever seen what goes into that giant grinder?) - I do eat out occasionally, so I'm realistic about not always only eating the good stuff.

I also shop at nearly all those big stores - but I try not to. More importantly - I try to buy things that are of good quality and last longer, knowing they will cost a bit more. We can't avoid, nor should we avoid, buying china made goods, but we should support the North American manufacturing sector when we can. By the way - I hand make studio furniture for a living.

I have vowed to stop buying any new electronics as a protest against the coltan industry and it's funding of the warfare in the congo. All my current computers I bought used, don't have a smart phone - and I am very happy with them running the latest version of Ubuntu.
My wife commutes to work on her bike - I ride bikes with my kids to school every day that it doesn't rain now, until winter. (My bike was hand made in the USA over 15 years ago by the way)

Funny thing is, you wouldn't know this by looking at me. I live in the suburbs. My lifestyle is not very different from anyone else. My impact on the planet is less though, plus I'm healthier than I've been in years. All these things just seem like simple common sense to me.

I'm not smug about this either - I realize a lot of people think I'm a chump. But - I think we all have a responsibility to be good global citizens. I decided not to wait anymore and start living as if everything is finite - hopefully enough do before we have to resort to life-boat strategies. It's astonishing to me that so many people don't accept the overwhelming amount of evidence that global warming is really happening - what's it going to take to convince you?

To bring it back to Delicas - this is also why I drive a delica - I just ordered my WVO system last week. One more step away from big oil soon.

Mr Pistachio - I hope this doesn't discourage you from posting other great deals on the forum - it just struck a nerve this morning and I couldn't resist.

[nxski]

I like to focus on the fact that our vans come from Japan because it's a bit of a double edge sword. On one hand we dont support our local economy but on the other hand we save these vehicles from an untimely death therefore we are recycling for Japan.

[Mr. Pistachio]

I like to focus on the fact that our vans come from Japan because it's a bit of a double edge sword. On one hand we dont support our local economy but on the other hand we save these vehicles from an untimely death therefore we are recycling for Japan.

Indeed

Glenn,

I'm seriously impressed by your website. You have very good woodworking skills! As for what you said, If you do what you say, you have a very good social awareness and I respect that hands down. No hard feelings!

I've been looking around (in Ottawa) for WVO to convert my van but it's hard to find! Easterners aren't so WVO friendly as people from BC.

Cheers Mate

Antoine

[konadog]

I DO appreciate you posting the deal Mr. P. and meant no hard feelings nor finger wagging - just sayin' what I think about Wal-Mart... People go off on Crappy Tire here all the time... Btw, I sure don't think of myself as PC, but avoid all those stores mentioned - I'd rather pay more to support smaller, local outfits and to diminish the likely-hood that slaves had any part in producing the stuff I use.
Great post Glenn - really well put.

[psilosin]

I can get why people might shop at WalMart even though I can't stand it personally...but what is with the dingdongs that, on purpose, camp with their Vans/RVs in WalMart parking lots. All summer long 1/3 of the parking lot at a lot of WalMarts are campers.

My brother in law was going off last summer about how cool it was that he could overnight for free in a WalMart parking lot when they went down to California. I don't get it one bit. I can't think of much I would want to do less than drop $50,000+ on a ridiculous RV and then use it to travel to another city and camp in a cement parking lot at WalMart.

[tonydca]

I had a big rant here, but f### it. Arguing is stupid and on teh internetz; uber-stupid.

Keep politics out of threads where they're not requested.

Erik