‘Green’ video contest

In an effort to inspire IBMers to learn how to shoot, edit and publish audio and video, and in an effort to get them using our internal Media Library (for publishing, tracking, subscribing etc), our team has launched a few media contests over the years.  Nothing like an opportunity to create fun content mixed with the promise of cool prizes to get people worked up and participating. These contests work here at IBM, and accomplish all of the above while also getting employees thinking about the particular issues buried in the themes of these seemingly innocent games.  I could go on about other value these contests bring (amazing how different geographis react and participate in these contests), but I’m leading to a whole different point here.

A new contest is in its final days here. One that was launched by some folks outside of my team.  They are doing a ‘green’ contest, looking for employee stories about what IBMers are doing at home or in the workplace to make a difference in helping to behave more responsibily in regard to our environment.  It got me thinking about the kind of video I would make (if I were allowed to compete).

My initial assumption was that I am not doing enough for the environment and would not have a very compelling story to tell.  Then, as the days passed and I found myself thinking about it more, I realized I have enacted a whole bunch of things that are surely making a dent.  The following is my self-serving laundry list of positive actions I’m taking to make a difference in my world for our world.

Been buying / using those damned annoying eco-lightbulbs.  Getting used to them as well as relying on natural light more…

Public transportation has become the norm for all of my frequent NYC trips.  I walk to do quick and simple errands when home

Using the internet for my banking/bill paying and have reduced paper use considerably by going electronic in general

I stopped using supermarket bags, paper or plastic, and have a set of my own cloth ones I re-use

Family meat/dairy consumption has been halved and is now only the free-range organic / non-antibiotic or hormone style. Personally I’m basically a vegetarian.

Dish and laundry soap is now ‘eco-friendly’ Seventh Generation brand

I spend more time trying to fix things as opposed to just throwing out and buying new

In general, I pay much closer attention to choices now and figure that every little thing I do differently will add up over time and make a difference.  I’m sure I’m forgetting some things in the list above, but you get the idea.  Sometimes it’s the little things.