The international passion to protect our planet from the ravages of pollution & to preserve our natural resources for future generations has become an everyday fact of life. And so... So far so good. With international support by "green" political parties, consumer organizations, celebrities & politicians, the green movement has become a powerful force with an agenda that needs to be addressed by industry, politicians & consumers. Discussions about the environment are taking place in corporate board rooms, legislative hearings, & by consumers in supermarkets & department stores.

Can we fully understand environmental concerns & energy implications without a working knowledge of basic green vocabulary? Do we understand all the issues relevant to tax incentives for oil companies? Can we properly compare the organic & nonorganic products that we decide to eat or wear every day? In essence, to think & live green you need to speak & understand green.

Understanding some key green terms & their implications can assist us evaluate alternatives between our planet & sacrificing aspects our personal lifestyle. It can assist us decide how we cast our vote or spend our money or how we live our lives. A green vocabulary can assist us reduce our "carbon footprint ". The following represents what's best described as a green vocabulary of definitions & commentary to help eco-oriented consumers make informed green decisions.

A Green Vocabulary for Green People

Organic identifies products made under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. Organic production guidelines are established to use organic materials & practices that improve ecological balance. Organic production incorporates agricultural system components to enhance natural biological systems.

Organic Agriculture is an ecological farming system that promotes natural chemical & biological cycles that improve soil fertility & maintains a balanced & productive farming system. Any products introduced to this system for fertility or pest protection are of natural composition. It eliminates the use of harmful synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, growth stimulants or antibiotics. These essential restrictions can reduce contamination or pollution to our air, water or food supply.

Natural Fibersare "certified" organic fibers derived from organic agriculture such as cotton, bamboo & hemp.

Certified Organic Cotton is derived from organic agriculture. The cotton is grown without artificial pesticides or fertilizers. Conventional cotton farming ranks about fourth in the use of pesticides in the US. Several of the top pesticides used in nonorganic cotton farming are EPA recognized carcinogens. It takes 1/3 of a pound of pesticides & synthetic fertilizers to make one organic T-shirt disregarding the use of any toxic dyes (Organic Trade Association). A typical organic tee shirt is also about the same weight but without these harmful chemicals. Organic cotton is produced using conservation minded or "sustainable" approaches to crop production. Such practices help to retain & promote soil fertility & the natural recycling of soil resources.

Organic Certification is provided by various organizations. The most widely recognized standards are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) which is the basis for the statement "100% certified organic cotton" used by many green companies.

Fair Labor Practices are not necessarily restricted to agriculture but generally support fair wages & healthy working conditions.

Fair Trade Certification "...guarantees consumers that strict economic, social & environmental criteria were met in the production & trade of an agricultural product."(www.transfairusa.org).

Sweatshop-free describes the absence of manufacturing conditions currently existing in many countries, referred to as "sweatshops". They are production facilities or factories where goods are produced cheaply by minimizing workers' salaries, & increasing working hours. Proper environmental health standards are diminished, yet demands for high levels of productivity still remain. These sweatshops may thrive from corporations seeking to increase profits by subcontracting inexpensive labor.

Sustainable means conserving & preserving limited natural resources & energy supplies. Clear? It is connected with the term "recycling" when natural products are re-used like rubber (for tires, shoes) or paper/trees (for books, business cards, magazines etc.), or wood (for recycled furniture). They are made from or made into recycled, carbon based products. A good example of preserving our resources is Trees for the Future, a charitable organization dedicated to replacing & planting trees. Unfortunately, most of our energy production is derived from organic (carbon based) fossil fuels that can not actually be recycled as compared to wind or solar energy. All of this is connected to our lifestyle & our "carbon footprint" discussed next.

Carbon Footprint is a descriptor of environmental impact. It describes the consumption of carbon based natural resources or the production of carbon by-products like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or "greenhouse emissions". It is about lifestyle & the amount of carbon based resources we consume through transportation, climate control, manufacturing etc. Basically it relates to how much each of us consume in terms of natural resources to meet our needs. Clear? In general each of us should be committed to reducing the size of our "footprint" to sustain resources for present & future generations.

Eco-fashion is a general term describing organic clothing that has addressed the needs of the environment as well as socially responsible working conditions.

Eco-friendly suggests a product or process than has a reduced impact on the environment.

Low Impact Dyes refers to dyes used the manufacture of goods that should have minimal impact on the environment. OK. Some times the term non-toxic is used here as well.

Green is a generally positive term referring to the environment, organics or even a green lifestyle to be discussed shortly.

Conscientious Clothingdescribes organic clothing has addressed environmental, ethical & socially responsible standards.

The Green Lifestyle

Green Lifestyle or Green Living describes a lifestyle reflecting a strong commitment to the environment. In addition, it addresses compassionate & positive thinking. It means choosing a life with charitable deeds & practices, reflecting compassion for the environment & others. Green living is being proactive & incorporates spiritual growth leading to ethical thinking.

Social Responsibility can be defined as accepting responsibility for others & taking action against social injustice. It includes meeting the needs of others through charitable giving.

Charitable Giving describes a sense of genuine compassion & reacting to it with charitable practices towards others.

In summary, a green lifestyle represents caring for the environment combined with positive thinking leading to ethical behavior & compassionate living. Ultimately, your deeds represent positive thoughts in action. The result can be a clean, safe environment & a better quality of life for yourself & others.

If you learned some green vocabulary, be sure to use it to make decisions & set priorities in your life. Think about adopting a greener lifestyle!