What effect does your individual life have on the planet? How many cups of coffee/tea do you consume each day- for the total sum of your existence? How much trash does an average person throw away? How many tears will you shed in the 2 billion 475 million, 5,076 seconds that you will spend on earth?
A British study has estimated all these facts- and more. If we could see how many products we each consume- all piled together at one time, instead of spread out in years- it would be astounding.
You can calculate your individual “human footprint” here at this website:
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/H/human_footprint/
I am 46 years old, and guess what? ! So far I have had 372 kilograms of chocolate, eaten 2.6 cows, bought 314 books, and learned that using bar soap is better because it takes 800 years for the gel chemicals to break down in the environment! I also (supposedly), have 219 friends in my social network. So where are you guys? On perpetual vacation? Get over here!… Oh, they say that the internet causes a reduction in close friendships-well that explains it.
I have spoken 69,651,400 words so far, and more, as I read this out loud. Do blogs count? What about things you say to yourself?
It is estimated that I have exactly 1 billion seconds left in my lifetime. So here are some things I’d like to do with them: Listen to more country music, dance often, find a house on the beach, play my guitar more, exercise my smile muscles, and maybe get a dog.
But for today, I’m off to kick the tv out of my bedroom, (if you want to know why, then test your footprint) and find my 315th book to read. What about you?
