Co-op America (of which we are members through our sister company Fuzbaby) is promoting their 12-step plan for climate action.

Scientists at the Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) have taken up this challenge, and propose stabilizing carbon emissions by dividing this huge task into smaller, doable action “wedges” of equal size—each with the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tons/year by 2054. CMI lists 15 possible “wedges,” out of which we need to achieve just seven to reach carbon stabilization.

Co-op America has filtered these wedges to give us the strongest 12 steps we can take.

1. Increase fuel economy
2. Cut back on driving.
3. Increase energy efficiency.
4. Decrease tropical deforestation to zero.
5. Stop soil erosion.
6. Increase wind power.
7. Push hard for solar power.
8. Increase efficiency of coal plants.
9. Replace 1,400 gigawatts of coal with natural gas.
10. Sequester carbon dioxide at existing coal plants.
11. Develop zero-emissions vehicles.
12. Develop biomass as a short-term replacement for fossil fuel.

What should you do? Ask state legislators, members of Congress, business people, and others with power to make these changes. Learn about one (or more) options and write letters to the editor. Talk to people. Help those around you see the necessity and possibility of change if we ac now.

Our stock of diaper bags is low–really low. Exactly one. I’ve been dreading replacing the hemp batik diaper bags we carry, but the company had gone out of business, so we just have the stock we have.

A customer called this past week. She already had one Mom about Town hemp batik diaper bag, but she thought she probably needed another because the rainbow batik was just calling to her. We talked about why she liked the bag–the softness, the shape, the nylon tote bag to keep wet diapers separate. I told her I was just about to ask customers to help me replace this favorite diaper bag with another, and she said she would like to help.

She surprised me by digging to find out that Mom about Town diaper bags are going back into production. Yeah! She didn’t have to dig very far. There it is right on their front page.

So, I wrote to tell owner Paula Vaden how excited I was to hear this and let her know that I would be very happy to restock her bags the minute they are available. Paula confirmed. Mom about Town diaper bags are coming back. What good news. I love to support small, woman-owned companies–especially one with such a great owner as Paula Vaden.

A friend of mine has joined the Compact, a group of people in San Francisco agreeing to buy nothing new in the coming year except food, health and safety items, and underwear. They are taking Reduce, Reuse, Recycle a step further in their effort to step outside the consumer machine. Good for them!

This could be seen as part of the voluntary simplicity movement.

What is more simple than cloth diapers, especially flat cloth diapers made with nothing but organic cotton? Better yet, cut up old towels, use what you have on hand. Remember that diapers and diaper covers can be simple tools to do a simple job.