An Environmentalist's Dilemma

In case you didn't already know it, I'm an environmentalist...I recycle, reuse, and reduce. I take my canvas grocery bag to the supermarket, I always clean and recycle #1 and #2 plastics, #4 plastic bags, and all recyclable paper, glass, and aluminium. I have switched to CFLs, I use public transportation, have started eating organic as much as I can, and have stopped using shrink wrap. Also, I use cold water for both my clothes and dishes, and take shorter showers (this doesn't compromise my hygiene in any way!!) or turn off the water when shampooing and soaping, when I don't have time for a bath. So today, I finally decided to switch from regular cleaners to environmentally-friendly cleaners.

I was out of dishwashing detergent, so I decided to get one from the supermarket, but right before I stepped out, I watched Dawn's new campaign about saving wildlife, where one can buy specially marked Dawn bottles and donate $1 to save the wildlife. TEMPTING!!!! The penguin, duck, and otter in the commercial were sooooo cutee! In the ad, they showed them being cleaned with Dawn after an oil spill...and they all got squeaky clean and even cuter!!

So, I decided to get Dawn and forgot about environmentally-safe detergents. But as I was standing in the cleaners' aisle, I couldn't decide on which one to buy...Greenworks or Dawn. So I just stood there, reading label for one and then the other, and then repeating the action at least 3 more times. I probably looked a bit shady doing that..or confused, so after 5 minutes of reading labels and standing at the same spot, an assistant came and asked me if I needed help. I told him I was having a problem deciding which detergent to buy, at which he looked at my canvas shopping bag and said, "Ahh....you're all into organic, I believe. Thus the trouble deciding?" I was like, No, you turd, it's 'coz imma Libran!! Not really, I just smiled at him, at which he suggested I should buy both.

Now wait a minute, you don't think I'm THAT dumb, do you? I ended up buying GreenWorks because it was free of dyes, chemicals, and it had biodegradable preservatives, and you didn't need to call a Poison Control Center if you swallowed it (you never know...it's me!!). I'm still wondering if I did the right thing, because I obviously couldn't buy 2 bottles....that would last me a year!! And I thought that you didn't have to worry about making these kind of decisions if you were an environmentalist!!! Oh well....


P.S.
Dawn's campaign ends on October 1, 2009. Their goal is to collect $500,000 and they have collected about $18,200. While PA and NY have it over $1000, states like ND, SD, and VT are still in two-digits!! I'm assuming people in VT are buying green products, while people in SD and ND don't have internet access or they're only buying detergents that come in buckets...!! For the rest of you, BUY DAWN!