Ok. So, I've always kind of thought of myself as someone that's concerned about the environment. I've always loved being outdoors, and I've found it pretty hard to adjust to moving to a big city for university. I try to recycle, buy organic, drive a small, efficient car and try to limit my driving in general. I'm studying biology, and quite a lot of my course is geared towards conservation and environmentalism. The thing is, I'm starting to get confused about what's actually environmentally friendly, and what's just hype.

People are obviously becoming more aware of a need to start looking after our "dying planet". That makes me wonder how many of the new "ethical, environmentally friendly" companies and produces that are springing up actually are helpful, and how many of them are just trying to fill a new niche market purely for profit. Take organic farming: I always thought, hey, thats gotta be a good thing, surely? But then, if you go into most major supermarkets and look at their organic produce, a large proportion of it (like, fruit and veg) has still been flown half way around the world to get to you... whats organic about that? And it mostly looks so perfect too... there aren't spots on the apples, weirdly shaped veg, all the stuff I'd expect from organic produce. So how much is being wasted because it isn't up to the high standards of perfection expected by people these days? I was talking to a girl whos parents grow tomatos for a living, and she said with many major shops and supermarkets, if just one bruised or rotten tomato is found in a crate, the whole lot gets sent back and has to be thrown out. What a waste of resources.

So, is buying locally grown, seasonal produce on balance better for the environment than organic? How would you measure it? And how do you know you're not just being ripped off either way? (I am just a poor student!)

I like to go out into the countryside, and fairly regularly visit National Parks and forests etc. But do I really have any right to? The whole reason I love these places is because they are natural, generally free from people, unpolluted and quiet. But by going there, I'm probably directly having a negative effect on them. Am I selfish for wanting to enjoy the few unspoilt places in the world, knowing that it is people like me who will probably eventually spoil them?

I suppose at the end of the day, its all about balance and compromise... and trying to limit your own personal impact. I just kinda wish there could be some sort of difinitive guide telling me whats good and worth doing, and whats not!

Thoughts? Sorry this is so ranty... I did warn you that I'm confused. ;)

The standards for what's 'organic' are all over the map, and completely inconsistent. I'll try to track them down, but I know that they were listed in a book I read, Mendel In The Kitchen, about GE foods.