A few days ago, I watched the inspiring documentary No Impact Man, a story about Colin Beavan and his family trying to live one year in New York without making any net impact on the environment. I have heard a lot about this movie so I was ashamed I hadn’t watched it yet. Then again, I’m also probably one of the only people left in the U.S. that hasn’t seen Avatar yet either.
We start by getting acquainted with Colin, a writer, and his wife Michelle Conlin, a BusinessWeek journalist, and their adorable toddler Isabella. Colin wanted to start a project to see if he could live without making an impact on the planet for one year and then write a book about his experiences. He had been reading about all the measures that politicians and CEOs had been talking about to change the world but nothing was happening. He decided to do something to see if one person could take action and make a difference instead, and it resulted in a yearlong No Impact Project. “No Impact” means avoiding making a net impact on the planet; prohibited activities include producing trash, driving or flying, eating food not produced locally, and using electricity – in essence, activities that produce carbon emissions. The Beavans were the average American family – eating Chinese take-out every night, taking a few planes trips every year, and thinking about the environment when they remembered or when it was convenient.
As they began the project and then all throughout the movie, I was impressed by Colin. He was able to take things in stride. No challenge seemed too much for him, ranging from using no toilet paper to doing without a refrigerator. For Michelle it was a little bit more difficult with a few slip ups here and there, but overall I thought she was very, very open-minded. Maybe what helped and what I admired about how they did the No Impact Challenge is that it was gradual. Many people get overwhelmed by taking on too many changes at once, thus, why New Year’s resolutions fail so often. There were several phases: Reducing Consumption, Trash, Transportation, Food, and Energy. Their Energy phase occurred 6 months into the project, and they completely cut off all electricity to their apartment. It seems absolutely crazy, but they just used candles for light or threw on an extra jacket if it got cold.
We see the transition as their family moves from normal American consumption to No Impact, and it’s inspiring because it seems doable. The movie was very realistic in depicting the struggles they faced as they attempted new challenges. However, it also showed them evolving as a family and doing things that they normally wouldn’t have, such as eating healthier, riding bikes, and spending more quality time together.
Now if you are interested in attempted your own No Impact project, according to Colin’s blog this year they are initiating a No Impact Project for others! As of the beginning of February, they are taking signups for people that are living in New York City, but I took a look through the How-To Manual and it seems like something anyone can attempt at home. Although I will not ever stop using toilet paper or start doing my laundry in the bathtub, there are many other practical ways to gradually reduce one’s impact on the environment. Personally, I am contemplating trying out my own similar experiment. This film hit close to home because it parallels PineMark’s message that an individual can reduce his or her impact with some simple changes. It is all about education and learning WHY you are changing something. Much of it is common sense. I recommend this movie for anyone interested in not only reducing your impact on the environment, but in living a healthier, more dynamic lifestyle.
- Lauren
Tags: Movie reviews, No Impact Man
