Living life, now with fewer carbon emissions
Blaming obese and disabled for climate change is hate speech
This past year I made the decision to give up driving and sold my car. Over the past few years, I drove so seldom that I would often only put fuel in my car’s tank once or twice a year. I drove increasingly less and less due to health conditions. There are the hemiplegic migraines that cause half my body to become momentarily paralyzed, the chronic vestibular migraine, and both the brain fog and leg spasticity related to multiple sclerosis. Giving up driving became doable for me as someone who receives disability benefits, pays for delivery services from local stores (which is touted as greener than driving yourself to the store), has trips to doctors’ offices covered by insurance, and lives in close proximity to many amenities.
In the summer, I ride my recumbent trike to both the farmers market and aquatic center near my house. Both are only a few blocks away. I live near the local post office, library, museum, hospital, a bank, a good coffee shop, numerous restaurants, and less than a mile from a small grocery and natural foods store. My mom and some friends of mine are able to help me get to other places. Car pooling was always something I preferred doing anyway as it lowers fossil fuel consumption. Neither my partner or I drive, but even if I count times when we ride with other drivers and include the fuel oil we heat our house with (which is basically the same as diesel), our annual consumption is less than 150 gallons per person. The average American uses more than 400 gallons of gasoline alone per year. Therefore, two disabled people are consuming far less despite having one of the least ecological methods for home heating.
Neither of us have flown very much. I have made three round trip flights in my entire life and because of severe altitude sickness, I will never fly again. Even if I could fly without getting sick, my preference would be to take the train. It is Will’s preference as well, and it is the most ecological way to traverse long distances.
Despite the truth of our existence as two overweight people living with disabilities, and that of other people who are obese and/or disabled (who often live in poverty and do not take part in the most carbon intensive activities that wealthier people frequently do) we get targeted for blame. Whether due to weighing more ourselves, having the added weight of mobility devices, or simply the need for disposable medical items, we are shamed. More weight is thought to create higher fuel needs for our transport. Use of things like straws for people with swallowing difficulties, syringes, vinyl gloves, and adult diapers can mean more items going into the landfill, but these are items that many of us have little say in. As is so often the case, individuals are being blamed for things that are the fault of big business and government agencies.
Case in point: adult diapers. I have bladder and bowel issues related to multiple sclerosis and also suffer from interstitial cystitis. I sometimes experience some bladder leakage, so I talked to someone at J & B Medical about getting set up with delivery of some incontinence supplies. I was interested in washable leak-proof underwear, which the company carries, but Medicaid fails to cover. Medicaid will pay for any number of disposable incontinence products, but nothing that is washable/reusable. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it costs taxpayers more money than if they simply covered the reusable products.
I bought myself a pair of reusable leak-proof undies from Icon, which I did not like. I am trying to find leak-proof undies that are comfortable and have just ordered some from Jockey, the company that always made some of my favorite undergarments. These appear similar to the undies made by Knix, but less expensive. I requested some samples of disposable undergarments but am hoping to find reusable ones. It would be nice to get help paying for these, but despite being poor, I have always been willing to incur some extra cost (when I am able to do so) to choose a greener option.
Every purchase I have made, I considered the carbon footprint (a concept created by big oil to shift the blame for climate change from their business enterprise to individuals). I have contributed numerous volunteer hours to environmental organizations, and am a founding member of a local non-profit tackling environmental issues. Yet people will generalize that because I am disabled and because I am obese that I must contribute more to this problem than the average person.
While advertisers who object to antiSemitic comments don’t deserve to be told to go fuck themselves, some people should be told that. Anyone who shames people for taking care of themselves should be. Numerous studies have identified that fat shaming promotes obesity, but have you ever thought to ask why? I can tell you from personal experience that when I have been fat shamed the most is when I exercise. I know someone who, much like myself, is obese and uses a walker. She has isolated herself at home more and more. She couldn’t attend a water aerobics class without some asshat recommending she get bariatric surgery.
Increasingly, people are using semaglutides to lose weight. Hey, no shame in that, but don’t expect everyone to go on them. It sounds great for the planet that airplanes are burning less fuel because passengers are losing weight, but there is a greener alternative still: not flying at all!
Choosing to use these drugs is not just about whether a person can afford them or if their insurance plan will cover them. For some people, the health effects of these drugs will be deleterious. If a person has kidney disease, they are not recommended. If you have a slow digestive tract, as I do, these drugs are likely to cause gastroparesis. I am better off fat.
I already have enough days when I feel too ill to be active, and I don’t need more. Staying active helps ensure my mobility, and if I need assistive devices to help keep active there should be no shame in using them. But time and time again, comments are made when the person using a rollator is fat. These people clearly have nothing better to do than make asinine statements so their time would be better served by getting some lube, shoving a ball gag in their mouth and going to town. I literally want these idiots to go fuck themselves.
Nothing destroys a nice walk or bike ride like some douchebags sitting in their truck yelling “hey fat ass” at me. These lazy jerks burning more fossil fuels than they need to should shut up and find something harmless to make themselves happy. When someone makes dumb comments about fat people and people with disabilities, it says to me that these people are too stupid to know how to have a good time. They have self esteem issues and have probably never experienced an honest to goodness orgasm. Their dicks are small, so their trucks and guns are big. Or they are women who have externally validated their entire life and wish others to be as miserable as they are. These are people who literally need a class in how to fuck themselves!
I continue to find ways to be part of the solution to climate change, and as a poor person, I am contributing far less to the problem than wealthy people and the American middle classes. What I do not need is a guilt trip for sometimes requiring a straw. I gave up my home delivered plant-based meals, which helped me out quite a bit, due in part to concerns regarding packaging. I have been diligent about finding convenient yet healthy meal options with less disposable packaging. There is a convenience threshold for me due to disability. I have a need to conserve my spoons, but I try to balance that with conserving resources.
I must confess, travel is something I wanted to do more of. If I were able-bodied, I probably would have. But I know so many people who travel to exotic places without ever interacting with the people in these places. The way many people travel, they might as well just put on VR goggles and order food from an ethnic restaurant. I want to meet other people and learn from them, so I decided to return to Second Life. It is where Will and I met. He has been active in two phenomenal groups: Virtual Ability and Whole Brain Health. Will bought himself a gaming desktop last Christmas and just bought me a gaming laptop this year. We still buy nothing on Black Friday, but we have taken advantage of some Cyber Monday deals. We don’t buy new electronics that often. We each get a new phone, computer and tablet about once every five to eight years, and I still use the Mac desktop I bought back in 2006. We base our purchases on longevity, factoring in the ability to modify and repair; we e-recycle when something is no longer usable.
Will got me the computer so that I could get back on SL to combat isolation. For anyone who reads this who wishes to connect with me, SL is a good way to do it. I go by Stealth, but my legacy name is Cicero Kit. You will not find me on social media websites (other than those designed specifically for people with MS and their caregivers, and I am seldom on those because there is no live chat feature). The reports of SL’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Much has improved. The biggest difference for me, personally, between now and 17 years ago is that now I am not on there to make money. I got back on to get together with people, play games, and join discussions. In the past, I made money as an artist and journalist on SL. Income from projects helped Will and I make ends meet during some trying times. We met through a group for real life educators in SL during a time when I was on short-term disability. I knew I had a couple functional hours most days, but my employer didn’t allow me to switch to part-time or work from home, so I thought I could create textures in Photoshop and sell these. Will and I worked together, became friends, and then he moved across the country to be with me.
Flying on SL is doable for me and far less carbon intensive. This is my travel. This is how I get to meet new people while staying safe. Don’t knock the metaverse until you try it!
I hope all of you have a happy and healthy new year! Never be ashamed of getting your needs met, and show love for our planet and the life upon it. Thanks for reading!
I didn't know SL was still around! I have been thinking that I miss going online to chat with people, lately, but I just don't know how time I have to do that, anymore. I'm glad you're finding connection there and meeting interesting people.