Laudable

"When people know better, they do better."  Simple, but so true.  

There was a time that it was a societal norm to use corporal punishment.  Thankfully, those days are over.  Not only was it abusive, it simply didn't work.  

We still have a long way to go when it comes to reducing stigma for mental illness, but we still have come an infinite distance from what the stigma used to be.  People are knowing more and acting better.  

When my son was born 25 years ago, disposable diapers were the big threat to the environmental movement.  They actually weren't called disposable diapers back then, they were called plastic diapers and for a reason.  Young moms like me struggled with cloth diapers while the diaper manufacturers focused on change. Now, disposable diapers are more environmentally friendly.  

Six months ago, society was alerted to the issue of plastic straws and how wasteful they are sitting in our landfills with no chance to breakdown.  Of course.  It was so obvious what a waste they are, yet I had been using them all the time.  Now, I knew better.   Starbucks pledged millions of dollars to research and come up with a paper based straw in the next year or two.  Unfortunately, this came after a public relations nightmare for them, so it was an image builder.  Regardless, they are a large chain with many customers.  Hopefully, they will lead the way for the industry.  

In the meantime, I have tried to do my part.  When I order a drink, I emphatically say that I do not want it with a straw, and I get a straw anyway.  It is frustrating.  I am trying to do my bit to reduce my environmental footprint and get no support.  I know, old habits are hard to break.  

So, I was delighted to have lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory last week and see there "One less straw" pledge.  Finally, a restaurant who, like me, is trying to do the right thing.  A restaurant chain is taking the lead to do what they can and not waiting to copy Starbucks.  They are leading the way and I hope others follow.  What they are doing is laudable.