These days people seem to think that by slapping an "e-" or a "green" in front of something it automatically becomes environmentally friendly: e-homes, green toilet paper, and especially e-food, the exceptions of course being e-cards and Green Day, neither of which is particularly beneficial to, well, anything.

It’s great that so many environmentally friendly items are entering the market — it’s time for us to make a stand. But by falsely promoting "green" products, we’re moving attention away from other things that really matter. And we’re only cheating ourselves.

For example, Nike claims that its new Air Jordan shoe is green, simply because a nonsolvent-based glue is used in it. By focusing on this "ultra-exciting" glue, Nike is drawing attention away from the fact that the company is getting these shoes made for $5 and turning around and selling them at $230. Does the glue in the shoes really make up for the horrible sweat-shop conditions that Nike’s employees have to deal with?

Toyota is known as the "e-friendly" car manufacturer, because it brought us the Prius. But that doesn’t make up for the fact that Toyota continues to sell gas-guzzling cars such as the Land Cruiser and the Sienna.

And, these companies can get away by selling these products for more, because it seems to “give back.” Most people can't — or won't — see the bottom line: Price doesn’t determine quality.

Jumping on bandwagons because they're hip and cool can make you look very foolish. Calling yourself "green" after launching a thin veneer of environmentalism when you're a gross polluter is a PR stunt. Citizen Marketers will find you.

Really, the best way to go green is to stop buying into this crap, and start spending wisely, if you have to spend at all. Cliché, I know, but why buy another shirt if you already have tons?

Basically, the "green" team is using the same playbook as the rest of our consumer-based society.

We treat the "green" life as yet another shopping choice and use it in our marketing and product promotion. A truly green world would eliminate this process. A green life is a simple life. Stop shopping. Stop buying.