On looking over my last post I realize I came across a bit hardcore. Now that I am in a more mellow mood I'd like a chance to revisit what I wrote.
The thing I most want people to think about is living locally.
The next thing on the list is HAVE FUN!!! We are not going to change the world by trying to get people to give up things. I've found that getting my kids involved in exploring alternatives that are locally sustainable is fun for me, fun for them, and results in things that will make a difference for a long time.
Lastly, (Connie would cringe if she knew I used that word. She doesn't read my blog because my spelling and writing style drive her crazy.) pick one thing to start with. You can't do everything all at once. It makes me crazy that I can't, but that is the way the world is.
1 comment:
I found your last post inspiring not hard core! I am working on my chart right now. What you are doing is appealing at least to me. You seem to be a likeable person who is as concerned about healthy family and community dynamics as you are concerned about fitting sustainable into you home ecosystem. Keep up the fun.
I do want to take issue with your statement, "We are not going to change the world by trying to get people to give up things." That is a tough one for me. On the one hand, it seems that you are right; people are not likely to get excited about giving up the extravagant life that most of us live. On the other hand, giving up some (or perhaps a lot) is probably the only way to achieve the goal of local sustainability. It seems to me that "sustainable" means not using up more energy than is being input into your home range. The main source of energy input for most of us is the sun. The sun's energy is then transferred and stored across the web of life and in the environment, which makes it more accessible to us. But, the bottom line is we can't sustainable use more energy than is being input into the system. Right now I use far more and so do most Americans.
Right now there is a lot of excitement in the general public about going green and addressing global warming. But there is no one saying we need to consume less. Every report I hear puts a lot of faith in technology. As a culture we believe that there is an unlimited source of energy out there that we can use with no restraints and to no ill-effects. We believe it so strongly that no one is even talking about there not being one. The problem is that this kind of thinking simply defies the laws of nature and the laws of physics.
Here is a quote I like from Paul Molyneaux. “All the technology in the world could not compensate for a damaged ecosystem.”
I think that changing the world does require asking people to give up things. I think the trick is doing it in a way that is not shrill or condescending. I think you are on the right track. I like your humble approach and your genuine affection for humankind.
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