I drive an vehicle with an internal combustion engine and yet somehow do not consider myself a hypocrite. For some of us, including those involved in research, a motorized vehicle is a practical necessity. I have been making trips to southern California from my home in the San Francisco Bay Area to work on a raptor banding project. I carry up to sixteen raptor traps with me, plus live bait of several types. I carry bird bands and measuring equipment. I carry a tent and sleeping bag and often sleep in the study area. I have to be able to reach raptor territories in the back country where my two-wheel drive vehicle sometimes has a hard time getting me to where I need to go. There is no city bus to get me where I need to go with the equipment I need to take. A bicycle would not be useful to me, nor could I carry the necessary equipment on foot. Maybe a horse ...
Yet, I do strongly desire and intend to work for a transition from our current transportation paradigm to something better, something sustainable and less harmful. I was very impressed with the work of Amory Lovins and his collaborators in the book "Natural Capitalism" in which he proposes the "hyper car", which is a very light-weight vehicle driven by a hydrogen fuel cell, and which is recyclable and can be plugged into the local grid to produce electricity. (see http://www.natcap.org) I believe we can produce technology to resove basically all of our societal problems, but it must ultimately be done in the mindset of intentional lowering of our ecological footprint, not only on an individual basis, but on a societal basis. And we don't need to create artificial want for excessive consumption of "improved" consumer goods; I like the concept of voluntary simplicity in lifestyle choices as a eco-friendly approach to life in general. I applaud Adam for intentionally lowering his apparent ecological footprint to the fullest degree possible. Some persons have jobs/lives than can readily accomodate immediate transition away from motorized vehicles. Those who cannot immediately do so could be called part of the problem, and hopefully can also work to be part of the solution. I don't think that makes us hypocrites. I think it demonstrates how we are all victims in a sense and participants in our own victimhood. To the extent that we can change the world, I believe we should, and more importantly, I believe we must. Stan Moore >From: adam herbert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: adam herbert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [email protected] >Subject: gas shmass >Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:47:14 -0400 >Received: from listserv.umd.edu ([128.8.10.60]) by >bay0-mc3-f2.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Sun, 25 >Mar 2007 17:34:36 -0700 >Received: from listserv.umd.edu (IDENT:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >[128.8.10.60])by listserv.umd.edu (8.12.11.20060308/8.12.11) with ESMTP id >l2PF85Vl014800;Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:34:36 -0400 (EDT) >X-Message-Info: >oG9qAjD2BNEWokQsqMnGcZ3xyfKJarv9YpCu3W2Uy0N0x+WaHsPG1dc6ekMJEaEh >Precedence: list >List-Help: <http://listserv.umd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?LIST=ECOLOG-L>, ><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ECOLOG-L> >List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Owner: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Archive: <http://listserv.umd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?LIST=ECOLOG-L> >Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-OriginalArrivalTime: 26 Mar 2007 00:34:37.0051 (UTC) >FILETIME=[8867D4B0:01C76F3E] > >I have been reading some excellent rants and diatribes about the issue of >consumption, particularly North American and most particularly about >gasoline vs. ethanol vs. biodiesel. I really would like to believe that >most of the folks writing these are "practicing what they preach" and have >sold their combustible engine vehicles in favour of a bicycle and/or public >transportation however, having just graduated with an M.S. in Marine >Biology >I realize this is sadly not the case. I was labeled as a trouble-maker for >making comments like "if you're a scientist and stay abreast of global >warming trends AND still drive a gasoline vehicle you are a hypocrite." >finger-pointing is a tough one as you are often branded as self-righteous >but leading-by-example is a SLOW process, so the question I pose to this >BLOG is how do you get colleagues to change without alienating them? like >I >said, many of the essays I read on this listserv resonate with me, but they >are just words falling on an already preached to choir. I would like to >add, that I have been happily without a vehicle for 1 year & 5 months and >love it. there are just so many reasons beyond doing the right thing as to >why walking, biking and/or taking the bus is enjoyable: you see more >wildlife en route, you find great stuff along the side of the road, you >have >time to read (on the bus), you rarely have to wait for traffic, you get >exercise and so don't have to go to the gym, etc. etc. make the commitment >and feel the freedom. in situations where science has allied with industry >to such a degree that scholastic acheivements are overshadowed by material >possessions what can one do but be a trouble maker? your experiences and >comments are appreciated. >Adam Herbert _________________________________________________________________ 5.5%* 30 year fixed mortgage rate. Good credit refinance. Up to 5 free quotes - *Terms https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h2a5d&s=4056&p=5117&disc=y&vers=910
