I'm going to have to answer Eric's post in bits and pieces due to my full
schedule and the complexity of the issues.
Definition of sustainable. Now there's a tough one. To me it means not
ever harming Mother Earth. I can't even come close to that right now, so I
am trying to live as gently as I know how and to add to that knowledge on a
daily basis.
I switched to only buying organic cotton sheets (unbleached or color-grown)
about four years ago. Despite their high purchase price, I feel they are
worth it for my health and the planet's. I am frugal enough in other
expenditures to be able to budget for them. But if anybody knows where to
get them more cheaply, please let me know!
We have curbside recycling of cans (both steel and aluminum) and glass, as
well as plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, and mail, so that
part is easy. In addition I take plastic tubs from stuff like margarine and
organic tofu as well as bags made from number 2 and number 4 plastic to a
local eco-supermarket to be recycled. Also, Oregon has a bottle and can law
which requires the purchaser to pay a deposit on most beverage cans and
bottles, so I return these to the eco-supermarket for a refund or for
donation to a program that helps the homeless.
While these choices are better for the planet than the way I lived in the
past, they do not mean I have a sustainable lifestyle. They still use a lot
of fossil fuel and contribute to pollution. However, my choices are kinder
to Mother Earth than using the more common sheets made from
pesticide-drenched cotton and non-biodegradable polyester that are colored
with aniline dyes. And my choices are kinder than tossing all my garbage
into a large plastic bag to be trucked clear across the state because all
the local landfills were filled many, many years ago.
But it isn't enough of a change. I truly want to learn to be good for the
earth. I want to live in a way that heals, not harms.
Carol (and Brodie)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of eric + michiko
Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999 9:13 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [ecopath] energy and sustainability
Carol wrote:
> I think there is also another huge obstacle and that is the lack of
> knowledge of how to live sustainably. I would if I could. But I really
> don't know how. . .
> If there is a place on the web to learn it, I have not yet
> discovered it. Ecopath seems to be more about philosophy and theory
> and discussion, which is important also, but I am starving for practical
> knowledge and I don't know how to get it.
I guess that depends on your definition of sustainable. Many believe that
buying organic cotton sheets, recycling their cans and glass, reusing
grocery bags and driving an energy efficient car is good enough. Some
believe that until certain technologies are perfected and the society at
large gets its act together an individual can't live sustainably. <snip>
Eric Storm
