On 30 Nov 99, at 11:37, Gene GeRue wrote:
> Carol (and Brodie):
>
> >Definition of sustainable. Now there's a tough one. To me it means not
> >ever harming Mother Earth.
>
> It is arrogant to think that we can harm Earth. She will be here long after
> all evidence of our species has disappeared.
Agreed. Although I don't often hear anyone else who has this point
of view.
>
> We should start calling this what it is: collecting for recycling. We all
> feel good about "recycling" when in fact it is likely that few of us
> actually recycle, we just collect and hope that the materials are in fact
> recycled.
I do some recycling of my own, or perhaps what I do is reusing. I
used to do more before I moved, my next move will attempt to bring
me back to at least where I was.
My best is that I recycle my food--into me, out of me into a
> bucket, to a composting container, to feed fruit trees, and back to feeding
> me. A closed loop, the best way to recycle, but I know of no other that we
> individuals have control over. And how many do even this?
>
I have never had the opportunity to do this. Although, if I ever
control the "ownership" of my living space, composting human
waste is high on my building/retrofitting list. Closest I have come to
this is a really nice loop I used to have between my pet rabbits and
my garden thinnings.
> Arguably, our most unsustainable actions are how we transport ourselves.
> Anything beyond walking is not sustainable and even walking is
> problemmatical depending on footwear.
But for social pressure, I would be barefoot from sometime in
march till early November. Winter here requires some kind of foot
covering. I'm trying to work out something more acceptable to me
than either rubber or leather boots, but waterproofing is fairly
essential.
> And who among us will give up wheels?
I think I would. Most of my wheel using trips now involve the desires
of other members of my family. Once I do not have to take those
desires into account, I won't often travel much farther than I can
walk. This is not as limiting as it sounds. I can walk a long way
when I want to. The one exception being my bicycle trips to my
garden allotment. But maybe someday, I can actually manage to
have a garden next to my living space.
Our wheels consist of bicycles and buses. We have not owned a
car for 3 years now.
> For that matter--and now watch the rationalizing--how about these computers
> we are all using to talk to each other?
>
They are not sustainable in their current manifestations, but could
get a lot closer to sustainability.
> There you go, not just sustainability but regeneration. Continually educate
> yourself and live as intelligently as you can and be an example to others.
> Buy local, especially food items, but all products that are transportated.
> Sell your products locally. Buy land and care for it by mostly leaving it
> alone, but do what is necessary to protect the watershed.
Of these, I find the first easy, the second more or less difficult
depending on the season. The last starting with "Buy land"close to
impossible.
sph
Sandra P. Hoffman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.flora.org/sandra/
