CONSERVATION ... LONG & OPTIONAL

[Guest guest]

Butch wrote:

“I believe that in the absense of a significant emotional experience ..

 

and we can take that as far as we wish .. its very rare that behavorial

 

change occurs in humans. Even more rare is teaching irresponsible folks

 

to become responsible.â€

Boy you can do that one in needlepoint!! On the bricks, I found about

five just lying around. Didn't pay a penny. Two went into toilet tanks, one I

wrapped in foil and use when sauteing chicken breasts (works great) and I gave

the other two to fellow conservationists for her toilets! Just as effective and

cheaper, others have used stones they found on their property. And so what

if everyone buys one brick? Why shouldn't we put our 85 cents where our hearts

are? Action is usually faster and more immediate than litigation. Why make

the “Greens†prove anything more? There's no downside to environmental

responsibility and defense. Let's work on amping up the public discourse to hold

that

loving stewardship of our planent is a value that we as a society embrace,

promote and pay for. There's no reason caring for our planet should be

cost-free.

Again I respectully disagree that pure water is not a universal problem

in developed countries. It's about to explode in the U.S. West and in NY State

as the number one issue. But I totally agree that water isn't the only, it's

just one focus. Conservation is just one in a constellation of strategies

that are incredibly powerful if we activate them.

Yes, the url I gave is a commercial company; it's just the one I could

find fast for my post. There are others, there's a good one by NY state. But

being commercial doesn't make them wrong. When good money can be made -- and

good jobs can be had -- by implementing good environmental protection and

defense, that's progress toward the goal.

IMHO, minimizing or trivializing how much difference one person can make

is a rationalisation for inaction or non-participation. It's a broadly held

opinion by tons of folks in the US, in fact most of them! I call it seditious

inertia! It's what keeps us stuck where we are.

One person ACTING on conviction can make a huge difference. And that is

reality. Ralph Nader ... created and pushed through the Clean Air and Clean

Water acts, the two single most important tools environmentalists have in

fighting the good fight and ones George Bush is rapidly gutting.

Chris is one person using her life as a tool and making a difference.

So am I. As a farmer, soap and toiletries maker and consumer, I invest my

money (that Elite washer set was $1500 vs. about $500 for a normal set) and my

time in those businesses and organizations that hold values I want to endorse.

One reason I purchased that Elite washer was to encourage Sears to offer more

environmentally responsible items ... and I personally wanted to save water. In

my farming operation and soap business, I buy as much as I can from firms

whose values and/or products I respect.

I've also invested my time. In the 70's, Marcy Benstock, a petite woman,

decided that for NY State to build its new convention center at Columbus

Circle and 59th St. would pollute the city even more because it would be a

traffic

magnet for hundreds of thousands of trucks and cars coming to the shows

there. Using the Clear Air Act, she and I sued NYC, New York State and the Army

Corps of Engineers to force them to build the center on the west side so the

majority of the convention traffic wouldn't ever have to come in the city. We

won. And the Javits Center today sits on the West Side at 49th St. and is a

success. Did we save NYC from all pollution for all time? No but we acted,

made

a difference on that one thing and it's a long-term, positive difference. And

that is a reality. Pete Seeger decided he would work to clean up the Hudson

River. He did it. And the fish came back. A group of activists -- friends and

I -- planned the first Earth Day back in the 70's and that event is probably

the one that did more to raise awareness than any other. One person can start a

very big ball rolling and when s/he engages hundreds, thousands of others not

only can big wins be racked up but people's lives are changed as a result of

their activism.

Another reality is that green is going mainstream. Praise be!! The

American consumer is moving more and more in the direction of green living. They

are flocking to environmentally supermarkets like Wild Oats and paying more for

sustainably farmed, organic food and organic personal care products which are

growing at triple the rates of chemically laden goods. The government has

implemented National Organic Standards in food. And may soon in personal care.

Why did Estee Lauder buy Aveda for $350M? To get a piece of the green market.

Here's anothe reality. In Streetsboro, my small little Ohio town, all

garbarge must be sorted so it can be recycled or it won't be picked up. That's

environmenntal activism at it's best. They demand the sort because they can

resell the glass, paper, plastic and aluminum so the city makes money and does

the good thing. Perfect. That's progress. And there are signs of progress all

over if you look for them.

If we use our lives as tools, if we all do what we can where we can -- In

our homes, in our businesses, in our conversations and interactions with

friends and colleagues -- we can move mountains. That's incrementalism and it's

powerful and it's real. (It's just not widespread ...yet!)

I've been fighting this fight since the 70's and I am gratified to see

our US society slowly moving toward environmental responsibility and

sustainability. I will do all that I can to see that this momentum is supported

and if

possible expanded. That's my passion and it's just as deserving of respect as

yours for the military is. I would never use a tone or language like this to

you, I have too much respect for you as an individual: “Sorry .. but I'm into

realism .. I've done what I could throughout my life to have an IMPACT on events

... more of an impact than just giving me personal warm fuzzies. One

dedicated sniper can do far more for the world than all the Hare Krishnas and

Rainbow

Coalitions standing on the hill holding hands and telling the world to sing in

perfect harmony.â€

That's condescending and “labelizing.†My word. Butch I know you're a

better man than that. I've benefited from the knowledge and wisdome you've

shared on this list. I think you may have achieved Sacred Cow and Guru status!!

Over and out. And on my way back to “green†lurker status. No more

sermons. Promise! But always an activist...

Jody