Someone who nicknames herself Nightingale emailed me a question that, in part, went like this: “We seem to be a pretty tenacious lot, we humans, and wouldn’t it be best to realize that we can’t save everybody, that some of us will survive the lack of ozone, and just let the chips fall where they may?” Some other […]
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Plastic in the food chain
One of the things we’ve been avoiding in the No Impact project is plastic. No plastic bags, bottles, tubs, wrappings, toys, gadgets, clothes, buttons, pipes, plates, cups, forks, spoons, knives, toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, dish soap bottles. In other words, just about everything. I’m old enough to remember a time before plastic became so ubiquitous, when people avoided plastic […]
The truth about happiness
Everyone thinks that the No Impact regime causes some sort of deprivation, but the fact is that I was more deprived before than I am now. Here’s why: happiness is simply not based on how much stuff you have. It’s based on how you live. Science shows it. Happiness, the research confirms, is derived from strong relationships, using your […]
A way forward for capitalism?
“…it is in this space of influencing life style choices that conservation and resource management is a great leveler among societies at different ends of the energy spectrum: an Indian who consumes 600 kWh/annum and an American who consumes over 15,000 kWh/annum have much to learn from one another. Because if one really thinks about it, the energy each consumes […]
Our trip to the farm
Last week we got to spend a wonderful three days at Ghent, New York’s Hawthorne Valley Farm—part research trip, part vacation, part serendipitous avoidance of 90-degree days back in the City, and part getting to know a lot of wonderful farmer-philosophers. HV Farm is certified both organic and biodynamic and has one of the biggest stands at the Union Square […]
Something sad
I remember in childhood the first time that I became aware that countries sent their young men to war to fight out their differences. I remember being incredulous. How did you know who won? Was it decided by whomever managed to kill more of the other’s children? I decided I was a pacifist. I’d like to say I am […]
If you don’t trust the politicians, take matters into your own hands–repost
I’m away, but here’s a recycled post some of you newcomers to the blog might not have seen and might want to discuss in the comments. Winston Churchill said that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” The question is, though, whether we […]
Individual action when it comes to declining bees?
As you know, I’m on vacation, but here’s a thought from the Guardian. We city slickers can start helping to bolster the dramatically declining bee population! Beekeepers get busy at Chelsea Flower Show In pictures: amateur beekeeping Press Association Monday May 21, 2007 Guardian Unlimited City dwellers are being targeted in a bid to bolster […]