People talk about how increased retail consumption will lead to the trickling down of wealth to the underprivileged. This old, scrap-off-our-table approach to economics not only doesn’t work but it’s wrecking the planet by wasting its resources. But one of the priorities adopted by Saturday’s Step It Up 2007 national action on climate change–together with […]
Environment
The auto industry’s trick is no treat
Thanks to Jonathan, a reader, who alerted me to the Halloween action by the Pew Campaign for Fuel Efficiency. They’re delivery candy and fact sheets to members of congress to let them know that what the auto industry is trying to do to the Energy Bill is is a trick not a treat. From the […]
I want electric lights!
An announcement about a couple of my upcoming public talks at the bottom, but first… If you follow the No Impact project at all, you know that we have had no mains electricity now, in the middle of Manhattan, for six months or so. Also, you’ll know that the project–at least in its current incarnation–comes […]
Winning enviro-conscious customer loyalty
First off, readers, please, please, please comment on this post. Please help me. I want to understand what it would take to get all us enviros to engage happily with a company. Now, onwards… One of the reasons I embarked on a low/no consumption approach to environmentalism for the No Impact project is that I […]
When more is less…
I don’t aspire to poverty or deprivation or asceticism. But I do think that I am easily fooled into believing that the short term pleasures brought by more-than-enough material things will translate into longer-term happiness. (In fact, I wrote about materialism versus happiness just the other day). The tragedy of this confusion is that it […]
We’ve got something wonderful going on here
These come via Tuco Rides: Photographer Norbert Rosing planned to take some sunset photos of a group of sled dogs near Churchill, Manitoba, in northern Canada on the Hudson Bay, when from stage left comes a 1200 pound polar bear. The dogs’ owner thinks he’s just about to lose his pack. The dogs, though, don’t […]
Environmentalism means less deprivation
People ask me if the reduced use of consumer conveniences that goes with the No Impact project doesn’t mean a lot of deprivation. I say that I spend more time with my family, eat more healthily, get more exercise and am a better dad. Then I ask: “Was I more deprived before or am I […]
A whole country goes dumpster diving
First off, thanks to all the readers who made phone calls to New York State Assembly members yesterday. You really did make a difference in getting diesel fumes out of kids lungs. And by the way, if you live in New York State, and you’d like to help some kids by dialing a couple of […]