I've been reading a book called "The End of Fossil Energy and the Last Chance for Survival" by retired engineer John G. Howe and, in it, he is talking about the difficult situation we are in with fossil fuels, particularly oil. As we know, the American way of life is built around oil. We drive to a supermarket with our gas powered cars to buy products and food that, in many cases, have been shipped thousands of miles. The materials we use to build our houses and the goods we fill them with have also usually been shipped long distances and often the majority of these are made from plastics and other petroleum based materials. So, imagine all of this being gone. It is inevitable that it will happen in the not-too-distant future.
The things I've already mentioned aren't even the most troubling aspects of peak oil and post oil. Right now, the human population is around 7 billion people. The only things that have allowed us to reach these astonishing numbers is the defeat of many infectious diseases that used to keep the population in check and oil based agriculture. Without the power of oil, we wouldn't be able to grow nearly as much food as we do now. Also, some projections say that we may reach a population of 10 billion by 2040. Without oil, we won't be able to feed nearly this many people and there will be mass hunger and starvation as oil becomes scarcer and runs out UNLESS we can start purposely reducing our numbers now. Humans have forgotten that we are subject to the same rules that all other species are--a certain amount of resources and space can only feed a certain population.
Reading Mr. Howe's book, it occurred to me that our society is at a point like the end scene of Thelma and Louise. The car (a petroleum based lifestyle) is already racing towards the cliff (post oil) and Louise (our society, including the government and corporate interests) has the pedal to the metal and isn't considering letting up. The fact that oil is going to run out at all has been kept secret so folks will keep happily consuming and not interfere with oil company profits. You and I are in the passenger seat and see the cliff coming. What will you do? There is still time to act. I don't know about you but I'm in the process of jumping out!
How does one jump out? To start, quit relying on fossil fuels so much. Drive as little as possible and go solar, wind or hydro electric for your home power. Coal is an extremely dirty power source and mountains are being leveled to get to it. Nuclear power has horrible waste products and a checkered, at best, safety record (Fukishima, anyone?). Compost using the humanure system so we can start recycling our organic matter instead of flushing it and ruining it and fresh water in the process. Learn how to grow your own food or, at least, buy locally. Many cities now have transition movements which have also seen "the cliff" and are changing their wasteful ways. Being sustainable and self-sufficient is going to become a necessity in the coming years, if we start now, we may be ready by the time we need to be. Don't wait!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Occupy your life to make a lasting difference
I have been observing and participating in the "occupy" movement with hope and fascination. Will it amount to anything? If so, I think it's important to remember that it's not what we do in the short term--setting up camps in public places, etc--that is going to make changes but it's the decisions we make every day.
When we flick a light switch in our area (Western North Carolina), we either "vote" for coal power which means mountaintop removal, polluted air and slag ponds or we "vote" for clean air, keeping the mountains and no toxic waste by using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal, etc). When we drive our cars instead of biking and walking, we vote for our dependence on foreign oil to continue and the pollution, wars, oppressive governments and occupations that go along with it. When we have our money in a mega-bank, we vote for more mergers and centralized control of money, when we put our money in a credit union we vote for the people being in control of their money and friendlier terms. When we buy produce and products shipped from half way around the world, we vote for air pollution (from all of the fuel it takes to ship these things) and unfair trade. When we buy locally, we support the economy and craftspeople in our area.
Almost every action we take and the choices we make form the kind of world and social landscape we live in. THIS is extremely empowering to realize. We can and do create a saner or more ruthless world by our daily decisions.
I urge everyone who reads this to realize that nature is our greatest treasure. If we and all other life on the planet are to survive, we must change our relationship to resources, energy and each other. The war against nature waged by ego-centric, modern, industrialized humans will stop if we realize that we are nature and to destroy it is to destroy ourselves.
When we flick a light switch in our area (Western North Carolina), we either "vote" for coal power which means mountaintop removal, polluted air and slag ponds or we "vote" for clean air, keeping the mountains and no toxic waste by using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal, etc). When we drive our cars instead of biking and walking, we vote for our dependence on foreign oil to continue and the pollution, wars, oppressive governments and occupations that go along with it. When we have our money in a mega-bank, we vote for more mergers and centralized control of money, when we put our money in a credit union we vote for the people being in control of their money and friendlier terms. When we buy produce and products shipped from half way around the world, we vote for air pollution (from all of the fuel it takes to ship these things) and unfair trade. When we buy locally, we support the economy and craftspeople in our area.
Almost every action we take and the choices we make form the kind of world and social landscape we live in. THIS is extremely empowering to realize. We can and do create a saner or more ruthless world by our daily decisions.
I urge everyone who reads this to realize that nature is our greatest treasure. If we and all other life on the planet are to survive, we must change our relationship to resources, energy and each other. The war against nature waged by ego-centric, modern, industrialized humans will stop if we realize that we are nature and to destroy it is to destroy ourselves.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sustainability
The infinite is my god,
Nature is my chapel,
Sustainability is my worship.
There is no lasting success without sustainability.
Nature is my chapel,
Sustainability is my worship.
There is no lasting success without sustainability.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A sane society
Any sane society would have respect of the environment as its basis. Any other type of thinking, including the exploitative capitalist model that is so prevalent today is doomed to failure. You cannot harm the planet or its natural processes without harming yourself and every other living thing. We do not exist in a vacuum or isolation. The ego idea of separation is an illusion. This can even be proven from a materialistic perspective.
How long would one's body live without breathing air from the atmosphere? How long could you survive without water? As we know, the human body is 60% water. If the water that it imbibes is polluted, then the body is polluted. How long could you live without the materials of the Earth in the form of food? All the body is is the elements of the Earth configured in a certain pattern. If the soil is poisoned then the body will be so as well. We are intimately connected with the world, from before our birth until after our death. We ARE the planet. This is not an idealistic concept, it is an undeniable reality. Until this is understood and lived and breathed, we will be acting in ignorance and our actions will be destructive. It's time to see the falsity of the ego idea and realize the oneness that is. This is not mysticism or philosophy, this is infinitely practical and completely reasonable. The belief in isolation is irrational and doomed to destroy itself. Let's pray that this foolish mindset doesn't take the planet with it.
It's time for us to revolutionize our lives. Instead of waiting for someone to come and save us and the planet, we should take responsibility for making our way of living non-destructive. When no harm is done to the biosphere or each other, then it can truly be said that we are living in a sane society.
Most governments around the world are compromised and corrupt. When power becomes centralized, it seems that corruption inevitably follows. We must beware of the urge to wield power over another human being. Each person should be allowed to live life how they see fit as long as they don't hurt the world we are part of or other human beings. This is the only "law" of a sane society.
How long would one's body live without breathing air from the atmosphere? How long could you survive without water? As we know, the human body is 60% water. If the water that it imbibes is polluted, then the body is polluted. How long could you live without the materials of the Earth in the form of food? All the body is is the elements of the Earth configured in a certain pattern. If the soil is poisoned then the body will be so as well. We are intimately connected with the world, from before our birth until after our death. We ARE the planet. This is not an idealistic concept, it is an undeniable reality. Until this is understood and lived and breathed, we will be acting in ignorance and our actions will be destructive. It's time to see the falsity of the ego idea and realize the oneness that is. This is not mysticism or philosophy, this is infinitely practical and completely reasonable. The belief in isolation is irrational and doomed to destroy itself. Let's pray that this foolish mindset doesn't take the planet with it.
It's time for us to revolutionize our lives. Instead of waiting for someone to come and save us and the planet, we should take responsibility for making our way of living non-destructive. When no harm is done to the biosphere or each other, then it can truly be said that we are living in a sane society.
Most governments around the world are compromised and corrupt. When power becomes centralized, it seems that corruption inevitably follows. We must beware of the urge to wield power over another human being. Each person should be allowed to live life how they see fit as long as they don't hurt the world we are part of or other human beings. This is the only "law" of a sane society.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The quiet revolution
There is a revolution taking place, one without explosions or loss of life. It isn't publicized and doesn't get any air time in the media--that is reserved for the loud mouths, hotheads and professional analysts. It consists of a large group of individuals who have decided to change their lives for the benefit of the planet and everything living on it. It is a movement away from dependency and towards self reliance. It is a transition from a culture of stupidity and waste to one of sustainability--the only real success in life.
This is not a capitalist, communist or, in any way, a political movement. It doesn't care about ideology and doesn't buy into the ignorance that makes humans feel separate. It seeks to address the mistakes that our polluting, self-absorbed society has made. It seeks to look realistically at the challenges we face and the damage that we've done and come up with lasting solutions. Humans are capable of this and, ultimately, anything we apply ourselves to. Where we fall short isn't our technical ability and capacity for change. Where we "miss the boat" is seeing the necessity of change.
In our isolated, insular modern world-view, we feel apart from everything and everyone. Alienation is the result of that way of thinking. This is the reason that so many people in our "advanced" culture are hooked on mind and soul numbing medications these days--we've lost touch with everything that matters. Regardless of stories of being a victim and feeling powerless against the whims of authority or the masses, the truth is that we all ultimately get to choose the way we live. To know this is extremely empowering. Taking control of the necessities of life--shelter, food, energy and water is a revolutionary act of self-reliance. Refusing to support or take part in a destructive system is what will really change the world.
This is happening right now. Currently, it is a matter of choice but, in the no-too-distant future, our survival will depend on it.
This is not a capitalist, communist or, in any way, a political movement. It doesn't care about ideology and doesn't buy into the ignorance that makes humans feel separate. It seeks to address the mistakes that our polluting, self-absorbed society has made. It seeks to look realistically at the challenges we face and the damage that we've done and come up with lasting solutions. Humans are capable of this and, ultimately, anything we apply ourselves to. Where we fall short isn't our technical ability and capacity for change. Where we "miss the boat" is seeing the necessity of change.
In our isolated, insular modern world-view, we feel apart from everything and everyone. Alienation is the result of that way of thinking. This is the reason that so many people in our "advanced" culture are hooked on mind and soul numbing medications these days--we've lost touch with everything that matters. Regardless of stories of being a victim and feeling powerless against the whims of authority or the masses, the truth is that we all ultimately get to choose the way we live. To know this is extremely empowering. Taking control of the necessities of life--shelter, food, energy and water is a revolutionary act of self-reliance. Refusing to support or take part in a destructive system is what will really change the world.
This is happening right now. Currently, it is a matter of choice but, in the no-too-distant future, our survival will depend on it.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Transitions
Things are going well at the homestead. We're currently working on an earthbag sun-room addition to the house and it is coming along nicely. We had our first earthbag building workshop last weekend and, though there was a small turnout, it went well and it felt nice to share this user friendly technique.
Yesterday was Earth Day and Asheville had a big event downtown. We went, especially hoping to meet the folks from Transition Asheville (http://transitionasheville.ning.com/) and we did! They are preparing for a post petroleum society which will, of course, be radically different from the one we know today. No more Lowes and Wal Mart! No more (or at least a lot less) grocery items shipped from the opposite side of the planet. Things will of necessity become more locally oriented. Transition is preparing for this reality. Also, instead of leaning on petroleum for our power needs they are emphasizing the strength of community. When America adopted the nuclear family model (parents and children), we became more fragmented than ever and lost touch with what really matters. It seems like television and the infatuation with the entertainment industry is an unconscious attempt to replace family in our hearts and our daily lives.
The isolated, alienated world view that has given rise to capitalism and exploitation isn't sustainable. The Earth can't sustain it -- nor can humanity. If something isn't sustainable then what is it? Unsustainable, meaning -- it can't go on forever. We have to start planning for when the "oil bubble" bursts today. It can be done and thank God there are an ever growing number of people dedicated to this cause.
Yesterday was Earth Day and Asheville had a big event downtown. We went, especially hoping to meet the folks from Transition Asheville (http://transitionasheville.ning.com/) and we did! They are preparing for a post petroleum society which will, of course, be radically different from the one we know today. No more Lowes and Wal Mart! No more (or at least a lot less) grocery items shipped from the opposite side of the planet. Things will of necessity become more locally oriented. Transition is preparing for this reality. Also, instead of leaning on petroleum for our power needs they are emphasizing the strength of community. When America adopted the nuclear family model (parents and children), we became more fragmented than ever and lost touch with what really matters. It seems like television and the infatuation with the entertainment industry is an unconscious attempt to replace family in our hearts and our daily lives.
The isolated, alienated world view that has given rise to capitalism and exploitation isn't sustainable. The Earth can't sustain it -- nor can humanity. If something isn't sustainable then what is it? Unsustainable, meaning -- it can't go on forever. We have to start planning for when the "oil bubble" bursts today. It can be done and thank God there are an ever growing number of people dedicated to this cause.
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