Sustain-a-Links #7
September 11th, 2006 | Posted in Recent Readings
Good stuff in Issue #7. The weekend was good. Yours? My favorite link this issue is probably the one for “Planetary Ethos”. The article doesn’t present a practical solution to anything but it does open the mind, and if everyone’s minds were opened the world would be a much different place. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be everyone, just the people in power to influence others.
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Agriculture | Spray wins sustainable agriculture award | “Brothers Rex and Glen Spray went back to sustainable farming methods more than 50 years ago. This month, Rex was awarded the 2006 Patrick Madden Award for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s North Central district of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. The award recognizes the contributions of farmers and ranchers who have adopted sustainable practices that are profitable as well as beneficial to the environment and their communities.” | George Breithaupt, Mount Vernon News
Environment | Ecopessimism v Ecoeffectiveness | This article comes from the red side of the site (think fiery inferno) but it makes some good points. I don’t think Gore is an ecopessimist. People need to know how stupid they’ve been for so long, and history is our best teacher. Jack says, “The solution to our problem will be found in human innovation and new technologies. We have lots of options. Government, business and society in general all have a role to play.” Too bad his party sucks at making any of this a reality. | Jack, WatchBlog
Global Stability | Summit likely U.S. bash fest | “One visiting leader calls for the annihilation of Israel. A second labels the United States the biggest terrorist nation on Earth. And the host country describes President Bush as a Nazi-style warmonger. Expect plenty of verbal fireworks when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez join more than 50 world leaders in Havana for the 14th Non-Aligned Movement summit beginning Monday.” Uh . . . I’m pretty sure this is where World War III will be planned. Crazy thing is some of the countries represented are doing more on the environmental side of sustainability than the U.S. Funny how the world works. | Gary Marz, Chicago Tribune
Green Grocery | Supermarkets unveil more eco-friendly schemes | “Britain’s largest supermarket chain expects the collection to catapult organic clothes into the mainstream and dispel their hippy image. The range will include men’s, women’s and children’s wear. The collection will be launched in 40 stores next spring and uses raw materials that have been grown without chemical fertilisers and manufactured and dyed in an eco-friendly way.” Score! | Which?
MTV | U.S. Colleges to Buy Green Power in MTV Competition | For years I’ve thought the only good thing that was ever produced by MTV was “Pimp My Ride” - I was wrong. There’s something else, and it’s this. I can envision a rebirth of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . . . singing “T-U-R-T-L-E POWER!” and advocating all things green . . . and pizza, of course. | Timothy Gardner, Reuters
Organization | Energy Action Coalition | “Energy Action is a coalition of more than 30 organizations from across the US and Canada, founded and led by youth to help support and strengthen the student and youth clean energy movement in North America.” It’s always nice to give college students a dose of reality from time to time. These guys are the ones partnering with MTV. Good for them.
Planetary Ethos | Ignore the earth and be doomed | Boff sums up the goal of sustainability better than anyone else I’ve read to date. He said, “What is needed is a new paradigm of co-existence between nature, earth, and humanity which puts life at the centre, maintains natural and cultural diversity, and guarantees the continuity and co-evolution of the physical-chemical-ecological nexus that supports life on earth.” Sing it loud! | Leonardo Boff, Nation Media
Recycling | What becomes of my plastic, my glass? | “A couple of weeks ago, while I was depositing my recyclables into their proper bins, a dismaying thought came upon me: Would these newspapers, this plastic mayo-lite jar cleaned of every trace of mayonnaise, this collection of beer bottles that needed no after-care, actually end up recycled? Or would they all end up at the dump—landfill—in a hole in the ground?” The answer will surprise you, or will it? That’s right. | Betty Bell, Idaho Moutain Express
Smart Growth | UrbanAdvantage | I found this link on Steve Patterson’s website. The before and after shots are amazing. I wish all urban developers (hell, all developers) planned like this.
Smart House | the sustainable mandurah home | A house smarter than most people! Don’t believe it? You’re probably one of those people . . . “Built using standard materials and construction techniques, the Sustainable Mandurah Home will offer flexible accommodation featuring three bedrooms, two living areas and an activity area ideal for use as a study or fourth bedroom. The passive solar design will ensure rooms are a pleasant temperature all year round – reaching no more than 28C in summer months and dropping no lower than 18C in winter – without the aid of artificial heating or cooling.” The site is loaded with good information. Check it out!
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As always, I trust you enjoyed this issue of Sustain-a-Links and the past few articles on education and the (possible) end of civilization as we know it.
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