We are now totally indoctrinated with a concern for the environment: “Go green, recycle, and feel better about protecting our world.” Tragically, though necessary, the small bit that we do as individuals is overwhelmed by the evil that our consumptive governments perpetuate. And, in a way, they have little choice. They are rapacious in their desire to stay in power at any cost. Remember that most representatives “of the people” are elected for four or five years. Therefore, the electorate only wants to hear about economic growth: make me more money and I will keep you in office.
Who in their right mind will tell the truth? “We have come to the end of physical growth. Mother Earth has no more to give. We must reduce and grow in other ways.” Making that statement, you would soon find yourself out of office and in a political wasteland. Pressing concerns abound: forgetting the tragic realities of democracy, we can begin, for example, by cleaning our self-created sewer called the ocean. A pundit recently remarked that it is the only part of nature that we both defecate and urinate in and yet we still draw from it most of our food and a large part of our fresh water through desalination. (1) All change, I believe, begins with information.
We must be aware of some of the deep concerns that scientists have. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, (2) by way of illustration, is a vortex in the Pacific Ocean, potentially the size of Texas, that collects discarded plastic. It continues to grow at a most alarming rate. One proposed solution is to mine it. (3)
The solution to this great man-made conundrum is humanity itself. Recycling, as I mentioned above, is of small value. The massive change that must come is a gargantuan reduction in consumption: we have to learn to consume what we truly need. This is not as strange as it sounds. Many mixed farms (4) throughout the centuries were self-contained. To this end, their principal purpose was to feed their burgeoning flock of children and extended family. Yet, they still enjoyed life and had fun — though on a more difficult basis than their contemporary cousins. I wonder, in reality, if you asked the average suburbanite which of the two realities they would choose: the large home, equally large debt and mortgage, and the stressed-out “rat race” of urban life or the relative tranquility of the rural farming existence?
That said: We are rushing into cities at an alarming rate. The World Health Organization (WHO) tells us that, “In 1990, less than 40% of the global population lived in metropolises; but as of 2010, more than half of all people lived in an urban area. By 2030, six out of every ten people will live in a developed municipality, and by 2050, this proportion will increase to seven out of ten people. Currently, around half of all citizens reside in boroughs with between one hundred thousand – five hundred thousand people and 10% of non-rural inhabitants live in mega-cities (defined by UN HABITAT as a built-up area with a population of more than ten million).
But all is not lost. In those cities, there is a trend toward urban gardening and inviting nature into homes. (5) Adelaide, in Australia, is one such city. (6) Potentially the future city dweller is a bike-riding commuter consuming his vegetables from his roof-top garden. Edmund Burke (1729-1797), the great Irish-English statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher, leaves us with a thought: Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits. (Parts of this essay were first published in 2010)
A closing thought: We, quite obviously, need to control our own consumption if we are to combat serious environmental changes. Try this experiment: The next time you go to buy anything, with the caveat that you have enough money in the bank, ask yourself: is this necessary for my life’s enrichment? If the answer is “yes” buy it; if the answer is “no,” then refrain.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the environment and what we can do to assist in its preservation.
To be noted: From soccer player Cayla Mills (b. 1995) — You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApZeGkcuCBA
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpaMocBqgIY
This week on your grand walk, please ask yourself how you can make consumptive limitations.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: The writings of many great scholars and sages remind us that the land of pure richness does not lie in the vicissitudes of financial wealth but in the wealth of the spirit, and of the mind. These qualities are immutable and cannot be pulled from us — even under threat of pain and torture.
Footnotes:
1) Desalination is a process that removes large amounts of salt and other minerals from saline water. Saltwater is desalinated to produce fresh water suitable for human consumption or irrigation. In Israel, for example, 50% of all potable water is desalinated water.
2) http://io9.com/5911969/lies-youve-been-told-about-the-pacific-garbage-patch
3) http://savetheplastics.com/2011/09/13/method/
4) Mixed farming is an agricultural system that mixes vegetable and cereal farming along with the raising of livestock.