Came across a letter Ed Abbey wrote home asking for a loan to buy a practically new '47 ford for 350 bucks. He concludes that section by telling his parents not to send him the money or his monthly stipend- he's just gonna waste it anyway. He also wrote an essay called Principa Aesthetica that I would love to read. Anyone ever heard of it?
Oh, and while I'm asking for things I can't have, anyone have a lead on his grave? Has that book been written yet? "Searching for Abbey?" Seems like now would be a good time to catapult his name into the media monster and get his ideas some press. No one was more involved the conservation debate than Abbey. And his ideas might dovetail nicely with the the Local movement . When the scale is small enough, concerning management techniques are much less objectionable to people with preservationist ideals.
A friend of mine who reminds me if Abbey lives in a tent in northern Vermont year round, was outraged that they are putting windmills on the spine mountain range across from his tent. So what, I tell him, wind-power is good, it helps the environment, yada, yada, yada. And he agreed with me on principal. But when he pointed out that the sun would set over those windmills ever night for as long as he lived here. He can't watch the sunset again without being reminded of of mans craving for electricity. "And I'm not even fucking using any of it!" He says.
Now, it's easy to throw the NIMBY card on the table at this point and claim that they have to go somewhere. And it's true- they do have to go somewhere, but they don't have to be so BIG and so FEW. They can be Small and many, and dispersed around the landscape. This will stimulate the economy of individual landowners with both tax breaks and income from the power they sell back to the grid, and prevent the political bickering created by placing windmills on public land. Some zoning precedence will need to be set for sure, but wouldn't this solution help to alleviate the polarity in this argument and allow for power to be generated and distributed in local networks- a very positive step toward energy independence.
food for thought, thanks to Abbey.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Musing on Abbey
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Fools?
How does the world make a massive shift toward sustainable living? We need a catalyst to begin this chain reaction toward sustainable solutions. The infrastructure of support is growing on the grassroots level. Modern communications can disseminate information at speeds never before imagined. Sustainable living solutions are everywhere, there are companies, non-profits and NGO’s all espousing ways to become more sustainable. The necessity of change becomes more apparent as resources deplete. We have the tools, technology and information we need. We lack the people, desire and understanding needed to create positive action. A critical mass is required for any reaction to take place. This what is missing from the so-called “green revolution”. To create critical mass you need a small input of energy at the correct time and place: a catalyst. This catalyst provides the input necessary to fuse efforts together and create forward action toward sustainability.
Dwight Elgin discuses this catalyst in his book _____. He states that in order for humanity to continue surviving as the dominant species on earth, we must “bounce” to the next evolutionary level or suffer the inevitability of overpopulation and resource exhaustion. This coincides with Darwin’s theory of natural selection, where genetic mutations become beneficial adaptations through years of involuntary eugenics. While natural selection involves the “bounce” of the individual, Elgin’s theory deals with the mutation of species as whole. This seems impossible if looked at from a purely physical point of view. Humans cannot instantaneously grow and extra foot or arm let alone do this simultaneously with everyone else. However, if we think of the evolving of thought, or consciousness, this idea is not so far fetched. The major achievements of our history have all been due to radical changes of thought. The same will hold true for our future, in order to continue to sustain our species, we must “bounce” our consciousness to a new level. The evolution of consciousness is our catalyst.
The evolved consciousness will cease humanity’s destructive policies in favor of solidarity and sustainability. Current human consciousness, defined by Decartes immortal “I am”, is a singular expression of the individual. This is the consciousness of a spoiled child, who selfishly considers his wants more important than others needs. Evolving beyond individual consciousness to the global collective puts the needs of the whole over the want of the individual. The “I am” consciousness changes to “We are”. The necessary solution for a sustainable world requires first establishing a global collective consciousness.
Establishing a global collective consciousness is process of succession. The individual struggling to meet daily needs will not evolve consciousness. Subsistence living does not allow for anything but personal survival. Surplus must be achieved before consciousness is evolved. As a whole, humans produce enough resources per capita to provide this surplus. Why is it then that people are still without food and clean water in this world? The problem lies in distribution. The largest portion of the surplus goes to sustain the smallest (and richest) part of the population. Redistribution of wealth is the key to providing a surplus for all, thus allowing an evolution of consciousness.
Long a goal of sustainable development, the construction of the green economy solves a myriad of problems. Creating this new economy eliminates environmental concerns and many barriers to sustainability. Furthermore, it is a vehicle for redistribution. The “third world” is wallowing in the dregs of oil based economics, trying to build an energy infrastructure that will soon be obsolete. With fossil fuel still economically viable, the “first world” refuses to replace it’s entrenched infrastructure with renewable energy sources. Logically, we plant the seed for the green economy where it will most likely take root, in the fertile soil of the poor and oppressed. Construction of a new renewable energy infrastructure creates jobs, increased industry and development and enough investment opportunities top interest big business. This “New Deal” for the third world increases surplus for the individual, closing the gap between the world’s rich and poor. Solidarity increases; the mechanisms for global consciousness begin to tick.
It seems impossible to evolve world consciousness, redistribute wealth, and create global green energy revolution all in one fell swoop. It certainly is a big charter. But the world isn’t changed by doing only what’s possible. Idealism becomes practicality when necessity dictates. The importance of this consciousness ideal lies not in the plan, but in the action. Now, more than ever before in history, our individual actions have inestimable effect on the rest of the planet. The choice of whether these actions will help or harm humanity’s future lies at our doorstep. Evolving our consciousness simply means actively choosing to live for the betterment of humanity. As Ghandi once said, “¼to renounce self interest¼will make not only for our own happiness, but that of the world at large”
Dwight Elgin discuses this catalyst in his book _____. He states that in order for humanity to continue surviving as the dominant species on earth, we must “bounce” to the next evolutionary level or suffer the inevitability of overpopulation and resource exhaustion. This coincides with Darwin’s theory of natural selection, where genetic mutations become beneficial adaptations through years of involuntary eugenics. While natural selection involves the “bounce” of the individual, Elgin’s theory deals with the mutation of species as whole. This seems impossible if looked at from a purely physical point of view. Humans cannot instantaneously grow and extra foot or arm let alone do this simultaneously with everyone else. However, if we think of the evolving of thought, or consciousness, this idea is not so far fetched. The major achievements of our history have all been due to radical changes of thought. The same will hold true for our future, in order to continue to sustain our species, we must “bounce” our consciousness to a new level. The evolution of consciousness is our catalyst.
The evolved consciousness will cease humanity’s destructive policies in favor of solidarity and sustainability. Current human consciousness, defined by Decartes immortal “I am”, is a singular expression of the individual. This is the consciousness of a spoiled child, who selfishly considers his wants more important than others needs. Evolving beyond individual consciousness to the global collective puts the needs of the whole over the want of the individual. The “I am” consciousness changes to “We are”. The necessary solution for a sustainable world requires first establishing a global collective consciousness.
Establishing a global collective consciousness is process of succession. The individual struggling to meet daily needs will not evolve consciousness. Subsistence living does not allow for anything but personal survival. Surplus must be achieved before consciousness is evolved. As a whole, humans produce enough resources per capita to provide this surplus. Why is it then that people are still without food and clean water in this world? The problem lies in distribution. The largest portion of the surplus goes to sustain the smallest (and richest) part of the population. Redistribution of wealth is the key to providing a surplus for all, thus allowing an evolution of consciousness.
Long a goal of sustainable development, the construction of the green economy solves a myriad of problems. Creating this new economy eliminates environmental concerns and many barriers to sustainability. Furthermore, it is a vehicle for redistribution. The “third world” is wallowing in the dregs of oil based economics, trying to build an energy infrastructure that will soon be obsolete. With fossil fuel still economically viable, the “first world” refuses to replace it’s entrenched infrastructure with renewable energy sources. Logically, we plant the seed for the green economy where it will most likely take root, in the fertile soil of the poor and oppressed. Construction of a new renewable energy infrastructure creates jobs, increased industry and development and enough investment opportunities top interest big business. This “New Deal” for the third world increases surplus for the individual, closing the gap between the world’s rich and poor. Solidarity increases; the mechanisms for global consciousness begin to tick.
It seems impossible to evolve world consciousness, redistribute wealth, and create global green energy revolution all in one fell swoop. It certainly is a big charter. But the world isn’t changed by doing only what’s possible. Idealism becomes practicality when necessity dictates. The importance of this consciousness ideal lies not in the plan, but in the action. Now, more than ever before in history, our individual actions have inestimable effect on the rest of the planet. The choice of whether these actions will help or harm humanity’s future lies at our doorstep. Evolving our consciousness simply means actively choosing to live for the betterment of humanity. As Ghandi once said, “¼to renounce self interest¼will make not only for our own happiness, but that of the world at large”
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