EcoReason’s Posts

• What is poverty?

  Perhaps it has less to do with material possessions and more to do with access 0

  Posted 3 years, 7 months ago

  This week's New Yorker carries an excellent essay by John Cassidy discussing the history and evolving standards of poverty in the United States, and some of the different ways in which poverty can (and should) be measured.

  Most interesting and relevant to some of our discussions is the idea of "relative poverty." If we hold most of what we call poverty in the U.S. up against the 1 billion dispossessed that Mike Davis writes about in his new book Planet of Slums, we find that most Americans are incredibly wealthy. Even if we… Read More

• Poverty and environment redux 0

  Posted 3 years, 8 months agoI commend Grist's editors for this landmark series. Their efforts, along with the many great writers who have contributed, have helped exemplify one of the central themes of environmental justice:

  Environmentalism in the absence of people (as both political participants and right-endowed members of the Earth community) has led to worse social and ecological conditions by concentrating the negative impacts of industrial civilization on the disempowered, while not solving the core ecological issues it set out to fix.

  If this is correct, then environmental justice offers a very serious and very useful critique of our environmentalist agenda.

  If, as reformers,… Read More

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  350. 350. 350. There. According to Bill McKibben I've now done my part. Wow. That was easy. ;POn Bill McKibben on International Climate Action Day posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago 4 Responses

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  Heresy

  But it's institution's like Grist that make such meaningless gestures as the Republicans are making even appear on the radar.  The only thing green about either party is the money that influences their decision-making.

  But, heck, Grist is just a PR machine itself, throwing about symbolism and catch phrases and whatever is the most popular hot air about 'green' issues.  They effect none of the fundamental change necessary to maintain habitability on Earth.

  Do I think the Republicans are really "green?"  Yes.  They are as "green" as Grist and no greener.

  Talk is easy.  Change is hard.  Green chic won't cut it, here or there or anywhere.

  Ecoreason.

  "Come to know the landscape in which you live and you will help to restore the world."On Republican convention will go green posted 1 year, 8 months ago 10 Responses

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  Environment?

  When did energy become "environmentalism?"  I mean, sure, yes, we need energy conservation and energy reduction and we need to do everything to decrease CO2 emissions, but when did this become the defining idea of environmentalism?

  In other words, the leading Democratic candidates are not battling for a strong environmentalist position, they are fighting to sound best on the single issue of energy policy.

  Where do they stand on the Endangered Species Act?  Genetically Modified Organisms?  Farm Subsidies?  Land Conservation?  Toxic and Hazardous Waste?  Methyl Bromide?  Mining?  Recycling?

  Yes, Hillary's taken an easy position on a popular issue.  But let's not forget that Richard Nixon signed most of our most sweeping environmental legislation into law.  

  And how long before Rudy jumps into this so-called 'environment' debate with proposals of his own?  Will Grist be gawking over him when he does?  How will they distinguish?

  Peace,
  KOn The full text of Clinton's plan posted 2 years ago 18 Responses

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  Surfing the Web

  Contributes to global warming.  If you write on blogs and spend all day with your electronic contraption on, you are destroying the planet.

  Turn off.  Please.

  KCOn On PETA's latest campaign posted 2 years, 2 months ago 256 Responses

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  Surfing the Web

  Contributes to global warming.  You cannot surf the web and be an environmentalist...?  In fact, it's probabaly easier to eat meat (which does require murdering an animal) without contributing to global warming than it is to read this explosion of posts wihtout sending up the temperature.

  Save the planet, kill a tree...

  Paradoxes abound in this mixed up world of ours.  That's what makes it so much fun.  Now I'm going to go get me a free range burger and turn this blasted thing off.

  KCOn Animal-rights group makes the stupid claim that enviros must be vegetarians posted 2 years, 2 months ago 208 Responses