Comments BlackBear Standing has made

  • Monkey Wrenching not ecoterrorism

    Environmentalists should stop using the word "ecoterrorism" unless they are referring to the action of multinational corporate thugs.  Abbey used the  Luddite term Monkey Wrenching because he had a great sense of humor, and also because it fit well.  The guide to monkeywrenching, "EcoDefense", (Amazon.com smartypants) specifically dictates nonviolence and avoidance of injury to humans or animals.

    Dave is right, let's waste little time defining terrorism. A proper act of monkey-wrenching would not terrorize, because the object of the action is inanimate and unable to know fear.  Maybe you think this is a silly point, but it is intrinsic in framing the argument in the media.

    The goal is to inflict financial damage and defer habitat destruction by destroying equipment.  If it becomes too costly to build, then a developer won't build it.  If a developer knows from experience that his actions will bring financial harm to his company, he won't pursue those actions.  

    Throw a wrench in the works.

    Jerome Alicki "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Ed Abbey

    On is an industry effort to shut down threats to their bottom line posted 4 years, 1 month ago 10 Responses

  • Human waste in Grand River, Michigan

    There has been a debate in Grand Rapids, Michigan for decades regarding what to do about sewage overflows into the Grand River.  Every spring rain brings local news reporters to the river explaining the need to stay away from the water and the dangers of various bacteria.  Last year a local tv reporter did a story on the ducks and gulls who were eating undigested corn washing up on the banks.  The Grand River passes through Lansing, and flows west through Grand Rapids and then into Lake Michigan.  Beach closures are common, especially near Grand Haven, Michigan where the river meets the  big lake. From a citizen's perspective it seems that very little gets done about this, except that the state monitors coliform bacteria counts.  Stupak certainly understands the threat to the Lakes and is wise to speak up. Thanks to Susan Boni for drawing attention to this matter.On EPA plan would spew under-treated sewage into U.S. waterways posted 4 years, 8 months ago 2 Responses

  • Oil and food

    Food production is heavily dependent on oil, many agricultural pesticides are petroleum based.  Not only do we have to redesign our transportation infrastructure, but we have to phase out chemically intensive agriculture as well.  

    The majority of the cost of a store-bought vegetable is the cost of getting it to the shelf. If you begin to wean society off of giant agribusiness that grows much of our food in Central and South America and move toward lower cost, closer-to-home produce, you run head-on into the problem of urban sprawl.  Huge, overpriced suburban housing is gobbling up farmland everywhere.

    We must redesign transportation and the transportation energy supply infrastructure at the same time as we radically alter food production and distribution, and also while containing or reversing urban sprawl.

    "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Ed Abbey

    On Oily to rise posted 4 years, 9 months ago 3 Responses

  • The new direction of environmentalism


    Hey buddy, you like sex dontcha?  Wanna get rich? Invest in this new energy technology with me, chicks will think you're an environmentalist. You'll get lucky, I guarantee it!

    "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Ed Abbey

    On An elevator pitch for environmentalism posted 4 years, 9 months ago 154 Responses