Dear Bonnie,

How are you?

You are asking for the obvious again. How can the individual do it?

But our governments (at least here in Europe) are now at last working on this issue too.

That is perhaps the difference with the beginning of the eighties, when my generation undertook the same effort as is happening now. As individuals, without cooperation of government or the big money making companies.

Now all the large companies will have to follow too, which is the most difficult of all I suppose.

What we did then and what we are still doing are the things every "sensible" citizen does:

- driving less
- flying less
- growing our own food
- using electricity saving lamps
- recycling
- not overheat our house

etc. etc.

Only thing our government in Holland knows as a solution to disencourage flying, is raising taxes at the airport, but the result is that people drive in their cars to other countries nearby and take a flight from there.

We have a huge problem in our country with traffic jams. Within a number of years we will not be able anymore to move ourselves in a car from one place to another. In Belgium this will be within 20 years I heard on tv.

Our (older) generation already sets an example by walking and biking more. We are able to do that because our country is flat and rather small. And we are able to do that because most people of my generation already do not work anymore. In other countries this will not be that easy.

So in the end, what can an individual do? It depends on a number of factors regarding where people live.

It depends on cooperation of people and countries together.

It largely depends on governments and the large money making companies.

If the will is there, the way follows by itself :)

Love to you!

Mieke

Conflict of interest
Promise me abundant life
Restrict my rations

I wrote about this last October:

Environment. What does it mean? The word itself is derived from Middle English ‘envirounen,’ from Old French ‘environner,’ from ‘environ,’ around, with further connotations of ’see’ and ‘circle’ (Dictionary.com). Everything we see around us. Furniture (often made from trees), appliances, sky, fields, cars, ocean, mountains, buildings. Environment can be indoors or outdoors. As Gary Synder says, however: “Cities and agricultural lands…are not ‘wild.’ Wild is a valuable word. It is a term for the free and independent process of nature. A wilderness is place where wild process dominates and human impact is minimal. Wilderness need not be a place that was never touched by humans, but simply a place where wild process has ruled for some decades.”

Read the rest...

OK so no html in comments here...the link for the rest of my piece:

http://reikihelp.com/blog/2007/10/environment

The individual is the only answer. We cannot count on or blame governments and large corporations -- we can only remember that they are our mirrors. For more on this, go to http://www.blisschick.net/2008/04/ecobliss-be-change.html

Also, in response to "conflict of interests," there is a difference between an "abundant life" and excessive and damaging materialism. The fact that you equate abundance with "rations," speaks volumes about the predicament we are in. For more on this: http://www.blisschick.net/2008/04/ecobliss-happy-people-happy-planet.html

The very point of my site is that eco-consciousness and self-consciousness are one and the same. What is good for us -- truly good, not giant-house, denying-our-souls-for-money good -- what is good for us is good for the planet and good for the rest of humanity.

As individuals, today...

Right this moment we can stop and be quiet for a moment. Regain contact with ourselves. Listen inside and hear what it is that we really want, what it is that we truly feel and what is important to us, under all the noise and the chaos.

Our needs truly don't involve the things we thought they did. We do not need most of what we have accumulated through our toxic thinking and feeling. The races going on in all domains today are races for false trophees.

What we need is simple, it is such that is free. Clean and fresh water, air and food, a heart free to love and a mind free to create for life. And mostly, we need to feel at home in our deeper selves, in the web of life.

If people start listening to their deeper, quiet and undemanding, but so very wise and loving self, they will stop craving for such that doesn't fill our needs in the first place. They will naturally gravitate toward such that is healing for both the individual and the planet.

Yo Bonnie,

I will smile at all bar the most ferocious dog because he would think I am just showing my teeth. Then it would be just dog eats dog. I would be the just dog, of course. Eating, though's, a metaphor and proves the pudding whose recipe may well come to me ONLY when in a christis. (:sp:)

Can we really take on Nature and yet remain in the natural? Rules is rules. They pan out.

I know. I was a dinosaur in a previous life ;)

Bonnie,

Thanks for the question. What can an individual do to stop the disintegration of our environment--our life support systems both personally and planetary? Be positive, laugh, love, find joy within, be grateful, reach out to others with empathy, inject peace. This green energy transforms--inside out.

Love,

Trish

Bonnie,

Thanks for the question. What can an individual do to stop the disintegration of our environment--our life support systems both personally and planetary? Be positive, laugh, love, find joy within, be grateful, reach out to others with empathy, inject peace. This green energy transforms--inside out.

Love,

Trish

Hi Bonnie,

Well, for me, it is to waste not, water for example, use what I need, be thankful for it and for the convenience of having it my fingertips, waste not, my electricity, use what I need and appreciate it's convenience at my fingertips. Being consciously aware of all that I have and use while trying not to be wasteful....a small start, for sure, but a good start.....

have a grand day Bonnie...and GO Hillary!!!

Hello Everyone

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. Pamir and blisschick thanks for your links. I agree with all of you. In the larger sense, when we realize that it is nature that nurtures all of us, the small steps we take to walk lightly on the earth are not sacrifices at all.

It is the small steps and positive dialog that helps create a clearer path to living well without undermining our common ecological systems. For example, using washable coffee cups at the office instead of using throwaway plastic ones. That's only one of thousands of small things when multipled by thousands of individuals reduces our impact. We do have options to live differently but well.

blisschick, I couldn't agree more, that we can no longer blame governments or corporations. It is up to us to lead by example.

Again, thanks everyone.

Love
Bonnie

I'd like to start conversations on how to use hybrid solutions to fuel commercial passenger aircraft.

Currently all the airlines are looking at biofuels substitutes. If they're looking for palm or soybeans, shame on them. They ought to be looking at algae.

So that's one part of the hybrid solution. What's next?

As far as I know, the weather at 10,000 feet is ALWAYS very sunny. Aircraft have no shortage of surface area on their wings. Why can't they conform solar cell material to those big wings and augment their use of algoil with solar? This DC voltage could power the cabin pressurization system, power hydraulic systems, avionics, lights, toilets!

These days, solar companies are discovering WONDERFUL conforming material for solar "panels" that would in no way hinder aerodynamics.

If the US can build stealth bombers whose surfaces serve dual roles: lift and radar evasion, then why can't we likewise build aircraft surfaces that serve OTHER roles?

Dear Bonnie,
One thing we should do is not to elect somebody like George Bush to power. Wars (which are always unnecessary) cause enormous loss of life, wealth and health and make all our contributions disappear no matter how much we do individiually.

Hi syamala

If you think about it, most wars are resource wars. I do think that all those small contributions we make subtly influence mankind so that wars eventually become unnecessary. That's the dream anyway.

Pamir

I just read your site. We all too often forget that those wild places are necessary for the earth to regenerate itself whether we ever visit them or not. Thanks.

Dana
There's lots of research going on with solar energy. Do you remember that group of GA. Tech students who designed a solar car and drove it around town. If they can do it, seems the big corporations can do it too.
As Mieke says, If there's the will the way will follow.

Aurora and Trish
You are so right, when we reconnect to ourselves, we seem to know what we need to do.

Yo Ruth
We do waste so much. Not wasting is a good first step.

Ed
And you are still giving us energy.
Who knows, we might be the energy, for whatever comes after us. :)

Bonnie

#14 Yes sure, Bonnie, inasmuch as we conjecture, that huge larder of dinosaur meat enabled little mousey one to survive the whatever 'crash' and go on to this our mammalian 'success.'
I think ants will take over this time on Earth, whilst we all slip quietly through our wormholes to the parallels of our good intent.

I wouldn't want to leave without you, though, or you, or you, or all of you, 'cos that we can already do. I see a need for consensus of One.
Thus I have to be in favour of the team effort most have in mind, even if I can't really be clear about the earthly presuppositions.

Thanks Bonnie :)

Oh...you want practical, Bonnie Moseley? (a last name? OMG!)

Recycle your junk
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Cremation saves space

Hello, blisschick!

Do you come back and check for responses? Or was that a hit and run?

Your name sounds familiar. You have frequented IB in the past?

.

Apparently, you believe that I need not be addressed formally.

And you interpret me as having had equated abundance with rations.

I now realize that I might have used the word 'portions' in good stead.

.

Egotistically, I feel like a scribe who has never had to be a scab.

Unions are not my style...neither are they one of my faults.

.

Nice to meet you! Even if this is in vain,

I'm still okay with THAT!

.

Conflict competes well
Mind the advice shop with salt
Give me the hardwood

Yo Keith

A novel idea. Last names. Does that label me as a tree hugger?

Did you know composting saves space too?

Love
B

Thanks for the hug, B! Yeah, I know, save the good sh-t till later.

Dear Bonnie,

Good question and I think I agree with what has already been said regarding individual responsibilities and action.

Just want to add one more to the list. We need to speak out. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to do this. Most of us are loathe to do so because we feel we are being busy bodies or will be considered as such. Even if someone shows initial irritation the penny does drop eventually and they make the effort to change.That change would not have occurred if someone hadn't taken the trouble to explain.

Dara

Hey Bonnie
There is a town, I think in Sweden, where they are cultivating a new mind set.
Produce more energy than you consume.

reuse, reuse, then recycle

derek

Even grounded, rooted to misteries
I need you to take my hand
Cos this floor my shoes on
Echo mother's nature beats
Asking for something more

So here I come facing our individualities

I love you
But I gotta stay true
My morals got me on my knees
I'm begging please stop playing games

I don't know what this is
Cos you got me good
Just like you knew you would

You got me begging you for mercy
Why won't you release me
You got me begging you for mercy...

Dear JF, maybe someday we will be able to define morals with some other than guilt..

I haven't a clue, who we really are, so there.

Dear Bonnie

I wrote a long comment yesterday, but IB went down and it didn't post. Here's the short version:

Cut back on having kids. Cut back on hunger for luxury. Buy local products. Use reusable cloth bags and recycled paper goods. In cold places/times, wear heavier clothing and turn down (or off) your home and car heaters. In warm places/times, allow yourself to sweat. Challenging our bodies with temperature extremes and not overloading on food and comfort, makes us stronger inside and out and uses fewer resources. Developing countries, don't make the mistakes that developed countries have made. Developed countries, look at developing countries for clues as to how to live harmoniously with the earth.

Oh, and let oil prices stay as high as possible. This is the only strong incentive, that works world-wide, for developing alternates to fossil and biomass-based fuels.

love, h

Dear J-F and Tammy

Issues of morals and guilt were a surprise to read of in this thread, but they do affect how we live integratively with the earth, so here's my take...

When we look into our deepest hearts, and use what we feel there to help us act, we act in harmony with life -- with ourselves, with others, with the earth. We can make good decisions -- wise ones, that benefit others, and do very little harm.

We have to pay attention to our own needs first. Only a healthy psyche can act in a healthy way in the outside world. We need to feed ourselves first. Be true to ourselves. Celebrate ourselves and our own needs. Unless we do that, how can we have anything to give to anyone else?

Guilt is pretty much a personal construct, and it's almost never worthy of seeing the light of day. Others use it to manipulate us, and we use it ourselves, to delay our own growth and personal commitment.

Except in those very rare cases where we've done something seriously injurious to someone else, when we feel guilty, we should feel suspicious of what's going on in our psyches, and try to look underneath at what the sense of guilt is hiding.

Be free, true to yourself, have fun and be kind to others and the planet; dance in the light of sun and moon. Wtf good is guilt? Throw it out and act naturally, for yourself first, because only if you're true to yourself, can you be true to others. And don't make the mistake of thinking others are so emotionally vulnerable that you need to protect them, to put their needs first. Uh-uh! That is an expression of hidden contempt for others, and an expression of self-importance. Others can get along without you (and me) just fine if they have to. Take care of yourself, let others take care of themselves, and all be kind to all. That's it from me, on morals and guilt.

love, h

Bonnie, Tammy and my dear Heath

Please yell at me with this soft way of revelations
Please face me as close as you want
Let's take a tea at Malli-Coast
Sit inside heartphone in an evening around fire

But please teach my well, cells and nerves
With strong swords of soft-words and smiles
This place missing of delightful feminine-beauties...

Dear J-F

a bow to the music in you, and how it teaches us.

love, h

Hello everyone

Reading back through all the responses here there are so many workable individual actions we can take and build on. From relocalized economies to community gardens, from having fewer children to better educating those we have, from driving less while living more richly where we find ourselves and finding meaning in experience rather than competitive consumption.

Dara, you are correct, while building upon these individual actions, we do need to speak out against the abuses we see from deforestation to accomodate biofuel to the degradation of our water sources through pollution and all the rest. And reminding people that these individual actions do matter and make a difference.

Heath, the one subject that I have found is the hardest to discuss with people is that of controlling the population. That's a hard one but one we will be forced to face at some point.

Derek, as ecological limits continue to bite, responses of many types are possible and necessary. Technology has a place, but is by no means a silver bullet. Solar seems to be the energy source of choice going forward. It is my understanding that the efficiency of solar cells has now doubled every two years or so and will soon be price competitive with fossil fuel without government subsidies. It is very encouraging.

Individuals and by extension society do have a choice. We can dig in and use every last bit of fossil fuel and other non-renewable resources to prop up artificially high populations and living standards, or we can embrace a new dream of returning to Earth's bounty, rhythms and limits.
Oh yes, Jean-F, there's music in that.:)

Love life,
B

http://www.gimundo.com/Articles/Daily/1067/London_Plans_to_Recycle_Olympic_Stadium_Seats

What we do in a small way they can do big!

Love,

Mieke