"We ought to set an example of conservation in a world with an expanding population and limited resources. Already, scientists predict that wars in the near future will be waged over water. Instead of modeling excess, perhaps the United States can be a model of temperance, of living within nature's bounds."

By "we," Cynthia Tucker means you and me - not the government or Congress or the guy down the street.

You and me.

WATER

Where can life be if 98% of what our life forms are refuses to make an appearance in the form of precipitation in as diverse places as Georgia, USA, the countries of southern Europe and Turkey and Australia?

As the ice floes, glaciers, and big chunks of the ice sheets at the poles break off setting up a chain reaction that is changing and will change more of the weather patterns that have been of a stable influence.

To the raping of the planet earth for a few dollars more; cutting vast groves of trees that are used to absorb carbon emissions and supply oxygen, a staff of life. A cycle of life for flora and fauna.

Environmental events throughout the world reflect changes significant; a dry river, the Amazon, a polar bear that can't find ice, killer cyclones that batter Bangladesh, people praying for rain in Tennessee, Mount Kilimanjaro dry, the Great Lakes drying up; drought, the ultimate consequence.

Repair? I don't know how but it would require that the whole world work together. Reality? Forget it.

Tony 11/15/07 Of course there is more and "the cup runneth over", How long? Hope our kids are smarter than we are.

Excellent Article - Spot on.

Our economic model is based on growth through over consumption. Unless and until we come to that realization, and switch our thinking to conservation, we are doomed.

iammyself you are correct again - it's you and me. Let's take a look in Cynthia's garage and see what's there? Don't be surprised if there's is an S.U.V or two.

Enough talk - time to act. The problem is us and the solution is us.

I'm doing my part - are you?

Ramsay

Capitalists do not worry about impending shortages. Those who share in the profits, know well that shortages equals privatization equals monopoly equals enormous wealth for the lucky few. When the wealth becomes big enough, the sufferings of the masses can be blamed on their ignorance and propensity to breed and consume. Do not imagine that anyone in wealth and power really cares. Only an empty stomach, forced privation, and strong habit provide real motivation. The really well off are too lazy. Affording the comfort to paid by the privations of others, what would it matter that the world will die after my death? Changing the behavior of the masses of the world, is a too hard problem, while governments persist with old ways. With the internet, and the disgrace of traditional means of mass control, is their still some hope of changing minds in a world wide mind revolution? The masses really do outnumber the wealthy. Wake up and discover.

The U.S. is really the most overpopulated country on the planet, not places like Bangladesh. Based on resource use, each american baby is equivalent to multiple babies in developing countries. Stop having babies, America! Stop and think before you give in to your urge to reproduce. Read the comments on this website:

http://www.vhemt.org/

I don't know about Cynthia's garage or Alice's Resaurant, but there are no SUV's in my garage.

My point isn't to keep score of who has what, but to highlight the need for us to start changing what we model, and thus, change our lives.

Nobody reading this is starting from a point of pristine perfection, but we all can start from where we are.

I'm doing my part, but can do better - so that is my goal.

The Gov of GA is prayin his butt off - what. more. can. we. do.? As usual, no matter if the catastrophe is sudden or slow and painful, we Americans will react after the fact, not before.

"No one could have predicted Mother Nature would turn against the God-fearing, good land stewards of America. If she would have given us a firm date, or some sort of plan, then, of course, we would have moved heaven and earth to protect the children of the homeland. But, one day she was all sunny and teddy bears, and the next - water, oil, gas: gone. And then she started with the crazy storms, which, again, no one in the administration - or any administration in the universe - ever, never, ever could have foreseen."

iammyself---I couldn't agree more. When people keep looking to governemnt to solve the problem of global warming, I always remind them that we are all particpating in the problem, so we all have to participate in the solution.

It's like we want govt to make us conserve or force us to stop buying those big bad SUV's. Come on folks. Stop stalling---there is so much we all can do right now that doesn't cost anything but a commitment to do whatever you can. And that includes those of us who think we are already doing more than those darned SUV drivers. (smile)

I spend allot of time thinking about the concept of critical mass---what does it take before it is reached? Let's put our own puny weight into changing the mass consiousness of this nation, and maybe we'll see the shift.
Must confess, I'm rather counting on it...

Blesings!

FRANK: As per MOTHER nature, it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind! (and M.O.)

All these truths have been truths for a long time. I pray that the 'consumption' spree does not consume even itself. So often it seems to be gathering speed with with no slow down in sight. What have we done?

Every effort I have made seems to get wiped out... run over by the consumption wheel. The waste of recyclable plastics - cardboards - papers - glass - and metals that don't make to the recycling yards. Too late for me though. I can not in any way seem to be able to tear myself away from doing my little part. That's all I can do - so I keep doing it.

Maybe God will use all of the 'stuff' that I have picked up, recycled, contributed, and reused; to build a little piece of heaven up there somewhere for those who would have never made it to the 'Unrecycled Heaven'.

iammyself: No S.U.V. or car in my garage either - and I live in California. I went to look at an apartment the other week, and when I told the landlady that I didn't own a car, she gave me a look. After 20 years of commuting and polluting, I've done enough damage, I have no intention of owning a car again.

The point about Cynthia's garage is, that it's one thing to say there is a problem, and another to do something about it, I live in the land of limousine liberals. Down the road in Palo Alto, the venture capitalists are plotting, over how to make money off the planet's crisis. Al Gore just signed on, cha ching, when he should be running for president.

Give a hoot! Don't pollute!
Ramsay

PENNERBLU----no effort you make is ever undone, no matter how much it seems otherwise. Individual efforts matter----just keep doing the right thing and don't worry about another's failure to duplicate your effort. It's not always apparent immediately---we all want to see results, however. sometimes the only satisfaction available is doing the right thing yourself.

And don't worry, it's catching on. The sheer magnitude of all the "stuff" accumulated in this country makes it hard to see any progress, but trust me, it's still matters what you do. Blessings!

"It's like we want govt to make us conserve or force us to stop buying those big bad SUV's. Come on folks. Stop stalling—there is so much we all can do right now that doesn't cost anything but a commitment to do whatever you can. And that includes those of us who think we are already doing more than those darned SUV drivers. (smile)"

Now yer talkin'!

See, it's all well and good to gripe here on CD, and it's a good place to do so - so many friends to nod and agree with. However, at some point, we have to either shit or get off the pot. Okay, bad analogy, but you get my drift. We can all be doing better, and should be. If we purport to "know" what the deal is, then we should back that up with some real intent and action.

You know, I've sneered at those little "50 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet" books. Yet, they are useful in that they get us off our asses and get us to start doing right - start right living. They are by no means an end in and of themselves - we need to do more, including pressuring our _representatives_ to act in our behalf. But, let's face it, it's so much "righter" to start walking the walk before we talk all over the place.

C'mon in, the water's fine!

"The point about Cynthia's garage is, that it's one thing to say there is a problem, and another to do something about it..."

I grok, man. Point well taken, and I'm on my way.

Funny thing about economics; it was a system designed to force economy in the consumption of goods. Instead it has become the biggest cheerleader of wanton extravagance. How did that happen?

Okay, I'll answer my own question. Since the banks stopped emphasizing saving and started pushing consumer credit; this started probably right after WWII. Credit cards came out, which made going into debt easy and fun.

Now we have houses and garages full of junk, landfills full of more junk, tons of debt, and an economic engine straining to keep up with the only thing we still manufacture here, demand.

Well, that's not quite true--we lead the world in the manufacture of pollution. We'll get our money back as soon as we find a market for our filth.

One thing is for certain, from nature's perspective, is if the human society of this planet does not get their collective shit together then they will be eliminated. And that has nothing to do with legality or human rights but merely with sustainability. If the residents of this planet do not recognize that this planet is a living thing which must be cared for, then they do not deserve to reside here. And you can be sure that nature will have no remorse in getting rid of an unworthy species and replacing it in the future with one which has a propensity towards more values.

No problem driving 55 here. I thank Jimmy Carter for the recession that forced me in a new direction 31 years ago.

Water is Life. I quite agree with you, Jmacneil.

Talk is not a substitute for action. What are you doing to aid the earth that is painful for you. That is the question. Easy stuff don't get it. You will find that your lifeways will be stood on their head if you are serious. You can only do what you can do but that is a good beginning. Talk does not excuse you from your responsibility. You are the gifted who can see the problem and you must do your part first. I got serious three years ago and it has been very difficult. Even so I would do it again. There is no other choice. You must give up unsustainable living.

starofthesea - I understand your opinion about the fact that we don't and shouldn't wait for the government to get people to conserve in every way possible. But it sure is nice when the government does urge citizens to conserve. In the country I live in, there is a constant reminder to the people to use less and save more. It isn't a democracy here, but you don't really even notice it. That's because those who rule the country aren't evil people, like the current administration of George Bush has been since the day he was let into the White House.

Naturally, there are problems here but the same things happen in all governments regardless of the type of government. And I feel safe here, something I didn't feel in the USA. I feel safe physically, financially, and among the people.

But back to the issue. Without thinking, folks shut off the water faucet while showering and you are just using the soap to clean yourself. Then, the water is turned back on to rinse off. The same goes for brushing teeth, washing dishes and clothes, and nobody has a lawn to water - nor do they need one. Garbage is recycled as much as possible. Anything that has any potential for recycling is taken out of your garbage, and these poor people make a living off this.

I realize that a lot of criticism could be honestly pointed out about this beautiful country, and I would agree with probably most of it. But that's not my point here. I'm not trying to say that this is the best of places by any means. I am only making the point that the government has taken a part in educating the people and helping to create a culture of awareness of waste and ways to prevent it. In the USA, it is almost the opposite. We are programmed to buy, throw away, then buy, and throw away, and on and on. We are consumers of the worst sort. It is as if there was an unlimited supply of everything and we can just buy and toss things out once the "new and improved" version hits the market. How many times can you "improve" toothpaste or laundry detergent?

We need to stop eating and consuming ourselves out of house and home. And one pleasant side effect would be that if we were to become a society that saves and uses things wisely, the big multi-nationals would be hit hard once buying slowed down an incredible amount. In fact, speaking of multi-national corporations, that is why our government does nothing serious about conserving – it wouldn't be in the interests of their masters.

I stand on street corners on a daily basis and I attempt to wake people up to global warming. I feel that a lot of people have just the idea of global warming in their mind, but have yet to internalize it. We'll wake up in time, I'm not worried about that, we've just got to prioritize the Earth's ability to sustain life over greed. We've got to globalize in a way that's not run by corporations, and we must start deciding what we want to keep and what we want to throw away in the new world we want to create. If you want to do something fun, respond to this tiny message with a thing you want to keep, and why, and a thing you want to leave behind, and why.

I drive my little hybrid. Not one person I know by bonds of family, friendship, or acquaintance concens him or herself enough to buy a high-mileage car (hybrid or otherwise). They all have their reasons, and all the reasons amount to this--I want the toy I want.

I don't wear my car like a hair shirt, either, I actually like it.