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Real Patriots Don't Waste the Nation's Resources
The markets were up sharply last week. Wheat markets, that is.
While the Dow Jones industrials were down 315 points Friday, red-hot trading on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange pushed wheat to a record high of $25 a bushel in the same week.
Frankly, neither number is to be cheered, unless you're a wheat grower in Montana. In a country where people know more about their BlackBerrys than they do about how food gets to their table and gasoline into their SUVs, these and other numbers tumbled out ominously in the last week of the last full month of winter.
With oil hovering above $100 a barrel and higher-use months on the way, analysts predicted that gasoline prices would soon rise to $4 a gallon, surprising President Bush but almost no one else.
The spike in wheat prices in Minneapolis and at other commodity markets reflects realities captured in other numbers reported last week: U.S. wheat supplies are at a 60-year low. Global stocks are at a 30-year low. In this climate, the United Nations' world food program announced it might have to ration food aid to poor countries. Global food prices jumped more than 20 percent in 2007 alone.
The double F's -- food and fuel -- are intertwined like never before. As oil prices have spiraled upward, governments have pumped up production of biofuels with incentives and economic development tools. The U.S. is now using 20 percent of its corn production for fuel. As oil prices continue to rise, reliance on renewable fuels will do nothing but grow, limitations of corn-based ethanol notwithstanding. As with wheat, prices for corn and soybeans are high. This is good news for farms and rural economies in Wisconsin, but it also raises other important issues.
Listening in on a conversation between two University of Wisconsin-Extension agriculture agents last week, I heard speculation about weekend farmers getting into the act, lured by high prices. The agents worry that hay-shakers will take shortcuts and fail to take good care of Wisconsin's two most precious natural resources -- land and water -- as they rush to cash in.
Americans didn't become the world's biggest energy hogs on purpose. Our behaviors today result from cheap oil and economic growth fueled by unsustainable consumption of cheap goods. But we're capable of changing our behaviors. So in response to the bleak winter numbers of last week, here's a short list of things we could accomplish with little pain:
* Face the facts: An economy that relies on rapacious consumption will eventually devour itself. We need a new design that thrives on community health and stability rather than boatloads of junk from China.
* Go on a diet: Obviously, there's a lot of fat in the U.S. economy. A diet wouldn't hurt, literally and figuratively. A diet that relies more on plants requires much less energy than one rich in red meat. As Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute notes, shifting to a plant-based diet cuts greenhouse gas as much as driving a Prius does.
* Protect our land and water resources: The first step is to make sure they aren't lost to sprawl and other dumb uses. We also need to ensure that these resources are protected for future generations. If mandates or incentives are needed to preserve soil and protect the public's water, then we can't be timid.
* Take personal responsibility: If Americans embraced one or two sustainable practices, the impact would be immense. We could park the car for one day a week, alter a diet and retrofit our homes and businesses for energy conservation. These are small steps that can make a big difference. Our major institutions -- churches, businesses, governments -- need to lead by example and preach the truth.
* Elect responsible leaders: Choose local leaders who embrace sustainable community policies, state leaders who are willing to reward them and national leaders who have the guts to say that new realities require simple but determined efforts to change.
Getting people to equate patriotism with responsible consumption and conservation of resources would be a big step in the right direction. Rewarding that behavior would be even bigger.
Bill Berry of Stevens Point writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. billnick@charter.net
© 2008 Capital Newspapers
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9 Comments so far
Show AllHey Bill, don't you know there was a major paradigm shift between 1941 and 2001?.
When WW II started, Americans were required to conserve, ration and scavenge resources of all types, including fuel, rubber, food, even seats on the bus or train.
When the twin towers fell on 9/11/01, Americans were admonished to go shopping.
The new paradigm is: Since all wars are resource grabs, the more resources we use, the more we can justify a never ending war.
In November 2006 my car finally quit, and I refused to put more money into keeping it on the road. I started buying a monthly bus pass (which was about the same price as a tank of gas at that time - $25) and walking to everything I wanted and needed.
In July I moved to a small coastal town of about 2,000 people, where I can walk, again, to everything I want and need, including my employment. There are no buses here, but then when you step up to the crosswalk across a four-lane highway (US 101) that runs through the middle of town, people stop and let you cross.
I bought a small manufactured home, and the real estate agent (a transplant from California) asked me about not having a car. She just couldn't understand it. "To me", she said, "driving is like breathing!"
Uh, actually, I think she's got that backwards.
The point? It can be done. I do it.
Join me.
Every little act adds up to make a big difference. I live in a suburban area that is really geared to the automobile, so it's difficult to get around without a car. But there are a lot of things that can be done to conserve resources, even here.
Examples:
Today, instead of driving 35-40 miles to drop a couple packages. I drove a mile to the post office and mailed them.
When I have to run out somewhere, I wait until I have several reasons for going out,then I can link as many errands together as possible to avoid numerous trips.
This year I keep several reusable bags in my car at all times (instead of trying to remember to bring them from the house). I have really reduced my usage on disposal bags.
Just three simple things that anyone can do if they cared.
Most farmers do not look at extremely high grain prices as such a great deal. Much of the nations last crop was sold before the prices went through the roof, so it did not help as much as it appears. Speculation is driving the market, and we know what happened when the stock market was going crazy.
Every time prices raise in this manner, land prices raise just as the housing market did and we also see how great that was. In addition, fuel, fertilizer, machinery, and land taxes go up and never drop when the grain prices go back down.
A stable land, grain, housing, interest rate, and tax situation is much preferable to a boom or bust economy which it seems we have fallen into. The sustainable society is a fine idea but will take many years to accomplish as too many of our people have embraced consumerism as their goal.
From the article:
.....Choose local leaders who embrace sustainable community policies, state leaders who are willing to reward them and national leaders who have the guts to say that new realities require simple but determined efforts to change.....
Beautifully succinct and so true.
This is a VERY nice article.
I enjoy reading what others are doing in their own lives to contribute to a lowering of general consumption and waste-generation.
I live in an apartment in a major northeast urban area and here's some of what I do:
- I use public transportation exclusively if I can't walk to where I need to go. (I've never owned a car.)
- I keep reusable grocery bags by the door at home, in my back pack and in a drawer at work.
- I've been primarily vegetarian for the last thirty or so years. And as of this month I'm having affordable organic produce delivered to my door once a week. Most of this will be LOCAL and REGIONAL produce as the growing season comes around.
- I keep my thermostat set at 63-65 during the heating season and I use fans in the hot weather rather than air conditioning. If it gets really cold (below 20 degrees) in the winter I do bump the thermostat up to 66-67 when I'm home but I've found that putting some moisture into the air (running the shower for 2-3 minutes, simmering a pot of water on the stove for 10-15 minutes) makes the air feel warmer in most instances.
- Our city has a very well established recycling program. They pick up once a week. I recycle all plastic, glass, cardboard containers and cans. It only takes a minute to rinse things out and throw them into the recycle bin.
- I try to support small, local independent businesses as much as possible.
- I buy most of my clothing in thrift stores or at Goodwill, etc. If you know your fabrics and have a good eye you can find great stuff.
- I haven't had a TV in two years. I will admit there are times when I'd like one but generally I don't miss it. I don't have a microwave or a dishwasher. The only appliances I use are an iron (for work clothes) and occasionally a blender.
None of the above involves "sacrifice" or reversion to Stone Age living. (God, that "Stone Age" thing is so ridiculous, isn't it?) My apartment is a fun, attractive place filled with beautiful objects, rocks and stones from everywhere, plants and art work.
The next thing I'd like to do is to see if I can grow a few greens, sprouts, herbs and tubers on a patch of ground in my neighborhood or even in containers.
I hope more people will post their ideas here.
Its true. Peoples basic needs can be catered for with the energy economy turned down to a lot lower. However for effective mass impact, it needs to be done by nearly everyone. Work hours, production and shopping could be turned off for 2 full days a week and at night time. Turn off all the city lights at night. Production and work do not need to be consuming energy 24 / 7. Have a real Sunday / Sabbath with no energy consuming travel or work. Have 2 or 3 a week. Get the home insulated. Reduce temperature control costs. Travel by bicycle. I travel by bicycle and train. Taking the bike on the train is a hassle and costs half fare, but its low-energy freedom and cheap exercise. A trip to the gym costs more than the train fare. Do local entertainment and social activities rather than remote, wherever possible. Cut down the meat (and protein) consumption, the daily requirements are quite small. But I can't give up using the computer and the internet. Broadcast TV and newspapers are a turn off. Tell the local councils to stop printing stuff. Use e-books, not tree books. Everything has to be carbon costed. Unfortunately that includes people and reproduction too.
Zephyr, I've have grown many things in containers over the last few years: tomatoes, peppers, pole beans, carrots, greens, etc. I live in the northeast, near Philadelphia, and I pulled carrots last Thanksgiving and Christmas. When in pots plants should be fertilized (organic) 1-2 times per month since the amount of soil, for plants to collect nutrients, is restricted. Also, they should be watered more often. Check with a local nursery or landscaper for waste pots form nursery stock. I use them they are free and work great. Good luck.
Now I wonder is the bridge lowering or is the water rising? We know for certain that the price we are charged at the pumps for a gallon of gas is higher than we used to pay. But when I use Canadian dollars to fund my purchase, after conversion, I am paying equivalent to what it cost me a little over a year ago. So what I am really seeing is that commodities valued in US dollars are going dreadfully high. On my last trip to Canada, little over a month ago, the price per liter posted at the pump is only slightly higher than the price I saw there a year and a half ago. But when I convert my US dollars into Canadian, the price at the pump woefully gets large.
This is beginning to look suspiciously similar to the pre Great Depression glance at inflation at items denominated in German Marks. Like the current US dollar they rapidly became worthless. So, the rhetoric being pushed at us about supply and demand and dependence upon foreign oil is not telling the whole story. The real story would take into account the pressures that drove the US economy into the septic tank. I suspect it may have something to do with the change brought about by the current administration. They replaced a Democratic team that was accused of "Taxing and Spending" with one that instead "Borrows and Spends." They also promised to cut the spending part of the equation, but instead have piled high the borrowed funds to support their version of solutions. Without taking into consideration any arguments about the merits of various government programs, the method of funding is the chief culprit responsible for demolishing this countries economic prowess. A few well connected Captains of Industry would no doubt argue about the validity of this argument since from their vantage everything seems ducky. So not are we only wasting physical resources but are squandering another precious commodity--our children's legacy. The price for that has far greater ramifications spiritually. Look out below the Empire is falling!
Oh Commodities are definitely costing more. I just returned from a trip to the grocery store and continue to be surprised by the rising costs of things like eggs, dairy, and anything flour/corn based.
I just pulled carrots out of my cold frame this weekend (We're in Wisconsin) steamed a bunch for the family meal and made 2 carrot cakes with the rest. If you have sun, you can grow something.
We are subscribing to a local CSA this summer and planting our usual garden. We aren't all vegetarians in this house, but during the growing months, we are, with an occasional caught fish or two gracing our table.
Last year, I bought my first bike since high school and began riding it daily to do errands-we don't have public transportation. The kids think riding their bikes 2 1/2 miles to our downtown to go to dinner is a great treat.