A Voice in the Chorus

Where I've been

noreply@blogger.com (The Ecocentric Librarian) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:28:00 +0000

I started this blog back in April, and have been unable to keep up with it as much as I have hoped; family/school/work fills just about every minute of my day. The very brief moments of quiet are spent decompressing. However, I will be done with school in about 2 weeks, and then, if all goes well, free time will open up and I will be able to focus a bit more on writing. So, for those who may have happened upon this site, and those few who have to read this because they know me (hi hon), I haven't given up.

A New Economy

noreply@blogger.com (The Ecocentric Librarian) — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:34:00 +0000

I recently read an article, The Economist Wears no Clothes, from Scientific America concerning the current economic model that is in place worldwide and how it needs to be revised. The author states that the current model, in no way, takes into account the cost of enviornmental damage. This lack of accountability needs to change if we want to survive as a people.

I work for a multinational, corporate plumbing supply company. I can attest to the fact that environmental damage is of absolutely no concern to the company outside of the potential to make money selling "green" products. Let me provide an anecdote: A few weeks ago, our regional sales manager popped into the store I presently work in. He proceded to walk around the store with a tape measure extened out 1 foot and locked in place, using it as a pointer. He used this "pointer" to highlight different products, telling us (myself and the store manager) what we were to do with said items: "move these there", "put these on sale", "get rid of these," etc. Now, here is where I get steamed: when he says "get rid of these", he means "trash them; throw them out; these are worthless to us, move them to the landfill."

Now, these "worthless" items were not expensive; most were Price Pfister repair parts; little springs and threaded facuets seats and replacement stems. In otherwords, tossing these items costs the company a few dollars. But home much time, money and energy was spent in making and moving just one of these worthless items? Lets take a look: first, these items are all individually packaged. This packaging consists of molded plastic (oil), thin cardboard (wood and chemicals such as bleach), and various dies. Then there is the actual item (lets use a faucet stem as an example). I can identify at least two different metals (steel and brass); there are also rubber and plastic washers involved. Faucet stems consist of moving parts, which requires some type of oil or other lubricant. Second, there is the manufacturing process: this consists of machining the metal, forming the plastics, mixing the dies and assembling all of these parts. This uses energy in many ways: the metals have to be mined and transported, the oils have to excavated and transported, the dies have to be either harvested (if they are natural) or made in a chemical plant and transported. Once all compenents are turned into the actual product, it is probably transported two to three more times before it ends up on my store shelf. All of the transportation requires the burning of fossil fuels. Finally, it arrives on my shelf where it sits for a few months and some guy comes along with his fancy tape measure/ pointer and deems all of the energy/time/money contained in on Price Pfister faucet stem as being "worthless." These items are then transported again: to the dump.

Now, I'm making an assumption here, but I believe that scenarios similar to the one I have presented happen thousands of times a day in stores similar to mine. This system we have constructed for ourselves (and do not deny this: we humans have created the economic system that we rely upon) is horribly, horribly wasteful. I don't profess to be an economic genius; in fact, my understanding of economics is quite loose (and it is an area I intend to educate myself in). But, it seems quite obvious that our current economic model is unsustainable; that is IT CANNOT BE SUSTAINED! Therefore, it appears to me that the need for a new economic model is self evident.

Is your television as scared as mine?

noreply@blogger.com (The Ecocentric Librarian) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Ok, so there's an illegal war being waged overseas, US soldiers are dying every week (never mind the unknown number of Iraqi civilians dying each day), the economy is in the sh*tcan, gas prices are skyrocketing, and our culture as we know it is decades, if not years, away from collapse. So what is your TV concerned with? The fact that on February 19th, 2009, television signals will switch from analog to digital, and if you are not prepared, you won't be able to watch your poor, poor television.

I don't watch much television, but recently, when I do sit down to veg out for a few minutes, I find my self bombarded with commercials informing me of my television's potential demise. "Be prepared; buy the digital upgrade, or you won't be able to watch me anymore! Hurry! Go now! You have less than a year! The government will even help you pay for the new receiver! Come on! Why are you still sitting there!" I know; scary stuff.

I feel stupid and naive for ever questioning TV's purpose. As a youngster, I used to view TV as free entertainment with the advertisements functioning as a minor annoyance; a small price to pay for free Seinfeld. As I grew, I began to think, "is it possible that it is for the ads that television exists?" I held steadfast, fearing a decline into cynicism; "Of course not, TV is about the entertainment; the ads are just necessary nonsense." Like I said, I was naive. Now, at the age of 28, I see TV for what it really is. It is an integral part and major player in The Story of Stuff. The entertainment exists to assure that we absorb the commercials; to assure that we maintain our sole purpose, in this culture, as consumers. This is evident in the fact that product placement in programming is on the rise, the media refuses to allow anti-consumerism ads, and the TV is more concerned with self preservation than with providing the truth.

It may be time to gut the thing and turn it into a fish tank...

The Story of Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (The Ecocentric Librarian) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Watch this...NOW! It's about 20 minutes long, so find the time:

The Story of Stuff

Enjoy...

Joining in...

noreply@blogger.com (The Ecocentric Librarian) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:42:00 +0000

This is my first foray into the world of blogging; something I've thought about for some time. It is exciting to watch these words appear on screen. I do not intend for this blog to be any differnent than the millions already in existence; I don't claim to have anything to say that has not already been said. I simply want a place to let my thoughts live and grow, for they seem to stagnate and die when they are left hanging out in my head.

Primarily, this blog is going to reflect my thoughts on the current state of the world. I read much and discuss constantly with friends and family about the impending environmental and social crisis barreling towards human civilization. I am well aware of the number of blogs already in existence dealing with the subject of sustainability; I simply want to add my voice to the chorus (hence the name). For if we, as a species want to remain on this planet, those of us singing for cultural change need to get together; we need to connect. So basically, with this blog I am shouting, "Here I am!"

Also, as with most blogs, I will focus on the basic things in life that interest me: my family, school, libraries, books, music, etc. I hope that, along with the social commentary, this blog can serve as a document of a life living at a monumental point in human history.

I hope to be able to keep this as current as possible (at the least, one entry per month), but I am quite busy. My current job robs me of about 12+ hours a day, I am in graduate school, and I have a very lovely (and loving) wife and two (one very new) awesome daughters that deserve and get all of the free time I have to offer. Basically, I will do my best to keep up with my blogging, for I am very much enjoying this, but living my life comes before anything else.

Well, that's it for now.

Let me grab my guitar and start singing...