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Re: E-M:/ global warming/population
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Enviro-Mich message from "Alexander J. Sagady" <ajs@sagady.com>
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In response to Bill Tobler, one of the most effective environmentalists
in Michigan, I offer this in response from Edmund Burke:
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could only do a little."
You're absolutely right that we need a transformational approach
that reaches everybody with the need to change and sacrifice. However,
starting small is not the enemy of final solutions. While we wait
for significant technology/price performance solutions for photovoltaics,
maybe that solar collector and tank in the basement to do some water
preheat makes some sense.
While we wait for new technology to integrate home electricity generation
with space heating, make sure you start asking yourself questions like "how
old and how efficient is my furnace." That gas meter in front of your
house has a story to tell about tons of carbon transfer, but unless you get
down in the details, you won't have a good sense of the magnitude. Are you
operating with a 90-95+% gas furnace? If not, doing something about it can
be an important personal contribution so you don't feel guilty about doing nothing.
Can't afford a hybrid car? Cut your driving on your current car to the point
where it is equivalent to making the improvement to a more efficient car.
As you feel the air circulate in the bathroom in the morning when the furnace
comes on after being off all night while you're under the covers, do you notice
the air feels cool for quite a while? Maybe you can make a considerable
efficiency improvement by insulating your heating ducts (where a respirator
if you're working with fiberglass and wash and dry any work clothes separately).
Try to keep at least one energy efficiency project going around your home at
all times. There is no shortage of things to do. Notice that the snow melts
around your foundation? Put in R-10 on the outside of the foundation and below ground.
We can talk new alternative energy sources to death, but energy conservation will
always have to be the lynchpin of our energy approaches.
Can we get these things done.... To Bill Tobler I say what Barack Obama is
saying "Yes we can"......!
At 11:13 PM 02/06/2008, William Tobler wrote:
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>Enviro-Mich message from "William Tobler" <williamtobler@critterswoods.org>
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>
>Everything is possible when taken out of context.
>
>If Bill, Chuck, Edie and Anna (and even everyone on EM) all do their utmost, then their individual contributions won't be felt in the world, even to the 15th decimal place.
>I've made this point over and over again - the entire United States population has to learn to sacrifice some. And they have to learn what and how from somewhere. It is up to environmental groups and individuals to provide credible information and bearable solutions. I see next to nothing of this, and much of the information that I do see is technically wrong. Worse, other than some of the persons here on EM, I personally know of no one who cares. They are fully prepared go forward as they have always done.
>
>Cutting our personal energy consumption in half would be a big accomplishment. But with the other things going counter, this benefit won't last long. Because the vast majority today see no need (as measured by their personal results, not stupidly designed polls) and nothing is happening with regards to the counter forces, and so many threats for existence are coming to a head at the same time, I am NOT very optimistic about our future.
>
>Lest what I have said be taken out of context, and I am sure it will, I am trying to get people fired up to do something meaningful, instead of 0.1% here and 0.1% there which just won't cut it. Since population growth, both US and worldwide, is the main driver for total resource consumption, and there is no abatement in sight, my personal sacrifices are meaningless except in my own heart and mind.
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>----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Cubbage" <charles.cubbage@comcast.net>
>To: "Anna Dorothy Graham" <grahama9@msu.edu>; <enviro-mich@great-lakes.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 5:18 PM
>Subject: Re: E-M:/ global warming/population
>
>
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>>Enviro-Mich message from "Chuck Cubbage" <charles.cubbage@comcast.net>
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>>
>>Anna,
>>Whoa!! If I understand your comment right you are saying that collectively we can make differences, but I question the phrase "there isn't anything we can do as individuals"
>>William is right to point out the difficulties in dealing with global forces, but dead wrong in assuming that nothing we do as individuals makes a difference. Anyone remember the bit about the beachwalker who was tossing starfish back into the sea being questioned about why when so many would die anyway on the vast beach?
>>
>>There is a difference between being all alone, the only one, etc., and being an individual who joins others to have an impact. But it all starts with individuals making choices. Edie is one heck of a lot closer to being right than those who cry her activities don't make a difference (sounds like the "sky is falling" mentality at work to me). Edie, is making a difference not in just her life, but by her example. We all do, so decide what sort of message you want to leave by how you live.
>>Sort of reminds me of JFK's quote, "Ask not....".
>>Regards,
>>Chuck
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Anna Dorothy Graham" <grahama9@msu.edu>
>>To: <enviro-mich@great-lakes.net>
>>Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:03 PM
>>Subject: E-M:/ global warming/population
>>
>>
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>>>Enviro-Mich message from "Anna Dorothy Graham" <grahama9@msu.edu>
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>>>
>>>I absolutely agree with William Tobler that there isn't any point in our trying to combat global warming as individuals if the sole objective is to bring as many human beings into the world as possible and keep them marginally alive. We have to do it for all the species on earth -- which is how I frame my own efforts to myself.
>>>Anna
>>>Anna Kirkwood Graham, J.D., Ph.D.
>>>"There is no trifling with nature; it is always true, grave and severe; it is always in the right, and the faults and errors fall to our share."
>>>-- Goethe
>>>
>>>
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>>ENVIRO-MICH: Internet List and Forum for Michigan Environmental
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>ENVIRO-MICH: Internet List and Forum for Michigan Environmental
>and Conservation Issues and Michigan-based Citizen Action. Archives at
>http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/enviro-mich/
>
>Postings to: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net For info, send email to
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Alex J. Sagady & Associates http://www.sagady.com
Environmental Enforcement, Permit/Technical Review, Public Policy,
Expert Witness Review and Litigation Investigation on Air, Water and
Waste/Community Environmental and Resource Protection
Prospectus at: http://www.sagady.com/sagady.pdf
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(517) 332-6971; (517) 332-8987 (fax); ajs@sagady.com
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