The Solar Winds Blow HotThe Solar Winds blow hot. The Solar Winds blow fast. Oh, to capture the Big Breeze.
Here, as we rotate on our above average orb, we are in need of solutions to cut the costs and dangers of bringing energy to a constantly consuming populace. There are many complicated connections to our use of energy. When I speak of costs, I do not mean just a dollar amount for a kilowatt-hour used. COSTS also include the extraction of a product (coal, uranium, etc.) that becomes the ingredient used to generate electricity.
One major COST not often thought of is the HEALTH EFFECT on the humans who are involved with the extraction, refinement, transport, implementation, and subsequent manufacture of energy. Removing coal from the ground is a highly dangerous activity. Moving it especially by rail or barge, adds particulates to our air. The fuel created to use in barges and trains has its own cycle of adverse health effects.
Those of us who are not directly involved with any of these aspects are still recipients of the fallout from electricity production. MERCURY from coal-fired plants probably ties with NUCLEAR PLANTS as the top two culprits.
But first and foremost, all of us should be more concerned about necessary behavior changes. CONSUMING LESS is our best defense. A book entitled “HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?” published in 1992 by the WORLD WATCH INSTITUTE touches on this: “To rejuvenate the ethic of sufficiency, a critical mass of individuals committed to living by it must emerge. But if they are to succeed, they must balance their efforts to change themselves with a bold agenda to challenge the laws, institutions, and interests that profit from profligacy.”
This is not an easy task. I know. I have often times tried returning to the simple ways of how things were when I was very young. I have not replaced my microwave, which quit working nearly 3 years ago. I really only miss microwaved popcorn. I certainly work at not driving anywhere on my days off, but that sometimes ends up only working for one of my days off a week. The one thing I prefer not to revert to (unless things escalated to that point) is to use an outhouse. We had one from the time I was 6 till about 9. Functional, but inconvenient.
It is great and necessary to build wind turbines and use more solar collectors. But, we desperately have to change our consumptive behavior. If not, forces beyond our control will force us into a corner we are not ready for yet. So don’t just cut down on your driving because gas is over $2.25 a gallon, make it a permanent change. Become part of the new wave of believers that LESS IS MORE. As the man said, “SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY.
Next Saturday, April 16th at AUGUSTANA COLLEGE in ROCK ISLAND, Illinois, there will be a PROGRESSIVE FORUM AND SUMMIT. This has been organized by Progressive Action For the Common Good. This is a group of Quad-Cities citizens working toward the COMMON GOOD. The keynote speaker will be Tom Higgins, former IOWA state legislator, former aide to President Jimmy Carter, and AIDS activist.
There will be issue workshops to choose from. These include ENERGY INDEPENDENCE (I will be co-facilitating), POVERTY AND HOUSING, PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE, EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, CORPORATE POWER vs DEMOCRACY, and many others.
This will be held from 9am to Noon at WALLENBURG AUDITORIUM in DENKMANN HALL. The address is 7th AVENUE & 35TH ST, ROCK ISLAND. For more information contact CATHY BOLKCOM AT (563) 289-4155 or CBArts4@aol.com or you can see the website www.qcprogressiveaction.org
We will be brainstorming at the workshops as to what we can do individually and collectively to better the standing of everyone in our communities. This is how it starts, with an idea. Come join us. It will be fun and enlightening. We need your input.
And don’t forget: CPR…CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
Harkin Launches Statewide "Fix It, Don't Nix It" Social Security Tour
