Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
25 yrs in the making
I recently attended the SC conservation’s groups’ oyster roast. It was a fun event with a great turnout. The food, music and company were outstanding; there was also some adult beverages that I enjoyed as well.
I had a great conversation with an environmental activist who had been at it for a while longer than me.
She said that American’s use too much energy and resources, that nuclear was dangerous and things should be different. I was quietly asking myself how this socialist English boy I thought I was, was ambivalent with almost everything she said. The only way I could explain it was thus;
Feudal societies ruled Europe for much longer than our current form of democracy. Meaning 7ft dudes who were proficient with swords did very well and the rest of us fought over the crumbs. My conversation partner would likely have said nothing has changed except my liege is now a modern day CEO. As a 21st century serf I can’t help but disagree.
Most of us died before age 45 prior to democracy and fossil fuels; entertainment was watching your neighbor getting his hands cut off for stealing royal game or 12hr days fighting the elements to produce enough food to live. Your children could die from cuts, colds, malnutrition or violence and there was little you could do.
Today we use resources because we learned to utilize them. We have created modern life through cheap energy and brilliant engineering not to exploit the world but to lead, who else is creating the future?
We do need activists to stop greed and lethargy in business now more than ever but I do not believe there is an evil capitalist at the helm of earth’s future.
I see it more as a group of people trying to make their way and adjusting every 50yrs or so when and if they realize they’ve made mistakes. Feudalism and over consumption have similar paths, I believe we will eventually get it right.
I had a great conversation with an environmental activist who had been at it for a while longer than me.
She said that American’s use too much energy and resources, that nuclear was dangerous and things should be different. I was quietly asking myself how this socialist English boy I thought I was, was ambivalent with almost everything she said. The only way I could explain it was thus;
Feudal societies ruled Europe for much longer than our current form of democracy. Meaning 7ft dudes who were proficient with swords did very well and the rest of us fought over the crumbs. My conversation partner would likely have said nothing has changed except my liege is now a modern day CEO. As a 21st century serf I can’t help but disagree.
Most of us died before age 45 prior to democracy and fossil fuels; entertainment was watching your neighbor getting his hands cut off for stealing royal game or 12hr days fighting the elements to produce enough food to live. Your children could die from cuts, colds, malnutrition or violence and there was little you could do.
Today we use resources because we learned to utilize them. We have created modern life through cheap energy and brilliant engineering not to exploit the world but to lead, who else is creating the future?
We do need activists to stop greed and lethargy in business now more than ever but I do not believe there is an evil capitalist at the helm of earth’s future.
I see it more as a group of people trying to make their way and adjusting every 50yrs or so when and if they realize they’ve made mistakes. Feudalism and over consumption have similar paths, I believe we will eventually get it right.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My Prayers are with you and your family
I have a dear friend who has quietly been a leader for solar and other renewables since I have worked in the field. With little recognition or praise this wonderful person has persistantly reached out to people, given solid advice and has lead with integrity. Not many people I know can say the same thing. I am so sick of these two dimensional arguments about how government is ruining the country. We are the government, you your kid's school teachers, the local police, your cousin in the national guard, yourneighbor who works for an engineering company. My dear friend can always be found friday afternoons at her desk well after 5pm and yet she had a government job?! She doesn't anymore, she quit because she has morals and ethics. On the day she quit she lost her father in an automobile accident. It breaks my heart that she has to carry this burden of sadness and loss when he was only 55 and she was getting ready to embark on a new chapter in life. Her husband is a good man and a strong soul so I hope he can help her in her time of mourning. I wish the both of them the very best in their future and I want them to know they are always welcome in our home for a meal or place to rest or to share some stories. Erika was one of the first to help me when I had no friends in the industry and I'll never forget that. Arron (forgive the spelling mate) would put up with me asking for their help on weekends when Erika and I would work on Solar videos for free, because we believe in a brighter future. Thanks to both of you and God bless.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
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