You see, we as humans are the only species that reconstitutes the natural elements of the earth into things that we really don't need to survive. As we move to develop countries like China (were people have lived off the land for centuries but now work in factories to make us cheap stuff) we are accelarating the problem exponentially. Globalization has us chasing cheap labor with no end in sight. There are but a few tribal people on the face of the earth who truly live off the land the way we all should. I am sure it is just a matter of time until someone convinces them too that they would be much better off working for .50 cents a day to help produce cheap cell phones for Americans. The whole eco thing is mainly hype by a lot of ignorant people, the hybrid car must be the most blatant example, as most of the electricity in the US is generated by Natural Gas, or Oil, it is facinating that most people buying or endorsing hybrids do not understand that they are NOT energy efficient, quite the opposite as it takes more BTU's of fuel to generate electricity to drive the car than it takes to simply drive the car, what that means is that lets say it takes 1 gal of oil to generate enough electricity for your hybrid to go 20 miles. That same gal of oil might make enough gasoline to drive your car 40 miles. What are we doing? Again, we are all part of the problem. The industrialization of China (in order to provide us Cheap TV's, Ipods, Cell phones, etc is doing 1000fold worse things to the environment than all of the SUV's of the face of the earth combined.

You see, we as humans are the only species that reconstitutes the natural elements of the earth into things that we really don't need to survive. ... There are but a few tribal people on the face of the earth who truly live off the land the way we all should. ... The industrialization of China ... is doing 1000fold worse things to the environment than all of the SUV's of the face of the earth combined.

Welcome, guitarboyz!

Not to add to controversy, but will you volunteer to be the first to be like the tribal people who "truly live off the land the way we all should"? Are you truly willing to give up the lifestyle you are used to to make this happen?

I'm not going to argue your point - if we all lived like your tribal people, there would be no global warming pollution from automobiles, no plastic bottles or styrofoam littering the planet, etc. You're absolutely right. But do you think that the Chinese people are willing to forego the lifestyle we Americans live if we aren't willing to change our own lifestyle? I think not.

I think that trying to convince people to give up everything and live like aboriginals is a losing fight. The way to make change in the environment is to show people that they can live a lifestyle they are used to and actually reduce their impact on the Earth. Changing the products and services USED to meet people's lifestyle expectations is a goal that might be acheivable, and it is the only way I can see to make the change we need.

And in reaction to your hybrid car statement - it's not the car itself I'm interested in... it's the IDEA and THOUGHT behind the car that excites me! The thought process that says "let's find a way to use less fuel and create less pollution than current vehicles, while giving up no comfort and usability..."

THERE's where changes happen, one step at a time!

Namaste,
ahartley

and we can all be part of the solution: Renewable Energy!

I use solar power to power my little music production studio. :smile:

Turtuga Blanku

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TurtugaBlanku (http://www.myspace.com/TurtugaBlanku)