How to understand the future – Now

As one ages (that’s me) one begins to put all the little parts of one’s experience together and search for a whole that might explain it all. In the past I have written about self-interest. This is a characteristic that every species seems to have. It motivates us to struggle and survive. Homo Sapiens with this strong self-interest, has persevered over all others and now we are on top of the pyramid of control (at least we think we are!). However, self-interest has run amok (i.e. putting ourselves and our tribe above all others). This excessive self-interest will do us in and could destroy our beautiful planet.

Why Bottled Water?

Happy New Year to you all. Yes, I said happy, but I know that for many in the world, the coming year will not be too happy a prospect. We still have wars, civil conflicts, disease and growing inequality – so why concentrate on tackling the bottled water problem?

Response to Thomas Merton’s Letter

I have just read Thomas Merton’s letter to a young activist. Though I am far from a young activist, I found it interesting and have some responses to it. There us some good counsel here. There are however a few things that I would like to elaborate on.

The Plastification of the World, or Why this Bottled Water Craze?

Do you know that globally, for every minute one million plastic water bottles are sold?

Do you know that most of these bottles are not recycled, but instead end up in the environment?

Do you know that vast ocean islands of plastic waste are accumulating in the oceans?

The largest is estimated to be 1.6 million km² in size. At present rates, by 2050, there will be more plastics (by weight) in the ocean than fish.

Why is all this happening? 

Self-interest run amok

Ok, let me start with a confession. I am an elderly white male – full of white privilege and very fortunate. I know a bit about self interest. I have it, big time, even when I am not conscious of it.

This self interest, i.e. this primordial concern for one’s own survival, seems to be built into every living species on the planet. If we did not have self interest, we surely would not have survived in a brutally competitive world where others are also motivated by their own self interest.

However, it seems like the self-interest gene has leapt out of control. We in the western world now exalt in our “freedom”! We are distinct, we are different, and we are not afraid to flaunt it – in our clothes, our tattoos, our piercings, our hairdos, in all of our material accoutrements, cars, homes, etc.

Why I bike

I now bike almost everywhere in Ottawa all-year round. Ottawa is becoming a leading biking city, with bike paths and bikeable bridges popping up everywhere. 

I bike because:

-       - I get my daily exercise just going from point A to B

-      -  I create no air pollution while biking

-      -  I have no parking problems when I get to where I am going

-      -  Every person on a bike is one less car on the road (this may be the strongest argument for biking as it gives drivers a reason to be enthusiastic about biking)

Also, (and this may surprise you), I do NOT wear a helmet. To see why, go to www.cyclehelmets.org.

Why I now travel less

I am retired. One would assume that this would be the time to travel and see the world. However, for several reasons, I am now travelling much less than I did before. 

(1) One reason is environmental. George Monbiot spent most of his life analyzing the forthcoming environmental crisis. He then sought to find practical ways to cope with it. For example, when he approached aviation, apart from using more electronic means of communication (phone, Skype, internet) he could see no workable alternative to air travel. To quote him,

When I come to examine aviation, I discover there are simply no effective technological solutions… I am forced to conclude that the only possible answer is a massive reduction in flights (emphasis mine, from “Heat” by George Monbiot, 2006).