tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post3891919033101680737..comments2024-03-14T02:18:13.285-05:00Comments on T h e | D e e p | M i d d l e: I Want to Love All of Us--So Make MeBenjamin Vogthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10661489036836711335noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-80358326204607342482010-06-16T22:23:54.744-05:002010-06-16T22:23:54.744-05:00I'm ordering a solar hot water (outdoor) showe...I'm ordering a solar hot water (outdoor) shower in a few days. Everyone in my neck of the woods should have one.<br /><br />But unfortunately I'm horribly cynical right now and don't think that my getting a solar shower will do a damn thing. We need a cultural shift - we've co-evolved with oil as a societ/planet, to different degrees (did you see my Petromammal thing? Folks Pamhttp://www.talesfromthelaboratory.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-43260357185823265002010-06-14T02:34:10.639-05:002010-06-14T02:34:10.639-05:00Besides recycling, paying attention to waste of fu...Besides recycling, paying attention to waste of fuel in our small car and our heating, and other eco things, I think the biggest thing we do is not to buy new. Almost everything we have, from computer to furniture and even clothing is second hand. It's a way of life that I talk about a lot on my blog. We don't need new, there is an abundance of good used products. As an artist I evenHelen at summerhousehttp://summerhouseart.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-91279571397721287892010-06-11T09:52:23.233-05:002010-06-11T09:52:23.233-05:00More than ever, I'm bringing my canvas bags to...More than ever, I'm bringing my canvas bags to the store and refusing their plastic bags. We are seriously considering solar panels for the house. We recycle. We don't use pesticides, we try to buy fruit locally and in season. I've explained more than once to the kids why we aren't buying apples and grapes from Argentina. I wish there was more we could do.Mr. McGregor's Daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05911409327006498766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-84599872657667126782010-06-11T08:55:18.155-05:002010-06-11T08:55:18.155-05:00I believe we must be aware and educated about what...I believe we must be aware and educated about what's happening across the planet but we need to focus our response on what we can do at home and in our communities. We use natural gas, not oil for heating and cooking. We don't use pesticides. We recycle. We drive small energy efficient cars. We buy local organic produce whenever possible. Spending time in my garden gives me joy while Ginnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14949235207762990894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-68218379842895196392010-06-11T06:40:47.443-05:002010-06-11T06:40:47.443-05:00Benjamin, I'm so glad to see this developing i...Benjamin, I'm so glad to see this developing into a conversation. For most of us, the idea of stopping a company like BP is on such a large scale we feel overwhelmed. I'm trying to think more of what I personally can do. Make changes in my life and discuss these changes with others, encouraging them to make changes themselves. Oil is our culture and the basis of our economy. It willMargueritehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377516887669269657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-9067096543491611292010-06-10T16:13:04.415-05:002010-06-10T16:13:04.415-05:00Benjamin, I must agree with Town Mouse - this prob...Benjamin, I must agree with Town Mouse - this problem is complicated, and much bigger than one individual can fix (can it really be fixed completely?).<br />As an individual, I have no control/influence over BP, or its drilling practices. But I can watch my local governments: City, Provincial and Federal governments, and pay attention to their environmental legislation. I have some small say in Lynnehttp://salmonberrychronicles.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-40321431702201549192010-06-10T10:28:06.936-05:002010-06-10T10:28:06.936-05:00Besides living frugally in an urban neighborhood (...Besides living frugally in an urban neighborhood (so as not to have to use the car so much), I've centered my life around helping promote biodiversity in the Chicago area.<br /><br />Anger is a natural reaction, and then, I think, grief, and then one must work proactively or fall into the slough of despond.Adrian Ayres Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057583835126786240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-60618369180159196732010-06-10T10:20:28.515-05:002010-06-10T10:20:28.515-05:00I am actually growing much more of my own food. A...I am actually growing much more of my own food. And preserving it. It's a win-win-win situation: I eat healthier, I have less impact on the environment, and it makes my soul happy to watch things grow. I've also been trying to buy more bulk foods, and take reusable containers to the store. As you can imagine, this works best at whole foods stores... the grocery chains are now okay Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-35251924567531693522010-06-10T08:47:40.606-05:002010-06-10T08:47:40.606-05:00It is easy to boycott BP. Much harder to 'boyc...It is easy to boycott BP. Much harder to 'boycott' oil. When we lived in Switzerland, society is willing and able to collect recycling. But newspapers for instance were hardly worth collecting, because people don't follow through and BUY the RECYCLED product. <br /><br />When it comes to the crunch they prefer fresh new virgin fibre, or don't care. As for the affluent First world Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-75911653358605706842010-06-10T00:08:20.735-05:002010-06-10T00:08:20.735-05:00I've volunteered at the International Bird Res...I've volunteered at the International Bird Rescue Research Center (who is one of the lead organizations working with wildlife at the Gulf spill) on and off over the years. I have worked on oil spills and algal blooms. <br /><br />We try to be very frugal with our use of energy and water resources. We don't own a clothes dryer and we use greywater on our garden. We try to avoid buying Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218275625589637009.post-16471901392906795022010-06-09T23:24:53.576-05:002010-06-09T23:24:53.576-05:00Benjamin, I think it's complicated. I'm al...Benjamin, I think it's complicated. I'm already riding my bike to work most days and we have a plug-in hybrid. In 10 days Mr. Mouse and I will move most of the furniture out so the great energy efficiency remodel can start. He'll (hopefully) post on it once we've started. <br /><br />Problem is, I seem to have trouble getting the message across. No one wants to hear that consumingTown Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09777461911856383480noreply@blogger.com