Discuss: From the Editors (Jan/Feb 2008)

Inspiration is a difficult thing to produce. I am reminded of the advice given to writers; write impetuously, rapidly, with abandon.

Naess’ idea of an ecosophy.

Emerson’s transcendentalism always pays a returning to. “[The Natural world] is a fixed point whereby we may measure our departure. As we degenerate, the contrast between us and our house is more evident. We are as much strangers in nature, as we are aliens from God.”

I think in terms of “earth’s echoes”—ecology—the basic respect for all to create, sanctify and sustain life itself—economy—the respect for all to create a “living” for self, family, community—and ecumenicity—the respect for all lives and all living—celebrating but transcending creed, color, class or caste, age, language, nation, gender, sexuality, condition in life, etc—utter diversity with respect for identity, utter complexity with respect for integrity.  Thank you.

While we might say “the key to the future is a sustainable agricultural and economic system in which each members’ net negative carbon footprint, or their net incremental carbon cost is zero, Johnny Appleseed would simply say just plant more trees, especially apple, pear, plum, pecan and walnut, and grow more grains and vegetables, and roots like the groundnut. And,” he might add, “do you really need to drive to the mall in a military transport vehicle?”

Words are power.  Power is control. Control is change.
I agree that it is important to find a word or phrase that connects us all, brings us together, binds us as one.  My submittal:
Carbon Free.  (Free at last?!)

I think sustainable living is the word.  Living sustainably does not mean buying expensive things; it means working towards the main goal of eliminating your waste.  It means recycling and re using your products(like using mason jars instead of buying hundreds of “eco-friendly” bottles); it means growing your own food; it means riding bikes to work; it means living an innovative life.  I think it means living an inexpensive dialy life.