I'm not really an environmentalist

An off-the-cuff blog that won't be edited for PC-ness.

How many times have you seen this, or perhaps said it yourself?

I am not an environmentalist.

I'm always struck with the strangeness of this statement, almost like someone saying, "Yeah.. I'm not really into food."

Well, actually, a friend once called me a foodie, and my incredulous response was, "Aren't we all?" (I'd never before heard the term foodie.) I mean, we all eat. And, even if we personally find that eating takes up just way too much time in a day, or that cooking is a complete waste of a life... well, at the very least, two things are true: everyone needs sustenance to survive, and most people have taste buds and therefore enjoy the taste of at least some foods.

So, back to environmentalists, and all of those people who claim to not be one...where are they living? An environment-free bubble?

And no, I don't mean to imply that they are living in La La Land with their heads in the sand, not paying attention (although for some, that may very well be the case). I mean, are they not living in THE Environment? You know, the one, and only one, responsible for sustaining their lives? The one, and only one, that is essential in not only their survival but that of all their friends and family?

It often seems to be said as though to quickly assure people, "No, I'm not going to start bathing in cow dung, or wiping my ass with leaves and sticks, or any of those other wacko things those hippie treehuggers do, because.. well, I'm not an environmentalist!"

I understand not being into.. video gaming, religion, body art, spectator sports, soap operas, Mafia Wars, chocolate, high fashion... you could spend days listing everything aside from the basics: food, water, clean air, shelter, community. The rest is just bonus. Take it or leave it.

You can't leave THE Environment. It's just not an option.

I try my best to not be intolerant, to understand the origins of people's viewpoints, etc. I really do. But, if I'm being honest, anyone who's very survival depends on the health of THE Environment is making the most absurd statement ever when they say, "I'm not an environmentalist."

~

Humane, Global, and Farseeing

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) began as an annual conference where the brightest and most innovative of our species could gather together and share ideas.

On the TED website, one can find numerous videos from the conferences, as well as blogs and other information. If you have never visited the site, I urge you to do so. There is something there for anyone.

I found a few videos of interest this morning. One is of the atronomer Martin Rees, as he discusses the next 100 years on Earth.



The other is of my favorite biologist (doesn't everybody have one of those?), Richard Dawkins, as he discusses "militant" atheism.





Here is another from my favorite cookbook author, Mark Bittman. Two of his cookbooks, How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian are literally falling apart, I've used (and abused!) them so often. I disagree, of course, with his assertion that the term "locavore" and the movement that goes along with it is elitist. But hey, his opinion is his own :) What I love about him is that he believes, first and foremost, that good food is real food.



Other themes include:

A Greener Future
What's Next in Tech
Bold Predictions, Stern Warnings
What Makes Us Happy

and dozens of others. Check it out! :)