Richard asks…
What is the most sustainable city in America?
There are many discussions that anticipate or suggest that we are going to experience many environmental issues in the future. Water, climate, food, energy and so on.
The Expert answers:
Sustainable implies that the city requires no additional input or goods from outside sources. Using this criteria I can think of no cities in the U.S. That meet it. A city would have to recycle 100% of its trash, import no food (surviving only upon what it can grow within its confines), and reuse all of its sewage enriching agricultural lands within the city. There would also need to be a power generation source within the city limits if one expected electricity for all citizens and a water source that is regenerating (no groundwater pumping). Americans generally only go as far with the sustainability quagmire as it takes to get to the edge of their comfort zone. Beyond that, most are unwilling to tread upon the dirty details and increased human physical energy required for any single place to be considered ‘sustainable.’
My wife and I have a 20 acre parcel upon which we try to use and recycle everything (humanure, roof water catchment, foraging, chickens), yet we still fall short. Our climate requires more water than we have thusfar been able to reclaim and we use some electricity (thus this post). Once per week we walk two miles (with a 400 foot elevation gain), pushing a wheel barrow with two empty 5 gallon jugs so that we can fill them with water at a creek. Then we walk back. This is the water for our garden. It is very hard work to build a sustainable life! However, several years ago we decided it was better to act green than to talk green. Maybe we will eventually succeed, maybe not, but we have learned that a sustainable agrarian life is a bunch harder than most folks can ever envision.
There is a good book called “Collapse” by Jared Diamond that describes in vivid detail how past societies have succeeded or not. Perhaps we can learn from the island of Tikopia.
George asks…
Does increased knowledge of science make you more likely to be worried about environmental issues?
According to PISA (the international student assessment body), American students have an above-average level of optimism regarding environmental issues. This has been linked to the fact that out of the 30 countries tested by PISA, American students rank 21st for scientific knowledge.
Within America, PISA also reported that there was a fairly consistent trend where, the less students knew about science, the more likely they were to be optimistic about the dangers posed by environmental issues.
The report can be found here: http://www.pisa.oecd.org/document/2/0,3343,en_32252351_32236191_39718850_1_1_1_1,00.html
Scroll down to the bottom and click on United States under “Briefing Notes”.
So, do you agree that it seems likely that being more scientifically knowledgeable makes you more likely to see the threats caused by enivornmental problems? And does that, in turn, imply that a lack of concern about environmental problems is caused by ignorance?
Jake: Typical logic of a global warming denier – Taking what you yourself have experienced as more true than the conclusions of scientific studies. Just like, “It’s snowing outside my window, therefore global warming couldn’t be happening!” You claim you have a lot of scientific understanding and don’t believe in global warming, and think that counteracts the fact that most people with a high degree of scientific understanding DO believe in global warming.
The Expert answers:
Are you accounting for the effects of indoctrination in this study? Or do you really think that being in an enviornment where authority figures tell you that something is a problem has no effect on somebody’s opinion?
The fact of the matter is that there has not been an honest and open scientific debate on man-made climate change. And until there is – I will remain unconvinced.
David asks…
Is Corporate America financing Politics to thwart Ecological Developments?
There have been many rebuttals to Al Gore’s book and movie as well as other Environmental Issues. One example is the “light bulb controversy”. It would seem that many manufacturers and sales vendors have taken notice that standard light bulb sales have fallen dramtically being replaced by more efficient alternatives. This has created an “uproar” in Corporate America. Again this is only one example. Would this influence the political agendas of the current administration as well as those who’re vieing for offices in coming elections and who have their “hands out” for monetary support?
The Expert answers:
Anything to improve the bottomline, temporarily.
Lizzie asks…
Isn’t the America system and America in general doing alright?
I mean, the economy is still not where it should be, and environmental issues abound, but we still have a good system, we’ve got a decent setup, and progress is still being made socially & legislatively. I’m not worried about anything but our land & Water tables.
The Expert answers:
If you can read this “politics” section of Yahoo and still conclude that America is “doing alright” then you are not paying attention.
Americas is and has not :
1) Paid enough attention to its crumbling Infrastructure and the ability to renew it.
2) Developed an Infrastructure and Legislative Plan for the 21st Century.
3) Not acknowledged the changing Global Economy and the US place within that economy.
4) Addressed the obviously broken political system and governing procedure of its Democracy.
5) Not addressed its illegal “immigration” issues and how that impacts the development of social protections for a declining American social structure.
America is in the midst of an extremely destructive culture war wherein politicians are fractionating the country toward their own political and economic objectives. There will be no constructive growth in America until the fundamental structure of government is reformed. There is no will to do this and Americans are in Denial concerning its impact!
Betty asks…
Do black people in America care about the environment?
Do they recycle? Do they protest on environmental issues?
The Expert answers:
No.
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