f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

We forgot to highlight Earth Day on Friday, April 22 (and, yes, the gang here 

almost forgot last year, too).  The first Earth Day was 35 years ago, in 1970

(I was a college junior!).  For me, Earth Day is a lot like Valentine’s or Mother’s

Days — not necessary, if you’re demonstrating your love and respect every day,

as you should.

 

In my city (scroll down to #1), and apparently across the land, special arrangements     

were made to encourage the proper recycling of obsolete or unwanted electronic

equipment.   While checking out celebrations around the net, I came upon the site

of the Earth Day Network, and decided to take its Earthday Footprint Quiz,.which

was developed by Redefining Progress.org.    I hope f/k/a‘s visitors will  take the

Footprint Quiz, which is described thusly:

Ever wondered how much “nature” your lifestyle requires?

You’re about to find out.

This Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates how much productive

land and water you need to support what you use and what you

discard. After answering 15 easy questions you’ll be able to compare

your Ecological Footprint to what other people use and to what is

available on this planet.

CAUTION: THIS QUIZ MAY SURPRISE YOU, SHOCK YOU,

OR MAKE YOU THINK. PLEASE REMAIN CALM…BUT NOT

TOO CALM!!

Despite my very modest lifestyle (I have about half the “footprint” of the average

American), the results told me:  “If everyone [on the planet] lived like you, we would

need 2.5 planets.”   There’s a lot of thought-provoking information at the RP website,

including RP’s Global Footprint Update (March 2004), which explains the concept, 

the global situation, and what needs to be done to help move toward sustainable 

economies and lifestyles.  Table 2 of the update (at 14) gives the Ecological Footprint

of Nations.  U.S.A. became the highest per capita Footprint nation in 2000.  Here is a

list that compares the U.S.A. with several other nations, to give you an idea of where we 

stand.  [A hectare is 2.466 acres; there are about 1.82 productive hectares — 4.5 acres —

per capita on this planet.]   

Footprint (global hectares per capita)

 

United States 9.57 (the only nation over 9.00, there are 6 nations over 8.00)

Russia 4.28

Germany 4.26

Italy 3.26

Japan 3.91

Isreal 3.97

China 1.36

Bangladesh 0.50

I’m going to try better to make everyday Earth Day.  Small or symbolic

gestures, however, won’t make a lot of difference — our homes and cars

are, in general, too big.  Even better than recycling: consuming a lot less.

 

  Barry George is a haiku poet who is very aware of

the connection between humans and our planet — even those who

live in cities.  Here are three of his poems:

 

 

lost in thought–
the track announcer’s voice
drifts over the river

 

 

 

 

 

 

city dawn–
window washers
rise on their scaffold

 

 

 

 

clear marsh sky –
the sound of geese
drinking water

 

 

Barry George  from the heron’s nest – a haikai journal

“city dawn” “clear marsh sky” “lost in thought”

 

by dagosan:  

Earth Day —

recycled bottles

in a three-car garage                  

                                     [April 24, 2005]

 

 

 

“einsteinTime”   Fun Fact:  If you Google einstein plaids and stripes> our post from

last Sunday is the #2 result (even though the famous quote also appeared in an

AP story that ran in Sunday newspapers nationwide).   If you like Albert’s fashion

statement as much as I do, you can find it on t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, etc., here.