tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post3383367990199802707..comments2024-03-28T02:29:13.507-07:00Comments on Legal Ruralism: Green MetropolisLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-8186532829521735542009-10-31T22:56:37.567-07:002009-10-31T22:56:37.567-07:00These are interesting concepts and it makes me wan...These are interesting concepts and it makes me want to read the book. However, it is disheartening to hear that the author doesn't seem to practice what he preaches...how defeatist and uninspiring to argue 'well, any individual changes that I make won't make a big difference on the grand scale - so why bother?'<br /><br />I'd never really stopped to analyze why cities might be more environmentally sustainable than other settings but it makes sense that it all comes down to the car. I sometimes tend to think of cities as big, dirty, energy suckers. However, it’s good and about time they’re starting to focus on their compactness, walkability and centralized services, and realizing that they can afford to make changes toward green-efficiencies. <br /><br />However, I don't think I'd totally discount the sustainability of countryside living as the author might do. Maybe cities are more sustainable and efficient than suburbia, where people seem to live in their cars they drive them so much. But perhaps the old-school farmers still have something to teach the city dwellers. Those who grow their own food and are resourceful re-users and recyclers, who may not need to drive to town every second for something the way suburbanites do - true countryside livers - might be sustainable in their own right. <br /><br />I agree that making driving more expensive might help speed up a fix for our addiction to driving, but on the other hand, it undoubtedly would create an unfair disadvantage for those living in rural areas who must drive to town to get essential services. What is the solution if these people can't drive? Make them all move to cities (evacuating rural America completely?) or build new cities up in the middle of their farms? At first read, I agreed with the line “Wasted energy is wasted energy no matter how it’s generated.” But I think you have to take energy efficiency step by step. People aren't going to change their entire lifestyle in an instant (no matter how much we wish they would), so it seems that Owens should appreciate any steps that people (urban, suburban or country-dwelling) take to decrease their carbon footprint. All the small changes might add up to a significant difference. And perhaps after enough change, people will learn to truly cut back on some things.<br /><br />Maybe cities are making a lot of progress toward sustainability - especially as their trendy, green-savvy residents demand changes – but I think they still have a far way to go to becoming truly efficient. I often wonder what the purpose is of leaving ALL the lights on in every single office building in these big cities. Yes, nighttime skylines are pretty to look at, but is it really worth expending all that energy, night after night, week after week, month after month...?tcrusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338107670005679489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-73217983832975053542009-10-31T22:09:54.261-07:002009-10-31T22:09:54.261-07:00As someone who is guilty of idealizing the notion ...As someone who is guilty of idealizing the notion of moving to the country I'm struck by recent evidence I've encountered that city living is often greener than any other alternative. My personal goal of <i> Five Acres and Independence </i> has been challenged. <br /><br />While it doesn't sound like Owen makes the most compelling argument or advocate - I'm working my way through Stewart Brand's new book Whole Earth Discipline and it's quite good in this area. I didn't expect to find anything on rurality in it but the subject turns out to be central to his thesis of finding practical ways to avoid global climate crisis and the social devolution that he see accompanying it. I'm not yet finished but the basic idea is that cities and slums are salvation - they are places of great innovation and resource efficiency. Perhaps it'll be worth a follow up post once I finish it.<br />This post also reminded me of the recent movie & book No Impact Man. I found the family and the content to be compelling and inspiring. Putting the ethic in to practice in their daily life - "being the change you wish to see" as Ghandi said.camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00178503988607451636noreply@blogger.com