Comments on: Death to The Environmentalist! One Environment, One Humanity, One Survival. http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/ The Earth's fragile beauty sustains us. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:19:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: john kedzierski http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/comment-page-1/#comment-8 john kedzierski Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:02:43 +0000 http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/#comment-8 Dear Doug, My involvement in humanitarian work particularly in West Africa has brought an ever-present realisation of the difference in life styles between ourselves in the "developped world" and our fellow humans in Africa. 200 deaths per 1000 births before 5 years old in some countries; a 5-mile hike for water; no food (apparently starving to death is not a very pleasant experience); death from malaria where a $5 bed net would have saved the life; no medical supplies; limited education, often excluding the females etc... Comparing this to our lives brings the realisation that we have absolutely everything we could possibly need and a lot more beside - and still we manage to complain and according to many studies today, this material well-being doesn't necessarily bring happiness! So what's the link with your stance? Obvious n'est-ce pas? It's even possible we could be happier with less, and we could share the surplus so that our brothers (not excluding the girls!) on this earth lead a life that is worthy of the name. And where do you and I start? Give away some of the surplus (but what about tomorrow - "we may need it"!); cancel the overseas holiday or the drive to the golf course? John above makes the same point, so what's the answer? (Incidentally, he's probably wrong about universal birth control as we are heading for 9 billion on earth whether he likes it or not. However, by about 2050 the world's population starts to decline as education, health care and other improvements kick in - so the answer lies in educating people and providing good health care. This of course assumes we can still breath and find food to eat when there are 9 bn of us! Any suggestions on how to procede are of interest, bearing in mind the minor constraint that politicians never think long term and are always out for what is good for themselves in the short term. love John Dear Doug,

My involvement in humanitarian work particularly in West Africa has brought an ever-present realisation of the difference in life styles between ourselves in the “developped world” and our fellow humans in Africa. 200 deaths per 1000 births before 5 years old in some countries; a 5-mile hike for water; no food (apparently starving to death is not a very pleasant experience); death from malaria where a $5 bed net would have saved the life; no medical supplies; limited education, often excluding the females etc…

Comparing this to our lives brings the realisation that we have absolutely everything we could possibly need and a lot more beside – and still we manage to complain and according to many studies today, this material well-being doesn’t necessarily bring happiness! So what’s the link with your stance? Obvious n’est-ce pas? It’s even possible we could be happier with less, and we could share the surplus so that our brothers (not excluding the girls!) on this earth lead a life that is worthy of the name. And where do you and I start? Give away some of the surplus (but what about tomorrow – “we may need it”!); cancel the overseas holiday or the drive to the golf course? John above makes the same point, so what’s the answer? (Incidentally, he’s probably wrong about universal birth control as we are heading for 9 billion on earth whether he likes it or not. However, by about 2050 the world’s population starts to decline as education, health care and other improvements kick in – so the answer lies in educating people and providing good health care. This of course assumes we can still breath and find food to eat when there are 9 bn of us!

Any suggestions on how to procede are of interest, bearing in mind the minor constraint that politicians never think long term and are always out for what is good for themselves in the short term.

love

John

]]> By: Susanne Waher http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Susanne Waher Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:28:29 +0000 http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/#comment-6 Hi Doug, I'm glad to see calling you an "Environmentalist" the other day got under your skin in a way as to prompt this latest blog. You make a good point. Its no good looking out side of ourselves towards the Environmentalist Leaders of the past. They have served their purpose educating us and making us all aware of the critical state of the earth. As you say, now is the time for all of us to become One with each other, for each other. Thanks for your continued role modeling. Susanne Hi Doug,
I’m glad to see calling you an “Environmentalist” the other day got under your skin in a way as to prompt this latest blog. You make a good point. Its no good looking out side of ourselves towards the Environmentalist Leaders of the past. They have served their purpose educating us and making us all aware of the critical state of the earth. As you say, now is the time for all of us to become One with each other, for each other. Thanks for your continued role modeling.

Susanne

]]> By: John Bond http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/comment-page-1/#comment-5 John Bond Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:57 +0000 http://www.doug-kennedy.com/2009/08/death-to-the-environmentalist-one-environment-one-humanity-one-survival/#comment-5 Hi Doug, I agree with your stand here, it still amazes me how most people have their head buried firmly in the sand, but I think if they knew a lot more they would leave it buried there. The more I discover, the more I feel that it is all too late and that we do not have what it takes to turn things round. That would involve sacrificing our very comfortable life style in the west and adopting universal birth control. Cheers, John Bond (Rowland's cousin) Hi Doug,

I agree with your stand here, it still amazes me how most people have their head buried firmly in the sand, but I think if they knew a lot more they would leave it buried there. The more I discover, the more I feel that it is all too late and that we do not have what it takes to turn things round. That would involve sacrificing our very comfortable life style in the west and adopting universal birth control.

Cheers,

John Bond (Rowland’s cousin)

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