Excellent article on the human "footprint"

[Pax]

The article discusses the ways in which we chose to live and how those choices affect the size of the footprint we occupy.
http://www.dispatch.com/science/scie...213-D6-00.html

[HillSlugger]

Humankind is screwed!

[Pax]

We're house hunting right now and have made a conscious decision to buy a smaller house and to live closer to work/groceries/activities, I'm going to start cycling to work and we're selling one of our cars. I think the situation is fixable if people want to try.

[emily_in_nc]

Great article Queen - thanks for sharing.

My DH and I hope to find a way to live car-free (or as close to that as possible) someday, either in a conducive town or on a cruising sailboat. If I didn't have to drive to work (29 miles each way ), that would make a huge difference as well. I work at home when I can, but it's not possible very often. I'm hoping to retire early so even if we stay right where we are, our fossil fuel usage will go way down. We do what we can now -- burn our free wood (we live in the woods) in an efficient woodstove instead of running the heat pumps, use compact fluorescent bulbs, combine car trips, turn off lights, recycle...but it's not enough, I know. Good for you making some of the changes you are making!

Emily

[missymaya]

I took a environmental ethics course a little while ago and this subject was a hot topic because it also implied this need to "mass produce" if you will, the human race. Is it neccessary in today's age to have 4-5 kids or +? But, at the same time, you would be limiting one's right to have kids (look at China for example) and then apply the argument to 3rd world countries where the mindset is still to have many kids b/c of increased labor, lack of birth control or knowledge of control, etc.
Also, here in Orlando, the city is discussing light rail as another form of transportation but too many people don't want it. I have the feeling that they are too attached to driving and are not willing to compromise, as well as on other things, like what products they use and how they dispose of them.There are so many answers to the problems but no one wants to compromise,even when the compromise is as simple as recycling or riding a bike 5 miles to work.
As what John Denver said, I may not be able to save the world, but I can help as much as I can in my own way!

[annie]

I may not be able to save the world, but I can help as much as I can in my own way!

I think that attitude is the KEY. We all need to do what we are able, in our own lives, to make a difference.

Annie