I breathe air containing exhaust
& fumes We breathe clean air
I drink water containing chlorine,
fluoride, We drink spring water at
the spring; our garden
traces of antibiotics, birth control pills, etc. drinks water from the
pond and cistern
I eat food from mono-crop,
fossil-fuel agri- We grow our own
food using permaculture
culture, grown in soil that’s full of artificial by creating a complete
mini-ecology
fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and living off the real interest
I live in a big tightly insulated house
with a We live in a small passive
solar house,
big computer-controlled furnace/air- with solar hot water, and a
stove+furnace,
conditioner, a big hot water heater, a cold pantry and a solar food dryer
a big refrigerator, 3 ovens, a dishwasher, We have herbs, vegetables, chicken, fish, goats,
and a big green lawn and an orchard within the windbreak
I have a master bath with a
low-flush toilet, We have two
alternating composting privies,
2 sinks, a shower and a Jacuzzi an outdoor shower and a kitchen sink
I have an expensive
computer-controlled, We wash our
clothes in a pedal powered washer
energy-efficient washer and dryer (sending graywater to the garden) and dry
them
on a clothesline
I have a widescreen plasma TV, a CD unit, We have a laptop powered by PV
panels
a few other computers and video games and lots of books and board games
I drive a hybrid SUV and an EV We ride regular bicycles,
a 3-wheeler for cargo,
Sometimes I take the bus or the train or walk, ride our pony cart, or just stay
home
I buy my clothes and housewares at
the mall We spin, weave, sew and shop
at the thrift store
I work out at the gym to stay in
shape We get plenty of
exercise
I have to watch my diet to prevent
diabetes We feel nourished by the food
we grow
I feel stressed because I have to
work lots We get plenty of sleep
after a day of work and
of overtime so I can pay all my bills play with our family and neighbors
and send my kids to a good college
I’m worried about the crime rate
while Our village is never
empty
I’m at the office in my cubicle
I have to drive a long way for a
vacation We don’t need a
vacation—we live in Eden
I’m depressed and afraid of the
future We feel contented and
economically secure
But how to make the change? What about relapses?
Well, start by absorbing the deeper layer that's underneath the lists above. If Einstein was right in saying that a problem can't be solved by the same mentality that created it, then changing our view of the world is a good place to start.
Second, don't give up. Carbon relapses imply that some carbon dioxide that could have been formed and emitted was avoided. Respect the power of No; its discipline sharpens wisdom.
