Category Archives: Philosophy/ethics

Prudence

Posted on December 11, 2011 by admin

We have the need and the urge to be two things at the same time: selfish and social, an individual and a member of a community, a consumer and a citizen, living in the moment and sacrificing for the future, … Continue reading →

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Property Rights and Liberty

Posted on August 5, 2011 by admin

Liberty is a cherished American ideal, guaranteed and protected by the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the focus of countless legal and political debates.  Recently, Tea Party activists are making troubling claims that sustainable … Continue reading →

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Ecosystem Services: Perils of Pricing the Priceless

Posted on May 25, 2011 by admin

Nature, our landlord, does not send us a monthly utilities bill. The oxygen we breathe gets replenished for free.  So too our water gets filtered and stored, our wastes decayed and soil fertilized, cancer causing ultraviolet radiation blocked, and crops … Continue reading →

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The Benefit of Hindsight

Posted on May 21, 2011 by admin

Many Americans enjoy health, wealth, and convenience exceeding our ancestors’ wildest dreams, living better than royalty did just a few generations past.  These achievements were not cheap; in fact, they consumed much of our inherited natural capital.  Now we are … Continue reading →

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The F Word

Posted on April 15, 2011 by admin

Use the F word. Go ahead. Feels good to turn heads and command attention, doesn’t it? Those of us who care about sustainability need to sprinkle what we say with the F word. Continue reading →

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Talking Higher Ground

Posted on March 8, 2011 by admin

I walked past a bumper sticker the other day:  I’ll keep my guns, ammo, and money.  You can keep the “change.” I chuckled at the clever wording, but so strongly disagreed with the implications that I sat down and drafted … Continue reading →

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Engaging Nature

Posted on March 3, 2011 by admin

Even within the cocoon of suburbia I occasionally engage nature: walking to work when the snow is too deep to drive, clearing roots, rocks and earth to construct hiking paths, chopping trees into pieces to be burned for heat, planting … Continue reading →

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Who Should You Thank?

Posted on January 8, 2011 by admin

It is time for us to grow up and recognize what we have been given. We might not like our chances when our luck runs out. Continue reading →

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