Spitball
Exchanging ideas on simple things we can do to help save some energy, or do ourselves a favour.
Then attaching a signature one liner at the bottom of an email.
Here's one we've all seen:
PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL
This of course has been floating in the ether for some time now, pertaining to emails directly but how much effect has a simple line like this had?
Might have saved a tree or two.
A gallon of gas or two.
An ink cartridge or two.
A bit of plastic etc etc
So along these lines - what else?
IT TAKES 7 LITERS OF WATER TO MAKE A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE - WHY NOT RE-FILL?
Then pop it on the bottom of the email.
Maybe one person re-fills that day and saves 7 liters of water.
Or:
REPLACING FISH WITH PLASTIC - TODAY THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 46,000 PIECES OF PLASTIC IN EVERY SQUARE MILE OF OCEAN.
'As the world's population climbs from 6.8 billion today to nine billion by mid-century, energy demand will rise by around 50 per cent'
So perhaps we need to reduce energy use a little?
In one or two generations we have learned to take an awful lot for granted.
Behind all that button pressing - energy is being used!
It's amazing how bright the room is at night even after the lights have been turned off.
BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN PERCENT OF ENERGY IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IS USED AT NIGHT - ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ON STANDBY
'Cleanliness':
These days marketing and advertising leads us to believe that 'SHINY IS CLEAN'
I'm not sure I'd spray chemical cleaners on my sandwich in the afternoon, but I spray it on the countertop I make my sandwiches on...
SHINY CHEMICALLY ENHANCED COUNTERTOP ON TOAST - DELICIOUS!
Goodness knows!!
Even if you only have some facts and figures and no one liner - send them in.
Maybe someone else will come up with the one liner?
No idea!
Let's see where this one goes.
Any suggestions - please post to the comments below.
Of course if all else fails we always have the following:
Jesus is coming - look busy!
Comments
Let's start...
With stopping the building of new houses where perfectly good housing still resides, but because "people" would rather something new, than to spend a lil elbow grease and time into making an older house worthy of them. I see it everywhere, hundreds of houses for sale, yet new housing developments cutting down forests to make way for new houses because they are in demand, even with the economy as bade off as it is!! I just cannot wrap my head around why we waste SO much in building 20 houses in a brand new suburb... when hundreds in the same city stand empty. And this is just ONE of my pet peeves :)
Something me and my 3 boys do whenever we walk to the store (yes with our canvas bags) is to take 2 trash bags on our walk... one for trash, one for recyclables (recycling gets put in the bin, and the bag is used again on our next walk) and its a game for them to find as much as fast as they can in the 1/2 mile walk there and back. We get LOTS of funny looks but you know what, its those same people who dont think twice about finishing that bag of chips and just dropping the bag when they are done, even with trash bins all along the walk. At least I rest easier knowing I did one small part, and that my children know! And trust me, the fire of an 8 year old, who sees the world done wrong, is not something you want to be on the receiving end of. :)
Nicole
Distilled White Vinegar
Use distilled white vinegar in your washer's final rinse cycle in place of fabric softner or dryer sheets. Your clothes will be soft, smell fresh and will not be staticy. Not only is it safer for the environment, but it is also better for the upper respiratory system and will not aggravate asthma or allergies.
DWV can also be used to clean by adding several drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil to the vinegar and using baking soda as an abrasive. You will be able to have your toast without chemical shinyness.
Couldn't think of a nifty one liner for this.
One Liner
Use less. Hoard less.
You are so hot
"You are so hot that scientists are trying to get government funding to find out if you are the cause of global warming. All we know for sure is that when polar bears think of you, they die. But they die happy."
-Scott Adams
Just a thought..in more than one line
The act of recycling, no matter how you choose to perform it doesn’t mean a damn if you’re doing it for personal gratification or adulation. To be so grandiose as to assume fragile, mortal human beings could alter the fate of a massive organism such as the earth is narcissism at its best and brightest. If you do choose to reduce, reuse and recycle do so in humble admiration of a life force that allows us to reside within a moment of It’s time rather than a feeble attempt to extend the life of that, which is without our assistance, eternal in its own right.
i agree strongly
why to go thats how we say it!!! Right on sister!!!!
Re: Recycling
I find it hard to believe that anyone, no matter how narcissistic or ego-laden, can possibly look at this huge world, this infinite universe and its forces of nature and think they are bigger than it. It's not grandiose to think that fragile, mortal human beings can make a difference. Perhaps it is a humble attempt to in some small way give back to a world that gives us so much unasked every day. But if it wasn't so, even if people were doing things like recycling for personal gratification isn't it better that they do something? In doing something right they can learn and change and change those around them for the better. Humble admiration for the world would be great but is it perhaps not just as important to accept the world, and its people, for what it is and love it anyway? Compassion, not perfection.
recycle your electronics
Apologies if someone has already mentioned this and I missed it... but don't send old electronics to landfills! There are loads of ways to recycle computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, surge protectors, spare cables and cords, old modems, and so on. Many manufacturers like Dell and HP will take back and recycle their old merchandise and will pay for shipping. Myboneyard.com also provides prepaid postage for computers, monitors, MP3 players, and cell phones. If you're willing to spend a few dollars, many Office Depot locations recycle all sorts of electronic stuff. I'm getting ready to move and have two boxes of oddments that I'm taking over there Monday (I've got pretty much everything I named above, including nearly half a box of spare cords and cables). I've held onto this stuff for years because I couldn't bring myself to just put it in the garbage, and I'm thrilled to be able to dispose of it in an environmentally friendly manner (to me, it's well worth $10 for them to take all this stuff off my hands and make some use of it). Here's a link for the Office Depot recycling program if you want details (including what items they take, the cost, and participating locations):
http://www.officedepot.com/promo.do?file=/promo/pages/0928_recycling.jsp
And buy new electronics that are recycle-friendly
Buy EPEAT gold and silver products when replacing old computers and electronics. http://www.epeat.net/ They are environment, people, and recycle friendly. Happy precycling!
Wow this was good to know
Wow this was good to know thanks. I will take them to Office Depto from now on.
Make do
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
Back to email signatures
I do think the email signature is a chance to inspire, make people think, or generally raise awareness of important issues.
I tend to change mine frequently, but they are usually quotes from people I admire, or comments which make me smile.
Here are a few of my gems:
"We can apply the simple principle of CCR: Consideration, Courtesy, and Respect." - Nathan Fillion
"The strength to fight... and the wisdom not to." - Martin Firrell's 'Hero' project, www.completehero.com
"With everything that I do, I hope that they see people struggling to live decent, moral lives in a completely chaotic world. They see how hard it is, how often they fail, and how they get up and keep trying. That, to me, is the most important message I'm ever going to tell." - Joss Whedon
"I do try to live every day as though it were my last - I lie in bed all day slipping in and out of consciousness" - Jeremy Hardy
"Morris dancing, least stealthy of the world's martial arts" - The Now Show
In memory of George Carlin...
"Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it."
"A good listener is hard to find, or at least hard to find twice" - (Sir) Terry Pratchett, 'Pyramids'
"Nothing's inevitable as long as you stand up, look it in the eye, and say 'you're evitable!' " - Fred, from the TV series 'Angel'
"If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do" - Angel, 'Angel'
As for saving the planet, "The Compact" is interesting - people promise to try for a fixed period (a month, a year) not to buy anything new apart from essential articles like underwear that they can't produce themselves. Whether or not they achieve their goal, they learn an awful lot about resourcefulness, making do, living within your means, the pressures of consumerism on children and families, and other life lessons. I lasted about three weeks! but it is a valuable experiment. I know there are similar ideas - go without the car one day a week, turn off all electrical appliances one evening, reduce street lighting - how much power did all those Christmas lights use this year? These are things we can all do simply and easily, but it's more fun if we do them together.
Pat
Plastic Bottles
My 15-year old daughter has had the same Gatorade sports bottle for about 5 years. She fills it with water every night and we put it in the dishwasher about once a week. I've been recycling for about 12 years, and both my daughters are well educated on what can and cannot be recycled. When our recycling bin got blown to who knows where by a storm, they were quick to come up with a substitute bin - a cardboard box - until we could get a replacement from the city. I guess there's one thing to go on the list of things I've done right as a single mom!
Gatorade bottle not healthy
This is an instance where good faith and practises to help the environment can hurt a human's health. Make sure plastics reused in this way are polypropylene or styrene, types 5 or 6 plastic. Those are stable plastics. Other plastics leach bisphenol A and phthalates over time, especially when exposed to light and heat. The plastic will break down and those emitted toxins will act as endocrine disruptors, including an estrogenic effect. PP is best. That's what's used by labs to avoid tainting samples under study. Easy to get at the store.
Plastic bags
the plastic bag is the scruge of the modern world. Why not invest in a supermarket's "bag for life" or any canvas tote bag and leave them in the boot of the car so whenever you go to the supermarket, you won't be tempted to use the plastic carrier bags. There are some chains of supermarket who 'reward' those who do not use carriers anymore.
Plastic bags take years to break down, end up in our oceans and maim the wild life, so why not switch today? You can get more in tote bags and they are stronger and it is just one small way we can all make a difference.
H
Plastic Bags
Somebody spank me! I have gotten out of the habit of using my canvas bags at the grocery store...I have quite a collection of plastic bags going. Although I do use them as trash bags for those small trash cans, and for cleaning out the litter box, also in place of a lunch box (for myself and my girls when they have a school field trip and can't take their regular lunch box). I sometimes donate my plastic bags to a friend who uses them to pick up after her rather large dog. I shall make the effort to get the canvas bags out and take them to the store with me once again.
old plastic bags
I agree on the waste of plastic bags, thats why i handknit any plastic I can find into funky new bags! If anybody wants to send there unused ones to me elizabethjanelovely@gmail.com! As far as I know the biodegradable ones only reduce to small bits of plastic instead of one large piece, so please don't use these thinking they're better (I apologise if I'm wrong there!!)
Who knew doing a search on an actor you thought was cute would lead to this!
xx
Plastic Bags
Interesting concept; not sure I understand...could you elaborate? and I totally agree with you on the initial reason for your discovery of this site. I was having a major case of lust after watching The Dresden Files, and happened upon this!
Shhhhhhhhhh
Noise pollution negatively affects us all, yet we seem to take no regard to others when sharing intimate conversations with the populace via cell phone or participating in the addition and continuation of negative energy through water cooler gossip. Chose words wisely and use them to benefit others positively. If what you have to say negates another, better to keep it to yourself
Money's made of paper too...
I love the excuse that it's too expensive to make the little changes that will last. (I'll tackle the inconvenience issue in another post...) I'll completely admit I'm not terrible creative with slogans... but I read this the other day and thought it would be short enough to tack on to an email:
Only when the last tree has been cut down,
Only when the last river has been poisoned,
Only when the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
— Cree Indian Prophecy
Freecycle (UK)
Using our local freecycle website means we can help other people with items we no longer need or want and they can do the same and the one liner is;
One man's rubbish is other man's treasure
Never throw away something someone else can use.
Freecycle
We have the same thing here in the states. It's a great resource for free used furniture. The next time I think I should have a yard sale, I'll remember to post my junk on Freecycle here in Texas. Of course, iaround here, f you want to get rid of something and (a) can't get it to the local Salvation Army or (b) don't want to bother with trying to sell it, you can just put it on your curb and someone driving by will no doubt pick it up before the sun sets.
While I'm no good
While I'm no good remembering, or creating, one liners, I do have a good suggestion. Ed Begley, Jr., the actor, is a disciple of the book, 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth, and actually, I believe, accomplished them all! He wrote an interesting book recently, Living Like Ed (A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life), where he gives excellent suggestions to save the earth-- his mission. Getting the book and reading it is an easy way to help earth-friendly efforts!
While the book discusses everything, one idea is to start a shoebox of toxic waste. When a battery dies, or god forbid you are using CFLs and one burns out, put it in the shoebox. Then, when the shoebox is full, take it to your local hazardous materials pickup area. One dead battery isn't enough of a reason to run to a pickup area and unfortunately can be thrown away for convenience instead. Knowing that the chemicals in the battery can then leach into drinking water in a decade or two can make that seem like a bad idea.
Being a big health nut and earth-friendly-thinker ;-) I've found helping the planet and keeping healthy often at odds. So keep in mind saving the human and not just the earth. CFLs contain mercury, the CDC instructs your family to leave the room for 15min after one goes out. The Maine health authority recognized a broken CFL on the floor as a hazardous spill per study results. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72133 Some guy in a chair telling you they're fine doesn't make them safer. Use LED light bulbs instead (if you can find them), they give off a BEAUTIFUL blue light that's perfect for late night reading. LEDs also make good flashlights and spot lighting, while saving energy. And they don't get as hot!
Other good ideas:
Buy organic-- Benefits the earth by reducing pesticides and insecticide production and use.
Buy local-- Benefits the earth by reducing fuel and energy for transportation and storage. Benefits the human by eating fresh, ripe foods.
Change home filters and save up to 20% on heating costs due to better air flow. Makes breathing easier too!
Another suggestion which isn't simple, surprisingly, is to reduce plastic usage. Plastic may be recyclable (into non-recyclable plastic things ONLY), but it never goes away! Good luck!
-- Good health.
Spitball Kansas Style
"There's a fine line between a groove and a rut" has always been a great favorite of mine but I think more in keeping for this discussion is my second fave, "The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun"
You have got it in one. By
You have got it in one. By now we should all be riding around in electric car able to travel 100s of miles. Why not? Because the oil industry would not make a profit thats why.
buy used!
One thing I like to do is buy certain items used -- specifically CDs, DVDs, and books. You can find used copies of most titles on sites like Amazon.com, Half.com, and eBay, and buying someone's unwanted copy saves the resources that would go into making a new one -- plus you're preventing something from potentially going into a landfill. And you can usually save a bit of money as well, which is always nice. I try to purchase from individuals with high approval ratings, and I'm rarely disappointed with the condition of the product.
I'm a gonna plant me a Red Sunset Maple
Did you know that city landscapes have drastically changed in the past 30 years? Or that city arborists are choosing to plant "male" trees because they are less messy (non-fruit bearing)? Did you know people suffering from allergies may be found in highest numbers in urban areas?
Help nature, help each other: be careful what you plant! Try female trees, trees that are both male and female, or better yet, plant nature's own hypo-allergenic tree: the 'Red Sunset' Maple.
I for one am seriously tired of seasonal allergies. I love, love, love crisp mountain air like what an ancient cedar forest in Kiso Valley, Nagano, Japan smells like. Imagine clean air. Try it. Breathe deep.
To find out more about allergies, asthma and city trees, read all about it at
Candlelight Dinner
Enjoy dinner by candlelight. It is relaxing for everyone involved and you'll save on electricity and light pollution. So turn off the exhaust over your stove, lights out in the entire house, eat in your dining room instead of your kitchen, and really enjoy your company as well as your meal.
Candles
I Love this idea. I have developed a family dinner time we here call "Cowboy Supper". The kids love it. The lights are out. It is quiet and we talk to each other. I tell stories about the family or explain the questions kids have about life. My wife takes the opportunity at these "special" suppers to ask the kids to name one good thing they did today. It makes little difference if the dinner is hot dogs & beans or roast beef & mash potatoes... the time spent in candle light is more intimate. That includes family members or dinner guests.
Reply to dinner by candlelight
Dinner by candlelight is a nice and romantic idea and surely saves on electricity but I recently read an interesting fact about it online.
Eating in the "dark" or particularly "by candlelight" increases the amount of food you eat. Studies have shown that it is more difficult to see your food and therfore control or realize how much you eat in little to no light.
So while eating in candlelight may save energy - it could also increase your waist size.
Everything in moderation and moderate nothing - words to live by - maybe? :)
- Lara :)
One Liner
Turn off the computer, forget the email - use the phone! Quicker, Cheaper and Easier.
Countertops and chemicals?
I don't spray chemicals on the countertop, I do clean it when I wash dishes, and I make the sandwich on the plate I'm going to eat it off - I know the plate's clean cos I've already washed it!
Same goes for meat and veg prep, although I do use a dishwasher, I make sure I have a full load (two maybe three days worth) before it goes on, and I use small nylon boards which go through the washer for the food prep.
Same with the clothes washer, make sure it's a full (but not too full) load, and use eco friendly concentrates - powder in a recyclable box.
A Twist on an Old Cliche...
"Save water: shower with a friend (and protection)."
Somewhere in the avalanche-waiting-to-happen that is my book collection, I have a little gem called, I believe, 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth. If I do manage to find it, I'll post some more serious one-liners.
Just quickly and off the top of my head, another thing to do is become an armchair environmentalist. You don't have to be on the front lines, going to rallies and staging protests, but by joining the mailing lists of organizations like Defenders of Wildlife, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Humane Society, you can be kept up-to-date on pending environmental/conservation legislation, and be given easy access to resources to speak out on it. Finally, there's also the Greater Good network of sites: Animal Rescue, Rainforest, Hunger, Literacy, Breast Cancer, and Child Health -- all you do is click daily!
http://www.defenders.org/take_action/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/how/index.html
http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/action_alerts/
http://www.greatergood.com/
Cheers, and keep up the good work,
JP
Turn off the air conditioning!
Do we really need to have the a/c on full blast all summer? Here's a thought:
"If it's in the 70s, turn off the a/c and open some windows. The fresh air will do you some good."
(Of course, for our British friends, I mean 70s Fahrenheit!)
Don't drink bottled water
"Production of bottled water in 2006 alone released 2.5 million tons
of carbon dioxide." (Sierra Club)
"Of the 30 billion bottles that end up as litter each year, those
that go unrecycled can take 1,000 years to decompose."
(Sierra Club)
Production of bottled water for the U.S. required the equivalent of
more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for
transportation. (Paraphrased from Sierra Club, research from The
Pacific Institute)
"The total amount of energy embedded in the use of bottled water is
the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full of oil,
according to the Pacific Institute." (Sierra Club)
environmental one-liner
Retire the drier, use a clothesline.
Recycle before recycling
Paperless offices sound great but I don't think it's possible. Unfortunately, my desk is proof of this.
First, find a recycled printer paper that won't jam your printer. Office Max's brand works well on Brothers. My HP at home is still very picky (any suggestions?).
Next, if you don't have to hand off what you've printed to a client/vendor or put it in a file, once you've finished with the document, hang on to it before dropping it in the blue bin. Draw a line through that side, flip it over and print on the opposite side. (For those of you slow on the uptake, the line through the other side will help you keep track of what your current project is.) In a month, we cut the amount of paper we used by 46% (roughly... and a hat tip to my co-worker for doing the math off my stats! Never trust my math.).
Then drop it in the blue bin.
This is also a great way to get some kudos from the boss for saving money.
(And refilling that water bottle is a MUST... I’ve been using the same one since last November. I dare all of you to match that! Please?)
reusing paper is easier than you think
I wanted to report back that this idea is great for saving paper! When I first read the suggestion about flipping the paper over and using the other side, I thought it wasn't very practical for me -- that most of my printing is for clients or for the files, and therefore can't be used twice. But one day I decided to give it a try, and I was really surprised at how much of my prints aren't "keepers" but things that I only need temporarily, or copies that get updated or changed before going into the file. So now I'm regularly adding to the stack of papers to be reused, and diving into it when I print something that's just for today. It's a small thing, but I feel good about it -- and all those little efforts add up.
caution re: water bottles
The only problem with reusing water bottles is that, unfortunately, they become a breeding ground for germs over time. Get a bottle that can withstand boiling water so that you can sterilize it on a regular basis.
true..
But I think regular washing is key. A lot of people will let the bottle just sit and wash it rarely. I made it a point to keep it clean. It's been recycled (after almost a year). It finally got a little hole in it---but I just won a stainless steel bottle-- lightweight with a little clip to hook to my purse. If I figure out where they got it, I’ll put the link in the ‘share your resources’ page.
Environmental issues
"There's so much pollution in the world now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all." ~~~ Robert Orben
SOME HINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET
When you wash your hands turn the faucet off while you lather then turn it back on to rinse. If you don't think there is much water being wasted put the plug in the sink before you begin and see how much water would be wasted if you let it run while you lather. The next time put the plug in but turn the water off while you lather and see the difference. Multiple this by the number of times you wash your hands everyday.
Do the same when you bursh your teeth or shave.
At night turn off the lights and look around the room, how many items do you have that still have some sort of indicator light on? I use surge protectors and at night when I go to bed I turn them off shutting down all those electronics that draw power when they are "off". Don't forget the chargers you have plugged in, they still draw power even if you aren't charaging anything, unplug them (or use a surge protector you can turn off) until you are actually charging your electronics. I even turn off the cable box when I am not watching TV. Doesn't sound like much but let's count them up, TV, PC, Monitor, Printer, Modem, Cable box, phone charger, laptop charger, battery charger; you get the idea. Still seem small, remember these electronics are on 24/7/365 in millions of homes, when viewed that way it soon adds up.
My father found this one. If your drains run slowly instead of buying chemical drain cleaners pour some baking soda down the drain then pour white distilled vinigar over it. This works for cleaning hardwater scale from shower heads. Put the shower head in a container, add the baking soda, then pour distilled white vinigar over it and let it stand. White vinigar is great for removing hardwater scale from coffee makers and steam irons. It keeps them running efficently so they don't use as much energy.
Freezers run more efficently when they are full. If you don't have enough to fill it, take that plastic sports bottle, pop bottle, milk bottle or water bottle, rinse it fill it with water and put it in the freezer. When you need the space just transfer it to the fridge so you have when you have space in the freezer. Added bonus, if the power goes out the bottles of ice will help keep your food cold longer.
Individually you will be saving money, but as a whole we will be saving energy. It is like erecting a building. You start with one brick, then add another and another and another, soon you have a wall, continue and before you know it you have a house or skyscraper. If everyone only did only one thing to conserve energy or protect our enviroment, just think of the difference one million people could make.
Thank you!
Thanks for the drain clearing tip. I have really long hair so clogged drains can be a problem for me. It's probably less expensive than drain cleaner too!
Great tips - thank you!!
Great tips - thank you!!
One liners
“6.8 billion to 9 billion by mid- century..” Is the point of it all to get the world loaded with as many people as possible, all living in environmentally friendly huts? “Recycle to make room for another billion!” How about this for a one liner: “Humans are the biggest polluters on the planet, make fewer of them!” or “Decrease the worlds population to 4 billion by AD 2200 through birth control - give the planet a rest!” . No one seems to take this side of the equation seriously even though no amount of new technology or self deprivation will keep up with unbridled human reproduction. 9 billion, 18 billion, 100 billion. Its just a fact.
One liners
While I do agree that many women get pregnant (here in the USA) without thinking of the future ramifications, there are many, many more in other countries that have little choice in the matter. Unfortunately this is usually the result of a male dominated culture/religion that mandates a woman's duty as child-bearer. I think the people who frequent this site are smart enough to know what I am talking about.
That said, we do have a responsibility to help those in the beyond incarnate here so they can work out their karma. Now, before you get your undies in a knot, I know this does not mesh with many religious world views - and I am not going to open that can of worms here. :-)
Nature will always keep the earth in balance in regards to the human population. How you ask? We have witnessed the loss of thousands of lives, sometimes hundreds of thousands of lives, in earthquakes, tsunamis, famine, disease, etc. All of these things result in the tragic loss of life (and it should not be inferred that I am making light of these things). Nature is all about balance. There will always be a somewhat equal amount of beings here and in the beyond, until we evolve beyond this state.
So, what is my one liner after saying all of that? How about: In wildness is the preservation of the world. Thoreau
.....make fewer of them -
.....make fewer of them - absolutely.
we are programmed to want to see ourselves all over again though, else we wouldn't be here at all....
perhaps there should be a ban on dating hereforthwith....
any volunteers?
Make Fewer of Them
um...I haven't had a date in over two years, so I guess I'm an unwilling participant in the dating ban. As for children, I have the most I can handle, so there's my non-contribution to population growth.
we are programmed to want to see ourselves all over again....
That's the dilemma. In a confined space, yeast reproduces until the level of its byproducts inhibits further replication, so will we. So all we can hope for is that our time here be as pleasant as possible. Is that selfish? When does “helping” other societies reach “our” standards of comfort become domination, control, and interference with the consequences of their time honored traditions?
Nature will take care of
Nature will take care of itself - it can't help but do so.
Given we are of course part of that nature, we'll be done away with when necessary to give the home a breather to accommodate more forms of nature in the future.
So really whether its dinosaurs or human beings the next form will roll around long after we've used up resources or blown ourselves to pieces....
This helps in letting go of the 'importance' of the whole thing as everything is completely impermanent anyway.
However - having said all that - whilst we ARE fortunate enough to be here, let's try and make our own lives a little more palatable, by at least trying to be decent to one another and other forms of life we share this home with, and respectful of this big rock that supports us
And of course if you are a re-incarnation believer - that only bodes well for next time round!