Environmental Outlook: Harmony with Nature
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-11-02/environmental-outlook-harmony-nature
For the past thirty years, the Prince of Wales has been advocating for the environment. Now he’s calling for something you wouldn’t expect from royalty – a revolution. Prince Charles says, "If we want to hand on to our children and grandchildren a much more durable way of operating in the world, then we have to embark on what i can only describe as a ‘sustainability revolution’ – and with some urgency." In this month’s Environmental Outlook series, we discuss efforts for humans to reconnect with nature, restore balance and protect the future of the planet.
Guests
Tony Juniper
co-author of "Harmony" with Prince Charles and Ian Skelly, a special advisor with the prince’s International Sustainability unit and senior associate with the Cambridge University Program for Sustainability Leadership. He was a Green Party candidate in Britain’s recent general election. His books include, “Guide to the Parrots of the World,” “Spix’s Macaw” and “How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take to Change a Planet?”
Peter Seligmann
co-founder, chairman and CEO of Conservation International.
Comments
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Let's see if I have this question right. Species extinction related to the activity of the human population will cease when the population of humans becomes what and when?
Instead of nice sounding johnny hopefuls, a population ecologist would give you answers and solutions that don't include the fantasy that Old MacDonald"s Farm can feed the world.
To have a self-sustaining community we will need to shift the paradigm of the global financial network to a local eco banking system which will financially support the local community. Has your organization addressed these issues?
What a wonderful guest!. It is so frustrating being a person who cares so much about conservation but, as your guest said, consumers are largely left in the dark as to where their food, coffee, etc. comes from. I simply don't have time to research everything I buy. But I know I am against all of the over-packaging of goods we do in this country. I want things to change, but I just feel so helpless, being one little consumer. We should all care about and protect nature because we, ourselves, are part of nature.
It was said, one billion Middle Class today, in 30 there will be 2 billion more thus doubling it. This is an example of why we are in the trouble we are today.
The topic of Solar came up. Solar can be very affordable. I live on Social Security disability in an 800-square-foot mobile home in Tucson, AZ. This year I worked with Technicians for Sustainability (TFS) to install a 3 kW system on my home. Tucson Electric Power (TEP) offers rebates. There are Federal and State tax credits. My out of pocket cost was less than $6,000. Last year my electric bill was $60 for the month just past. This year (and I am not kidding), I paid $3.62. My system will pay for itself while it helps save the planet. For a person on a fixed income this is also a great way to control costs. Reducing my electric bill by so much is the equivalent of getting 9 percent interest on the money the system cost. Go solar.
This is a great show that exemplifies what in DARK GREEN RELIGION: NATURE SPIRITUALITY AND THE PLANETARY FUTURE, I discussed in detail, as well as recently on other NPR shows. In it I showed how the fusing of contemporary environmental knowledge with spiritualities of belonging and connection to nature are spreading widely, demonstrating that a major cultural/environmental shift is underway, if too slowly to prevent much suffering now and in the near term. Nevertheless, it is hopeful to note and see the global traction of these trends. For more information, see http://www.brontaylor.com/environmental_books/dgr/dark_green_religion.html
I would like to correct Prince Charles' opening comment that
"it is time for people to put nature back in the center"
How long can you live without clean air? clean water? healthy soil?
I say, It is time for people to put themself out of the center and DEPENDANT on a healthy ecosystem"
Habits are formed in HABITAT
If yu want to change thinking - you have to train in the real gym...
"The Earthgym" so you can"
remember
recover
re-story your realtionship to sustainable reality (trees, water wildlife)
There must be many millions in the US and elsewhere who crave a sustainability revolution that prince Charles talks about. However, I think one of our biggest challenges - especially in the US - is pushing through long overdue changes to our way of life and the infrastructures that support our habitat (education, transportation, alternative energy sources, our built environment etc.). The results of a few decades of neglecting these infrastructures confront us every day; dilapidated city neighborhoods, featureless and unsustainable suburban sprawl, severely declining education standards, poor funding of the sciences and alternative sources of energy, a banking system that dishes out $billions in profits after being bailed out by the taxpayers, poor nutrition leading to expensive lifestyle based diseases like obesity, and our general low standing in the world.
The kind of changes we need will likely require significant changes to the "profits at all costs" mantra by big corporations that has handily trumped growing concerns over the past 50 years about the way we ravage our planet. Given that corporations can now purchase tame politicians to advance their profit-oriented agendas and maintain the status quo, I worry that the short window of opportunity we have to solve our dependency on non-renewable sources of energy for industry, commerce, food production and our way of life, may soon close shut leaving us a significantly impoverished nation.
Phil Allsopp, Scottsdale, Arizona
There must be many millions in the US and elsewhere who crave a sustainability revolution that prince Charles talks about. However, I think one of our biggest challenges - especially in the US - is pushing through long overdue changes to our way of life and the infrastructures that support our habitat (education, transportation, alternative energy sources, our built environment etc.). The results of a few decades of neglecting these infrastructures confront us every day; dilapidated city neighborhoods, featureless and unsustainable suburban sprawl, severely declining education standards, poor funding of the sciences and alternative sources of energy, a banking system that dishes out $billions in profits after being bailed out by the taxpayers, poor nutrition leading to expensive lifestyle based diseases like obesity, and our general low standing in the world.
The kind of changes we need will likely require significant changes to the "profits at all costs" mantra by big corporations that has handily trumped growing concerns over the past 50 years about the way we ravage our planet's resources. Given that corporations can now purchase tame politicians to advance their profit-oriented agendas and maintain the status quo, I worry that the short window of opportunity we have to solve our dependency on non-renewable sources of energy for industry, commerce, food production and our way of life, may soon close shut leaving us a significantly impoverished nation.
Phil Allsopp, Scottsdale, Arizona