Best way to help the planet?

There is a very interesting discussion going on at the No Impact Blog about the best way to help the planet. On one side is Colin Beavan who has just completed a year long experiment on living with minimal impact. On the other side is Michael Shellenberger, co-author of Break Through: The Death of Environmentalism and the Politics of Possibility who argues that the best way to help the planet is by massive government spending to develop more energy efficient technologies.

Colin argues that you also need to convince people to use resources more wisely and to reduce consumption, which will lead to happier lives. He says his year long experiment has convinced him of that. Fascinating discussion in all.

The slow food movement is gaining ground

I've almost finished listening to Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Vegetable, Miracle" audio book. I have greatly enjoyed this book. It's full of stories, anecdotes, facts about the food industry and lots of humor. Another book just out is Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto". Another book about the dismal state of food in the USA.

Both Kingsolver and Polland advocate getting back to traditional ways of growing and eating food. Lots of vegetables and fruits and cooking from scratch as much as possible. Cooking and eating together as a family is highly recommended. As the health of Americans continues to get worse this seems like a good idea. This may be the next big movement in this country. Just like the ban of smoking in public places, we could see big changes in the food industry.

The slow food movement is gaining ground

I've almost finished listening to Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Vegetable, Miracle" audio book.

Buy local gaining momentum

The buy local movement seems to be gaining momentum.

simple pleasures are the most reliable pleasures

Continuing on with the favorite activities theme, I was listening to the radio the other day and heard this intriguing sentence: "simple pleasures are the most reliable pleasures"

After thinking about it for a while it really makes sense. The everyday little pleasures are what make life enjoyable. Like the hot cup of tea in the morning, or reading an email from a friend, or listening to some new music that captivates us.

The big activities such as a vacation to a far away place are just too complex to take in and too infrequent to count on.
It gives us something to look forward to, but they are over with way too quickly and then we find ourselves with just some memories and photos to muse over.

The everyday simple pleasures we can count on day after day to carry us through.

10 Favorite Activities

I decided to come up with 10 of my most favorite and relaxing activities just for fun.

10 Favorite Activities

I decided to come up with 10 of my most favorite and relaxing activities just for fun. Nothing elaborate, just simple things that make you feel good.

1. A quiet walk in a beautiful location with scenery (beach, forest)
2. A cup of hot tea, drink slowly with nothing else to do
   
3. Reading a book sitting by the window
4. A nice hot shower
5. Cooking up a simple meal
6. Sitting by a fire and staring into the flames
7. Gardening
8. Lying on the grass staring into the sky watching the clouds on a warm breezy day
9. Watching a travel or nature documentary on the TV
10. Listening to peaceful music