[pct-l] Bush is my shepherd

[Bighummel at aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

I will stay out of the political comments and just point out one simple thing 
in this society that all geologists know and consider;

EVERYTHING that is in your home, on your body, that makes up this computer 
and your car and your ice axe and your pack and your jewelry and your bicycle 
and in your stomach and inside your brain came directly or indirectly from the 
earth.  The ONLY thing in this room now that doesn't come directly or 
indirectly from the earth is the sunlight that is shining in through my window and the 
heat that it generates.

This, of course, means that we consume from the earth and extractive 
industries are NECESSARY for our society to exist.  

We must just be careful how we extract and what we put back into the earth 
and the air and water.  The more efficient we are in all things the better off 
we will be and longer the stewardship of the earth for future generations will 
last.

Us backpackers tend to understand minimalist principles pretty well.  
However, if you wear or use nylon products and aluminum products and titanium 
products and wool products and leather products and rubber products then you are a 
consumer.  The balance is a tenuous one between consumption and stewardship.  
Humans tend to be greedy and not consider future generations with any 
significant value.

Greg


Remember when you're feeling very small and insecure 
how amazingly unlikely is your birth . . . 
and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space 
cause there's damn near none here on earth!
                               Monty Python "The Meaning of Life"