Wisdom understands that in a world of ecological interconnectedness there is no such thing as“ away.” We don’ t throw things away, we simply put them someplace where they defile the land, foul the water, pollute the air, or change the earth’ s atmosphere.
environmental healing
Waste Not Want Not
By Christopher Wales
In the United States we live in a economic reality based on consumption. As consumers we must deal with a host of waste problems that are by-products of various manufacturing and distribution systems that often seem to be beyond our control. But we do have the power to effect real change in our recycling efforts to heal our planet and take better care of our environment.
First, we need to change our mind set about waste. We have been led to believe that the low or no-cost solution to waste management has been landfills— dig a big hole, throw our garbage in it, cover it up, and forget about it— or burning it up into a toxic gas. Out of sight, out of mind.
Now that we have had time to evaluate the longer term effects these kinds of decisions have had on our environment, as well as the costs associated with correcting, or at a minimum stabilizing them, we have come to realize their harm and expense is greater than was ever imagined. It’ s time to educate ourselves on the real costs of disposal, starting with the three basic tenants of recycling: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Reduction in the manufacturing and distribution side of consumption- based economies is a smart and
Wisdom understands that in a world of ecological interconnectedness there is no such thing as“ away.” We don’ t throw things away, we simply put them someplace where they defile the land, foul the water, pollute the air, or change the earth’ s atmosphere.
– Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat
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