Comments on: How You Can Actually Help With the Gulf Oil Spill (but probably won’t.) http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/ Augmented Humanity, Second Selves, and Cybernetic Yoga Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:03:11 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: How to start living minimally, Part One: Challenge. « The Brave New Few http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-4623 How to start living minimally, Part One: Challenge. « The Brave New Few Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:19:22 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-4623 [...] thought? Just because your living room wall can handle a 84″ LCD TV, do you actually need it? Is it truly necessary to have your own polluting people pod (aka car), or can you share with someone, or even go completely carless? Maybe you can make do with [...] [...] thought? Just because your living room wall can handle a 84″ LCD TV, do you actually need it? Is it truly necessary to have your own polluting people pod (aka car), or can you share with someone, or even go completely carless? Maybe you can make do with [...]

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By: Hypocrisy and Climate Change « The Happy Buddha Blog http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-4286 Hypocrisy and Climate Change « The Happy Buddha Blog Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:50:02 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-4286 [...] it is owned by business people responding to customer demand.  As Everett Bogue pointed out here, the oil spill happened because Americans want to drive SUV’s to the mall everyday to buy [...] [...] it is owned by business people responding to customer demand.  As Everett Bogue pointed out here, the oil spill happened because Americans want to drive SUV’s to the mall everyday to buy [...]

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By: Can You Really Change Yourself to Change the World? | Upcycled Love http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-4126 Can You Really Change Yourself to Change the World? | Upcycled Love Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:53:30 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-4126 [...] recently wrote an article claiming that the responsibility of the Gulf oil spill lies in the American citizen and driver, not [...] [...] recently wrote an article claiming that the responsibility of the Gulf oil spill lies in the American citizen and driver, not [...]

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By: Five Ways You Can Change the World Today « http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3919 Five Ways You Can Change the World Today « Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:30:14 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3919 [...] driving. In his post “How You Can Actually Help With the Gulf Oil Spill“, Everett Bogue advocates giving up your car. [...] [...] driving. In his post “How You Can Actually Help With the Gulf Oil Spill“, Everett Bogue advocates giving up your car. [...]

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By: Audrey Kirsty Hulm http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3917 Audrey Kirsty Hulm Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:59:52 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3917 It's all well and good to talk about reasonable commutes to 'work and a grocery store,' but seriously, where are all the magical jobs coming from that people all of a sudden have access to via walking distance? I think advocating minimalism in life is fantastic, but the whole idea of 'why can't this be done right now' is slightly ignorant.<br><br>This view assumes that all these people are commuting simply because they want to and not because, in reality, they HAVE to.<br>I can't apologise for the fact that if I had a family who would starve if I didn't drive, I would.<br><br>I would love if nobody drove- I have never owned a car in my life and ride or get public transport everywhere. But I live in a city (Melbourne, Australia) that makes this really easy by providing train, tram AND bus services. Most big cities don't even offer that, let alone small towns and rural districts.<br><br>So, in REALITY, people not using their cars is going to help immensely, for sure, but an even more important way individuals can assist in cleaning up this world is by lobbying their local governments for better public transportation options to get them where they NEED to be, regardless of how much they love this planet.<br><br>Everett yourself, even though you've published two books on the matter and this blog, still admitted you 'fly occassionally,' so you can't pretend there is no vastly unsupportable NEED for people to get around if even people who hold beliefs like yours are doing it.<br><br><br>I think advocating people to consume less objects is far more practical than expecting them not to drive- petroleum is used to produce so many things, especially PLASTIC, and as you mentioned, getting it around from A to you is impossible without hundreds of gallons of oil (particularly if you buy cheaper products that were invariably made 'further away' in someone else's starving bound hands).<br><br>A re-education in every age level and sector about why we 'feel' the need to consume so much is what's needed- to boost the individuals self esteem until they don't feel the desire to consume is what's necessary to end this hideous cycle of buy, hate, buy, hate.<br>Necessitating any type of real change is primarily about abolishing advertising, because until that happens, nothing is going to work. It's all well and good to talk about reasonable commutes to 'work and a grocery store,' but seriously, where are all the magical jobs coming from that people all of a sudden have access to via walking distance? I think advocating minimalism in life is fantastic, but the whole idea of 'why can't this be done right now' is slightly ignorant.

This view assumes that all these people are commuting simply because they want to and not because, in reality, they HAVE to.
I can't apologise for the fact that if I had a family who would starve if I didn't drive, I would.

I would love if nobody drove- I have never owned a car in my life and ride or get public transport everywhere. But I live in a city (Melbourne, Australia) that makes this really easy by providing train, tram AND bus services. Most big cities don't even offer that, let alone small towns and rural districts.

So, in REALITY, people not using their cars is going to help immensely, for sure, but an even more important way individuals can assist in cleaning up this world is by lobbying their local governments for better public transportation options to get them where they NEED to be, regardless of how much they love this planet.

Everett yourself, even though you've published two books on the matter and this blog, still admitted you 'fly occassionally,' so you can't pretend there is no vastly unsupportable NEED for people to get around if even people who hold beliefs like yours are doing it.

I think advocating people to consume less objects is far more practical than expecting them not to drive- petroleum is used to produce so many things, especially PLASTIC, and as you mentioned, getting it around from A to you is impossible without hundreds of gallons of oil (particularly if you buy cheaper products that were invariably made 'further away' in someone else's starving bound hands).

A re-education in every age level and sector about why we 'feel' the need to consume so much is what's needed- to boost the individuals self esteem until they don't feel the desire to consume is what's necessary to end this hideous cycle of buy, hate, buy, hate.
Necessitating any type of real change is primarily about abolishing advertising, because until that happens, nothing is going to work.

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By: Gina Jackson http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3855 Gina Jackson Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:07:48 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3855 Hi Everett, I can identify with getting rid of the car, especially today. I could've lost my life. I was on my bike and a woman in her car almost hit me. It was close! It came down to my front tire against her car's back tire, rubber to rubber and a very near miss. Divine intervention is the only explanation for me riding away without a scratch. What a thought-provoking ride home about cars and how they kill people on walking, on bikes and in cars. I didn't drive my car after that and I'm riding my bike to work tomorrow. This town is not bike friendly and it's very hot here but..I'm leaving the car in the stall and trekking it to work tomorrow because I'm happy I'm alive! One would think I would not want to be on the bike anymore but it had the adverse effect. Thanks again for this and all of your other remarkable posts. Hi Everett, I can identify with getting rid of the car, especially today. I could've lost my life. I was on my bike and a woman in her car almost hit me. It was close! It came down to my front tire against her car's back tire, rubber to rubber and a very near miss. Divine intervention is the only explanation for me riding away without a scratch. What a thought-provoking ride home about cars and how they kill people on walking, on bikes and in cars. I didn't drive my car after that and I'm riding my bike to work tomorrow. This town is not bike friendly and it's very hot here but..I'm leaving the car in the stall and trekking it to work tomorrow because I'm happy I'm alive! One would think I would not want to be on the bike anymore but it had the adverse effect. Thanks again for this and all of your other remarkable posts.

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By: BP made me do it. http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3852 BP made me do it. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:18:05 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3852 [...] Buy just 50 things a year. I got this idea from Everett Bogue (you have to read this great post). I hate shopping, I don’t buy junky little stuff, I practice the one-in/one-out rule, and [...] [...] Buy just 50 things a year. I got this idea from Everett Bogue (you have to read this great post). I hate shopping, I don’t buy junky little stuff, I practice the one-in/one-out rule, and [...]

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By: Brenda Menard http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3851 Brenda Menard Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:54:16 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3851 I agree these are good points and I am trying to incorporate them more and more (for example, I just started riding the bus recently & I love it). However, I'm surprised you didn't mention going vegan, which also does so much to cut our personal use of resources. (Going vegan for just two meals a week cuts your carbon footprint more than eating _ALL_ locally sourced food: <a href="http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/vegan/vegan.html;" rel="nofollow">http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/vegan/vegan.html;</a> and animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?ref=mark_bittman" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/...</a>.) I agree these are good points and I am trying to incorporate them more and more (for example, I just started riding the bus recently & I love it). However, I'm surprised you didn't mention going vegan, which also does so much to cut our personal use of resources. (Going vegan for just two meals a week cuts your carbon footprint more than eating _ALL_ locally sourced food: http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/vegan/vegan.html; and animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/....)

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By: Car Free Day:Mini-Mission | Be More with Less http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3795 Car Free Day:Mini-Mission | Be More with Less Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:08:04 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3795 [...] How You Can Actually Help with the Gulf Oil Spill [...] [...] How You Can Actually Help with the Gulf Oil Spill [...]

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By: Angora Bamboo http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/fix-the-gulf-oil-spil/comment-page-2/#comment-3789 Angora Bamboo Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:26:02 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=1789#comment-3789 You could use a lesson in humility (but probably won't take one).<br><br>Also, it's not about the oil spill, it's about people in this world of academia not being able to functionally remedy the problem.<br><br>Also, good luck having a job to which you can walk and living a life in those perfect places to which everyone will magically be able to move. Many industries depend upon oil than just vehicle driving. See below.<br><br>Petroleum based products include ammonia, anesthetics, antifreezes, antihistamines, antiseptics, awnings, balloons, artificial turf, ballpoint pens, basketballs, bandages, bearing grease, bicycle tires, car enamel, cassettes, caulking, CD players, CDs, clothes, car battery cases, cameras, candles, clothesline, cortisone, crayons, curtains, dentures, deodorant, detergents, dice, combs and cold cream.<br><br>The list does not end with cold cream. It goes on including many others as well. Dishes, Dishwashers, dresses, drinking cups, dyes, electric blankets, enamels, epoxy, eyeglasses, faucet washes, fertilizers, fishing boots, fishing lures, fishing rods, floor waxes, folding doors, food preservatives, football cleats, footballs, football helmets, floor waxes, and food preservatives.<br><br>Petroleum based products also includes, glycerin, golf bags, guitar strings, heart vales, hand lotion, hair coloring, hair curlers, house paints, ink, insect repellent, life jackets, linings, lipstick, insecticides, insect repellent, luggage, model cars, mops, motor oil, motorcycle helmets, movie films, nail polishes, nylon ropes, oil filters, paint, paint brushes, panty hoses, parachutes, perfumes, pillows, plastic wood, purses, putty, percolators and various fibers.<br><br>The list is further increasing with products such as refrigerant, refrigerators, rubber cement, rubbing alcohol, safety glasses, shaggy rugs, roofing, shaving cream, skis, slacks, soap, shoe polish, soft contact lenses, solvents, sun glasses, surf boards, sweaters, tennis rackets, telephones, synthetic rubber, tool boxes, tents, tires, toilet seats, toothbrushes, toothpaste, TV cabinets, umbrellas, upholsteries, vaporizers, vitamin capsules, yarn, wheelers and water pipes. <br><br>From: <a href="http://www.roughneckchronicles.com/oilindustry/petroleumbasedproducts.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.roughneckchronicles.com/oilindustry/...</a><br><br>So, nice conscientious efforts, but work on not being haughty to the world. Your arrogance far outweighs wisdom. You could use a lesson in humility (but probably won't take one).

Also, it's not about the oil spill, it's about people in this world of academia not being able to functionally remedy the problem.

Also, good luck having a job to which you can walk and living a life in those perfect places to which everyone will magically be able to move. Many industries depend upon oil than just vehicle driving. See below.

Petroleum based products include ammonia, anesthetics, antifreezes, antihistamines, antiseptics, awnings, balloons, artificial turf, ballpoint pens, basketballs, bandages, bearing grease, bicycle tires, car enamel, cassettes, caulking, CD players, CDs, clothes, car battery cases, cameras, candles, clothesline, cortisone, crayons, curtains, dentures, deodorant, detergents, dice, combs and cold cream.

The list does not end with cold cream. It goes on including many others as well. Dishes, Dishwashers, dresses, drinking cups, dyes, electric blankets, enamels, epoxy, eyeglasses, faucet washes, fertilizers, fishing boots, fishing lures, fishing rods, floor waxes, folding doors, food preservatives, football cleats, footballs, football helmets, floor waxes, and food preservatives.

Petroleum based products also includes, glycerin, golf bags, guitar strings, heart vales, hand lotion, hair coloring, hair curlers, house paints, ink, insect repellent, life jackets, linings, lipstick, insecticides, insect repellent, luggage, model cars, mops, motor oil, motorcycle helmets, movie films, nail polishes, nylon ropes, oil filters, paint, paint brushes, panty hoses, parachutes, perfumes, pillows, plastic wood, purses, putty, percolators and various fibers.

The list is further increasing with products such as refrigerant, refrigerators, rubber cement, rubbing alcohol, safety glasses, shaggy rugs, roofing, shaving cream, skis, slacks, soap, shoe polish, soft contact lenses, solvents, sun glasses, surf boards, sweaters, tennis rackets, telephones, synthetic rubber, tool boxes, tents, tires, toilet seats, toothbrushes, toothpaste, TV cabinets, umbrellas, upholsteries, vaporizers, vitamin capsules, yarn, wheelers and water pipes.

From: http://www.roughneckchronicles.com/oilindustry/...

So, nice conscientious efforts, but work on not being haughty to the world. Your arrogance far outweighs wisdom.

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