Monday, November 08, 2004
What's the meaning of life?
One the trends of humanity is to invent processes and devices to save on simpler tasks so that we can tackle more difficult tasks. The by-product of this trend is that we have ended up with for more time for entertainment (and entertainment is more complex) then we spend on survival.
What do you do with your free time?
So, here I am blogging in my free time. I've also been known to drink beer, windsurf, converse, swim, drive through the hills, et cetera. In my generation I have seen a new trend that rates the quality of activities. Some base the quality on the emtional value, others on it's impact on the environment.
What are "good" activities?
I mean, if we're going to talk about a globally aware society, we have to look long term. Clearly, consumerism as an activity is emtionally satisfying, but maybe not so good for the environment. I mean I find great joy in being able to buy gear and learn a new sport, or watch a movie or anything else that requires me to consume. Consumption is bad for the earth, every natural process has consumption and production aspects, that is the beauty and robustness of nature.
Can we produce anything to contribute to the planet?
So do we produce anything? I don't know. I mean we've save a few billion trees from forest fires. I'm sure the trees would thank us for that. We've also save a few species from extinction, once again if you could ask the panda, we might get a thanks. What about all the species we've put out of business and the trees we've cut down for our homes. In the end, what is it that we produce? CO2? Plants rely on us for the carbon dioxide, but now we over produce that and besides wouldn't other animals be just as adept to producing CO2 as us?
Can we make the Earth better?
So do we produce anything, and if we do, does it make the Earth better? What is better? Well, that's a good question too. How do we know the earth is worse right now? We have to have a metric, and if you can measure something you can value it. So let's say we correct our "environmental mistakes" will the earth be better, or are we just preserving it for our own selfish consumption.
What do you do with your free time?
So, here I am blogging in my free time. I've also been known to drink beer, windsurf, converse, swim, drive through the hills, et cetera. In my generation I have seen a new trend that rates the quality of activities. Some base the quality on the emtional value, others on it's impact on the environment.
What are "good" activities?
I mean, if we're going to talk about a globally aware society, we have to look long term. Clearly, consumerism as an activity is emtionally satisfying, but maybe not so good for the environment. I mean I find great joy in being able to buy gear and learn a new sport, or watch a movie or anything else that requires me to consume. Consumption is bad for the earth, every natural process has consumption and production aspects, that is the beauty and robustness of nature.
Can we produce anything to contribute to the planet?
So do we produce anything? I don't know. I mean we've save a few billion trees from forest fires. I'm sure the trees would thank us for that. We've also save a few species from extinction, once again if you could ask the panda, we might get a thanks. What about all the species we've put out of business and the trees we've cut down for our homes. In the end, what is it that we produce? CO2? Plants rely on us for the carbon dioxide, but now we over produce that and besides wouldn't other animals be just as adept to producing CO2 as us?
Can we make the Earth better?
So do we produce anything, and if we do, does it make the Earth better? What is better? Well, that's a good question too. How do we know the earth is worse right now? We have to have a metric, and if you can measure something you can value it. So let's say we correct our "environmental mistakes" will the earth be better, or are we just preserving it for our own selfish consumption.
