A wrap

I'm thinking it's a good time to bring this blog to a close.

While in China, I was put in touch with the Tao; which recognizes that the Natural Universe flows towards balance; and that our challenge, as conscience beings, is to flow with it.

I leave off, then, with the wisdom of Lao Tzu, from the Tao te Ching:

The world is a sacred vessel. It should not be meddled with. It should not
be owned.
If you try to meddle with it, you will ruin it. If you try to
own it, you will lose it.
--Lao Tzu

Sustainability means living along-side nature...not on top of it. In other words:

Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono

Aloha nui ma'kou

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Invasion of aquatic aliens from outer space?

"Japan, realizing its massive future energy needs, has decided to build ECO rigs...which measure 1.2 miles by 0.5 miles; and ground various alternate energy collectors like solar arrays, wind turbines and other green sources." [Greenlaunches.com]

Floating habitats, like this futuristic eco-metropolis, might go some distance to addressing our own island issues like land use, population growth, sustainable aquiculture and agriculture, energy and water production, jobs, SD research, homelessness....not to mention, rising water levels, predicted by climate-change scientists.

A project like this dwarfs Honolulu's rail transit project...which has been stymied by controversy for decades; and isn't expected to get off the ground for another decade...if at all. So, I don't know. It might be some generations down the line before 'we' see anything like these Vincent Callebaut floating islands in our little archipelago.

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The money-based economy

As we watch the global economy nearly collapse, it becomes increasingly clear that Wall-street type of wealth is an mirage--numbers piled upon numbers...with only artificial value. This may be a blessing in disguise, for the cause of sustainability, because it brings home the fact that the only substantial basis of economy is the natural environment--the Earth itself.

Meanwhile, by way of a fix, the US treasury hands over trillions of dollars to the very shysters blamed for this economic meltdown.

Pretty crazy.

The currency of the future may be fish...and bananas.

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Global Revolution

World Changing

For anyone who still thinks that Sustainability was invented in Hawaii, or that Hawaii is in anyway special in this regard, this should remove all doubts.

Check the upcoming SD events...world wide:
http://www.conferencealerts.com/sustain.htm

What we here is a global movement that is accelerating like a snowball from outer space. If nothing else, we will be swept up in the tailwind.

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'To Rail or not to Rail?'; that is the Question

Within the heated political controversy about fixed rail for Honolulu, The Kanu folks call for a reasonable and intelligent discussion about it. A good question to ask, I think, is:

"Is this a move towards sustainability?"

Here, on my transportation page, I give my own personal take on it; which, I have to admit, resolves nothing.

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related links:

Seattle Transit Blog

LWV Honolulu rail arguments, pro and con

Constitutional sustainability

Sustainability --the buzzword--may be relatively new in our local vocabulary; but the concept is hardly new. Delegates of the 1979 Hawaii Constitutional Convention had a clear image of a modern sustainability for Hawaii and what it takes to have it.

From the Hawaii State Constitution; Article XI, Section 1:

"For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State. All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. "

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The Problem with Sustainability

The old Environmentalists' battle cry: "Use less, reuse, recycle!"; echoed by the 'Sustainabilitists', has an ominous over-tone of "Buy Less! buy less! buy less!". That is, while this may be sensible advise for the consumer, it can not be a very comforting thought for established retailers and venders.

Taken to extremes, it could be the fatal blow to an economy that has been thriving, at least, since the 50s--and which is founded on the exact opposite premise--"buy buy buy...sell sell sell". This is the sustainability ethic we are used to. It seems to have worked...up 'till now.

Read the rest.

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