7gen Bloc

In speaking of genius, Edison could have as easily been describing a future of electronics recycling as being "one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." There was nothing particularly ingenious about processing 5 tons per hour in a parking lot.

There’s a lot of carbon consciousness emerging. And it’s a happy thing. People everywhere are becoming aware of how daily life contributes to the climate crisis and how we can lower these impacts. One of the most popular is to choose local foods as a way to cut down on the “food miles” our meals travel from field to plate and the carbon emissions that travel creates.

Though it always seems a bit odd to those of us who value it for its own intrinsic sake, the environmental science community has more than once in the last few years attempted to figure out just what nature is worth. Trees always loom large in these assessments. They provide more “services” than you can shake a twig at. And now, it seems we can add one more to the list: Trees help prevent asthma.

The Inspired Protagonist recently came across this 1992 speech by then 12-year-old Severn Suzuki, who with three friends founded the Environmental Children's Organization and raised money to attend the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro. Her fierce speech received a standing ovation and her group also addressed delegates at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

It’s a cool thing to think about.

Everybody loves a silver bullet. Load the chamber, pull the trigger, stop the beast in its tracks. These days the biggest beast we’re facing is unquestionably climate change. And everyone is looking for the silver bullet that will solve the problem and let us get on with Life as We Know and Want It.