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Quality of Life

"We are becoming victims of our own selective ignorance."

As the world becomes more concerned with the quality of life issues related to environmental damage, more and more cities around the world are embracing technology designed to reduce pollution of the air, water, and soil. For example:

I have heard numerous statements made about the disconnection of our communities.  People who have nobody to talk to, end up going to therapy and sitting in front of the TV.  This can be reflected in the popularity of such shows as 'Friends'.  When people feel afraid to spend time in the front yard, or take a walk down the street, it becomes impossible to make even a superficial connection with one's neighbors.  For you who are reading this page, how many people do you say hello to on the way to work?  How many of you know the name of the person who delivers your mail?  The answer is as predictable as the morning traffic report.  The best and most successful way to break down the aura of fear which has permeated our country (even before 2001), is to simply take a walk.  Go outside and say hello to the neighbors.  By doing this every day (even if the weather is a little uncomfortable) you begin to build a rapport with people you never would have known otherwise.  You learn about your neighborhood and what makes it comfortable or uncomfortable.  This connection to place was common around the world until about 1950.  Through the latter half of the 20th century Americans have continued to become disconnected until it is now virtually impossible to enjoy something as simple as a block party.  But YOU can change this.  YOU can break the spell and turn this trend around.  So get out there and take a walk.

Many commentaries have been offered, stating that our hard work has provided Americans with the highest quality of life ever known. However this would neglect certain discomforting facts. The World Disasters Report said 1998 was the most destructive year on record, much of it due to inappropriate ecological practices. Large scale weather-related destruction is becoming more and more commonplace even in climates which have been previously benign. The International Federation of Red Cross has reported that we are currently entering a new era of "super-disasters.(1) For example, in the 1960s the average was 16 "large" weather-related disasters annually in the world. Now, the average is 72. The combined insured losses, corrected for inflation, have jumped from $7 billion to more than $90 billion. (2)  In addition to this we have also endured the highest levels of obesity, clinical depression, murder (including accidental shootings) and vehicle homicide.

It is clear that the American lifestyle cannot be maintained at it's current consumption rate. While we may be the world's single remaining superpower, our country does not manage to provide the quality of life that Canada, and much of Europe enjoy.  We have large and beautiful houses, however we become sick from the fumes created by poor quality artificial materials.  While in other parts of the world, poor countries create buildings that are works of art from humble materials like straw, clay, and raw wood. (3) While most people believe that our technological prowess has provided a world in which we can 'have it all,' it is becoming increasingly obvious that the negative effects of technology are causing more harm than good. (4)

Increasingly, Americans today are aware, even if superficially, of the escalating strife, poverty, and pollution. However they simply don't feel that they can make a difference as 'mere individuals.' My efforts with regards to this publication is to stress that we each make daily choices which can have a positive or negative impact on the planet and on our children. For example when you buy a burger at the drive thru, you are choosing to; consume food that requires 8 lbs. of grain and 2500 gallons of water, consume nearly a pound of wrappers and napkins destined for the garbage, and increase your chances of a heart attack (currently the second highest cause of death for middle age Americans). You could instead choose to go to a grocery store and consume vegetables and grains. As another example most of our houses are minimally insulated against heat loss. Americans tend to feel that the cost to properly insulate is too expensive. They therefore spend ever increasing amounts on heating and air-conditioning. If that money was put towards highly insulative walls and windows the expense would be regained within 5-7 years.(see the Low Energy Buildings page).

Finally, we are daily bombarded with advertisements from television, radio, and billboards which encourage us to save money by purchasing. As one friend stated, "America is the only country where you can go broke saving money." The days between Thanksgiving and New Years have become a frantic buying frenzy for consumers and a nail biting marketing craze for store owners. The pressure becomes so intense that a woman was recently trampled during a holiday sale at Walmart. (5)