Thursday, May 14, 2009

It's about "place"

Thinking about Wendell Berry, poet, farmer, philosopher, conservationist... I'm re-reading Natural Capitalism and in the "Building Blocks" chapter, authors Hawken & Lovins(2) quote:

"What does this place require us to do? What will it allow us to do? What will it help us to do?" he asks.

He also said, "What I stand for is what I stand on" - referring to how we measure what we value - that it can't always be about dollars and cents, but also about a higher purpose.


Every now and then, I'm reminded of Scarlett O'Hara, on her knees at Tara, dirt running through her fingers, and while hardly so dramatic, I understand what it means to feel connected to something, to a piece of land, a piece of my heritage. I particularly love the trees here.

Here's another Berry quote:

It is possible, as I have learned again and again, to be in one's place, in such company, wild or domestic, and with such pleasure, that one cannot think of another place that one would prefer to be - or of another place at all.

1 comment:

  1. Laura, In response to your post on Nature / Wendell Berry :

    Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.

    Industrial Society is destroying necessary things [Animals, Trees, Air, Water and Land] for making unnecessary things [consumer goods].

    "Growth Rate" - "Economy Rate" - "GDP"

    These are figures of "Ecocide".
    These are figures of "crimes against Nature".
    These are figures of "destruction of Ecosystems".
    These are figures of "Insanity, Abnormality and Criminality".


    The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.

    The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature [Animals, Trees, Air, Water and Land].

    Chief Seattle of the Indian Tribe had warned the destroyers of ecosystems way back in 1854 :

    Only after the last tree has been cut down,
    Only after the last river has been poisoned,
    Only after the last fish has been caught,
    Only then will you realize that you cannot eat money.


    To read the complete article please follow any of these links.

    Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment

    Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment

    Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment

    Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment

    sushil_yadav
    Delhi, India

    ReplyDelete