Comments on: THE GREEN MOVEMENT: A MANIFESTO

By: javier beluzan

javier beluzan — Mon, 15 May 2006 00:26:19 +0000

I am the owner of a native forest of 1.400 hectares, 50 miles south of Puerto Montt, in chilean Patagonia. It is a marvelous piece of forest with rivers, lagoon and many kinds of beautiful trees, like alerces, coigues, canelos etc. I wish to preserve it but I have found no support here in my country.Any help will be appreciated.JAVIER BELUZAN

By: Raging Bee

Raging Bee — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:53:44 +0000

“Teachers, scientists, engineers, technologists and librarians. They may not be the prototype of radicalism, but they do have something in common: They are all more knowledgeable than the mainstream population.”Your whole essay seems to have got off on the wrong foot: the above quoted assertion is not only unproven, but in my own experience, it is simply false. There are teachers who are dumber than rocks, scientists who have no understanding of human beings, engineers and technologists who expect humans to function like machines, and librarians who know how to find a book without having any interest in its contents.These professions TRAFFIC in certain classes of knowledge, which is not the same thing as POSSESSING general knowledge. Merely to assume that ANY of these professions possess more of the knowledge we need than the rest of us shmoes, will get you and your “movement” mired in snobbery and irrelevance very fast. You certainly haven’t given ME any reason to read on, even though I might call myself a “technololgist” and do consider myself smarter than the people who voted for Bush.This really sounds like that old anti-democratic “vanguard” rhetoric of the Bolsheviks – an example I have no intention to follow.

By: Life Tenant

Life Tenant — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 02:44:17 +0000

I know this is off topic, but you did mention it, so I’ll ask: is your experience with nVu composer generally OK? I feel like it’s time to jump ship from the Mozilla Suite to Firefox and Thunderbird, but I don’t want to do it till I have a replacement for Mozilla Composer, which iss a wonderfully reliable, simple little program.

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 18:22:09 +0000

Thanks for your comments everyone. Rayne: I think he was caught up in the idealism of the day, rather than prophetic — if you’d suggested then that what he was describing would only happen 40 years later, he’d have been incredulous. Lou — this is a great idea. Anyone know who makes them? More convenient and durable than the lapel ribbons, for sure.

By: bart@cwo.com

bart@cwo.com — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 08:11:59 +0000

Good post.

By: Toby

Toby — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 03:59:16 +0000

The Green revolution won’t come out of America. It will happen *despite* America.

By: Susan Hales

Susan Hales — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 02:27:52 +0000

Dave, as always you’re the antidote I need today. Someone sent me an “essay” by John Hood of the hilariously named John Locke Foundation, entitled “Why they cling to their faith” — the “they” apparently being all those who care about the environment, are concerned about global warming, and otherwise want a better world for everyone, not just the “property owners” — A quick browse of the JLF “columnists” told me it’s all the usual suspects, just in another guise, albeit another powerful one. Keep ‘em coming. We need you. Especially here in the ever forsaken Alabama, where according to Out Magazine, 40% of gays are beaten by their own families…none of the gays I know, but hey, maybe Mobile is “progressive” after all. I’m not saying there’s no bigotry here, but there are so many people that don’t fit the stereotype, that it breaks my heart to hear these comments.My point is this: When are we going to stop the labeling and start the conversation? I’m ready.

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:21:37 +0000

Oh, I just thought of another conversation-starter: message t-shirts. There’s a company in Brooklyn, NY that makes t-shirts, sweatshirts, underwear, etc. with your choice of message on them, in the font, color, size etc. that you choose (you can order from their website). Find a witty enough phrase, and you’re sure to get people talking.The site is: http://www.neighborhoodies.com(but there are probably other companies that do the same)

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:12:28 +0000

You know those yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets? Now there are purple ones for reproductive rights (distributed by Naral), orange ones for the fight against AIDS, and many more. How about a green bracelet for the Green movement?The great thing about these bracelets is that when you wear one, inevitably people ask you what it stands for, and then you can launch into a discussion about the cause you’re supporting. It’s a great way to spread a message without harassing people (and as an added bonus it may help you avoid small talk).

By: John Maloney

John Maloney — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 17:46:36 +0000

Hi –Excellent essay. The criticism of the establishment is out of balance. The Democratic Party shares many of the characteristics you describe AND they are poorly organized. Jerry Brown, upon leaving the Dems, said, “You don’t need to live next to the fish factory to know where the stink is coming from.” Axe-grinding about the neocon bogeyman, is counterproductive and saps energies from the only-way-out: a legitimate third/independent party. Maybe they are smarter since they sure whipped their opponents, to wit, “The staggering defeat of the Democratic Party, and its ever-acceleratingdeath spiral weren’t obvious from the election results. Today the number ofDemocrats in the House is the lowest it’s been since 1928. Democrats are onthe brink of becoming a permanent minority party.” - Joe Trippi, Dean’s Campaign Manager, Nov 30, 2004. Moore’s F911 guaranteed W’s reelection. ‘Bowling’ made gun sales soar. Al Sharpton is the poster child of a demented body politic.For the Movement, drop the labels and name calling, since it only strengthens the opponents and their constituents. Stick to legitimate issues. You can