Best Regards
Vish

Is Dave’s house too large for someone claiming to be environmentally conscious? Yes, i’m inclined to agree that it is. Although the bathroom is not actually as large as the picture makes it look.

However, does throwing your judgments at him do any good? I doubt it. Judgmentalness of that sort gives environmentalists a bad rep and i think it actually gets in the way of people changing their behavior. Notice Dave’s response, a typical liberal defensiveness–not surprising. Did you expect him to break his lease and move based on your insight? If not, then why frame it that way?

Life in “1st world” nations in the 21st century is complex, and especially so for people who do genuinely care for the planet, as Dave does. We are none of us free of the taint of destruction, of complicity. I lead a simpler life than Dave: i eat at home more, cook from scratch, take pride in bicycling and in having never owned a personal car, travel less often on airplanes. I lived for years with an 8×12′ room as my only personal space, and over time edged up to a 20′ yurt, and now more than that. But i have no illusions that i am not participating in the killing of the planet–all of us are, you too.

I honor your pain for the natural world. You feel it, i feel it, Dave feels it, i think on some level every creature alive now feels it, whether they are consciously aware of it or not. Amid that pain, we do the best we can to find joy; Dave saw that location on top of the hill and fell in love. Had it been a one-room house, i honestly think he’d have signed the lease just as happily–in fact probably more happily. If you think he should change, i suggest you find ways to reach out with more care.

Sincerely,

–Tree

1. I didn’t build the house, nor would I. The worst thing we can do for the environment right now is to build yet more houses, including “environmentally-conscious” ones. This house was sitting empty. I’m just renting it.
2. I am only occupying a small part of the space, and the heat in the rest is turned off. Lights are turned off whenever they’re not in use.
3. The house will be used for brainstorming and Open Space sessions to try to address some of the intractable problems Canada and the world are facing.
4. I am already active in the (substantial) Making Bowen Green movement here, making a positive difference in local ways that actually do make a difference.
5. I buy local, used and organic whenever possible. I bicycle and use public transport exclusively — I’m finally “car-free”.

So I don’t feel I need to apologize for living here. Just sayin’.

Don’t you think your house is tad too large for a person claiming to be environmentally conscious? After all, your bathroom alone would be able to house a family of 3 in Western Europe (maybe a family of 6 in China). But oh no – this eden alright. Just think if everyone on this planet shared in your image of eden…. That’s right, there would be no room for deer, birds, etc, but most importantly – no room for heaven bound Dave.
Not to be too condescending, but, in one word….

Pathetic.

All the best in your new home, Dave. It will be good to visit one day.