[Vision2020] Argicultural, Energy Sustainability (Was Moscow's Growth Policies...)

[Ted Moffett]

Dave et. al.

I pondered a post to counter what seemed like "personal" attacks against
your suggestions on sustainability, but after reading your response, why
bother?

What a great post, Dave!

Now if only we can attain energy sustainability coupled with environmental
sanity, via stopping or slowing development based on a fossil fuel/CO2
emitting powered model, that will wreck havoc on the biosphere on a global
scale, as non-renewable fossil fuel resources are depleted.  I am part of
the problem with my driving habits, and good jobs and wealth are
wonderful... But the writing is on the wall!

I am amazed at the growth advocates who don't appear to consider the
frightening impacts of the fact that the USA per capita contributes more
tonnage of CO2 to the atmosphere than any other nation on Earth, while they
advocate that we continue development and expansion based on this
inefficient and non-sustainable fossil fuel powered model of life style,
industry and consumerism.  Efforts are being made for improvements in
efficiency and CO2 neutral energy sources, but the bottom line remains that
absolute levels of CO2 emitted by the US economy continue to increase, as we
glut on a resource that will be rendered scarce for future generations

Till this reality is addressed aggressively, economic expansion based on
massive CO2 output will only place the extreme costs of climate change onto
the next generation, or sooner, while the lifestyle based on cheap fossil
fuels will be in jeopardy due to fossil fuel depletion, if sustainable
affordable energy alternatives and technologies on a massive scale are not
implemented.

Millions of people on the planet will pay the price for our fossil fueled
powered wealth and success, mostly in the poorer nations, due to
catastrophic climate change.

Of course, China and India will soon surpass the US in fossil fuel use and
thus CO2 output... And if the US is not addressing the problem aggressively,
what convincing argument can be made that they should also?

Ted Moffett, dumping 3 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year with my
below average contribution for a US driver.


On 1/15/07, david sarff <davesway at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hello Kai,
> Some years ago, during the great terrorism scare of the late 1800's , when
> Chief Joseph and Looking Glass were on the rampage and the locals were
> engaged in practicing homeland security. My Great, Great, Grandparents had
> come up the river earlier because congress told the public that the
> property
> of the west was open to them. Not to long after they built along the river
> the family was brought into Colfax for their protection. They were very
> frightened about the situation as the US Army tended to there usual work,
> doing their jobs, representing the country and unfortunately chasing
> around
> and killing a bunch of really quite innocent folks, and calling it a war.
> After the Army got things all nice and secure , setting up some forts here
> and there. The US citizens and my family continued to go about their
> business and exploit the resources as they were led to believe that
> everything was on the up n up.  And you know, not much seems to have
> changed, including people with attitudes like yours.
> My local family stomping grounds runs up the river from the ocean to about
> Palouse falls, then up to Sandpoint and back down to the North Fork. There
> are a couple homesteads underwater and one under PFI. If you haven't
> noticed, the fishing has been real bad for a considerable period of time
> and
> the eels are completely gone. The soil has gotten damp enough that the few
> fish left swim over it.
> Four generations have been in Moscow proper. If you get buried in any
> cemetery in Latah county, you can thank one of my granddads, Clarence
> Jenks,
> for setting up the county districts. He was a Moscow Chamber pres and
> printer for the Daily Star and Queen city printing,  If you meet, I'm
> certain you'll get along with him quite well…His better half is simply
> wonderful.
> He said that the "City with a Smile" slogan was rues. I see that the signs
> have been removed. Kind of metaphorical, really.
>
> I grew up in town and got side tracked by my very good high school ag
> instructor, Kirk Rush. He helped me acquire my first full time job for
> Moscow Implement, selling parts. That was my first serious infusion into
> the
> ag community. After that I went to collage at LCSC. Out of that went to
> work
> for State Tractor with Gary Crabtree. Not much real ag stuff going on
> there,
> but some( and it gets him in the story). Durring the 80's I had and auto
> repair shop in town. Some of the customers were farmers as well as
> freands.
> They always need some kind of help, particularly at harvest time.
> In the 90's I worked four years at Columbia Tractor.
> I can repair and operate just about anything you can think of and have
> worked for a handful of farmers in a variety of different capacities. Over
> the years I've had plenty of experience with the ag community. They have
> one
> hell of a hard row to hoe and I have seen it up close and personal.
> My present volunteer activities include native plant regeneration with the
> Palouse Prairie Foundation.
> With that group I sometimes volunteer work to do preservation work with
> the
> local endangered native plant community ( and the Great White Worm). There
> are farmers that attend that group. We talk about dirt...
> There is a member in the group named Maynard Fosberg who is a retired soil
> scientist. I'm confident that he has the kind of authority your looking
> for.
> As far as my ears and eyes can tell, soil conditions are continuing to
> decline and if you want a good description of soil health in just about
> any
> region of the world, then I'm certain he'd love to bend your ear a bit, if
> you were to look for him.
> Almost all farms are *Not* operating their land sustainably and its not
> entirely their fault. The soils are completely addicted to chemicals and
> the
> crops to gene pool juggling.
> If you want a good definition and read that reflects my idea of just what
> constitutes sustainability,  I recommend reading the works of Bill
> Mollison.
> Speaking of Coyote stories, the Nez Perce Nation has been here a bit
> longer
> than any settlers family you can find.
> I  accept their ideas about how the land (and the rivers) should
> sustainably
> treated.
> Maybe will see you at the spring Pow Wow. We can talk about the land and
> supporting property rights.
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >Dave said "The ag community needs to break its monoculturalistic thinking
> >and adopt sustainability principles."
> >Ummmm, Dave, many of the farms in this area have been in production and
> >passed down through 3 generations at this point. That's about 100 years
> of
> >sustainability. There is a saying that farmers have, "Take care of the
> >ground and it'll take care of you."
> >Please name any other family owned businesses that have been here that
> >long.
> >And please tell us how much time you've spent on a farm or other ag
> >operation.
> >
> >
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