Print this page.

Also By This Author

Balance Point

Searching for a Spiritual Missing Link

by Joseph Jenkins

Resources

addendum:
Aunt Lucy's Tips
for Helping the Earth
Now that you've finished this book, you should consider this a beginning. Although Balance Point paints a disturbing picture, you are not powerless to act. You can continue your education, for example, by reading through this addendum. Also, keep one eye on the news articles about global climate change, ecological degradation, pollution levels, and consumption habits. Let them be a constant reminder to you that time is running out. What can one person do? A lot. And when that one person inspires another, there are now two, then four, then thousands. Exponential growth can be a disaster, but it can also save us. The world will not change if we do not want it to. As Melissa Berger stated, "Start right here, right now. Life is short and then you die. You must act now if you're going to make any difference in this fragile world."

Consider your efforts to be a shot in the arm for the Earth, and a meaningful spiritual exercise for your soul. Remember that a spiritual act is one that brings you toward a closer harmony with the greater Being, that totality of existence that Eduardo referred to as the Earth mother or the Great Mystery, and Lucy referred to as the Eco. So in addition to whatever religious practices you are accustomed to, add some natural spirituality to your life. One simple exercise would be to take an hour a month and contact one of the resource organizations listed at the end of this addendum. Do it with your friends, church members, or school. Be bold: pick up a phone and call them, or email them, or write to them, and then learn from them, and act on what you learn. Or get your hands on one of the books listed at the end of this addendum. Then read it.

And please don't forget to enjoy yourself. With one chance at life, we may as well be happy!
Some Basic Principles
of Symbiotic Living
We humans need clean air, clean water, fertile land, fresh, nutritious food, practical clothing, resource and energy-efficient shelter, valuable work, caring relationships, spiritual growth, and fun. When we achieve balance, our lives become clearer and less complicated. Practice an exercise used by a Buddhist teacher. Holding up a piece of newsprint, he asks the students to see the clouds and forest in the paper, and move their minds into the process of becoming the paper: Where did you come from? How many rainstorms did you endure in your lifetime? When we start to think in this manner, we begin to understand our place here on Earth.
Practice the Four Rs
reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse
Reduce
In an ecological household, reducing consumption, conserving water, reducing energy use, and reducing waste is the standard, not the exception. Although American consumption has risen 45% in the past two decades, our quality of life (as measured by the Index of Social Health) has declined by 51%. We have more stuff, but less satisfaction.
Buy in bulk or concentrated form in family-sized containers. Avoid single-use disposable products. Use fewer products. Examine your true needs. Rent or share certain items that you only need to use occasionally (garden tools, sewing machine). Before buying, ask yourself: do I really need this product? Is it safe to use? Is it practical, durable, well-made, of good quality, with a timeless design? Is the product made from renewable or recycled materials taken in a sustainable manner? Is there any information about the manufacturing process? How will I eventually dispose of the product, and what environmental impact will that have? What kind of package does it have? Is it excessive? How far has the product been shipped? Is there another brand that is more environmentally friendly? If there is, buy that one.

Reuse
For every pound of garbage we throw away, we generate twenty-five pounds of waste. Many resources are required to produce a product; its manufacture produces additional waste. Increasing the lifetime of a product is far more effective than recycling, because it doesn't require the product's refabrication. Doubling the lifetime of any product will halve the energy consumption, the waste and pollution, and the ultimate depletion of all the materials used to make it.

Recycle
If we would recycle or reuse all of our paper and paperboard (40%), metals (9%), plastic (8%) and glass (7%), we would reduce our g