I am curious to know what environmental degradation paddlers have witnessed around the globe. Can you let me know what you have seen? Where is it located? What are the causes? Is there anything being done to correct the situation? I have been doing quite a bit of reading recently by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins. The first book, Natural Capitalism, talks about the conversion of our economy and manufacturing practices to one that mimics biological functions, hence any waste becomes food for the creation of some other product. The other book, The Ecology of Commerce, points out the amount of environmental damage to forests, waterways, lakes, oceans, humans, and animals that the current economic system causes and gets away with for free as costs for environmental damage are not considered even if they are obviously going to occur. As a retailer of canoes and kayaks I am wondering how sensitive the manufacturers are or can be made to be with regards to the environment. How damaging is fiberglass, resins, plastics, etc? In a recent article in Time magazine there was a story on a machine that will allow for point of us manufacturing. Anything that can be created by resins could be done at the point of use. Hence, less waste, little waste, low inventory, low tooling costs. It points out that there is a motorboat company utilizing this digital controlled technology. Anxious to hear from you. I will track your responses and make it available to those interested. Ron Friedman Paint Island Canoe & Kayak 350 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown, NJ 08505 609-324-8200 <A HREF="http://www.paintisland.com/">Paint Island Canoe & Kayak</A> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I am curious to know what environmental degradation paddlers have witnessed around the globe. [snip] Good Lord! . . . Well, it certainly is a good question, if a big one. . . I have witnessed so much environmental degradation that sometimes I just want to crawl into a hole somewhere and never come out again. . . . It sickens me. In Italy, in certain areas, the air was so thick with polution I was afraid to breath. In France, the rivers were so thick with polution I wouldn't even want to be on a boat on them. . . . In London. . . . well, I could go on and on. I can't imagine what you're going to do with all this information. Perhaps it would just be useful for us here on PW to hear about what others have seen. Just generally enlightening. I can report several recent experiences right here on Long Island Sound, NY, where I live. I don't paddle on the Sound that often, since it is so disgusting. I drive hours away to get to cleaner waters. But on two occasions recently we saw medical waste floating in the water, both times near Rye, NY. On one occasion, we saw three dead birds floating in the water, not clear how they died. On that same latter occasion, we saw a large film that seemed to indicate a gas or oil spill covering a substantial part of the Harbor at Rye (a large harbor). Although there are still some oysters living in the shallows near some islands in W. LIS, the locals say DO NOT eat them. You will get very sick, they say. In Mamaroneck Harbor, I often see dead fish floating on the water, which itself is filthy. . . . God, I could go on for days. The "degradation of the environment" is, IMO, the single greatest issue confronting mankind at this point. We are destroying the planet on which we live, the planet that gave birth to us. . . . As far as I can see, we are destroying it at a very rapid rate. (I don't love Gore, but I support him because I think he is a stronger environmentalist than any other politician at that level.) I also believe that a large portion of the people of this country, at least, would be willing to make substantial sacrifices to help reverse this trend. People care about the environment. At least many of them do. But the "market forces" haven't managed to "catch up" to that concern, or adopt to it. Or, alternatively, the concern hasn't managed to control market forces. It's an argument in favor of a mixed market and regulatory system. (And BTW, as a former Ph.D. candidate in political economics, and being fairly familiar with the subject, I would point out that the great "philosopher" of capitalism, Adam Smith, strongly advocated such a mixed system. Anyone who ever bothered to really READ "The Wealth of Nations" would see that.) Well, I could rant and rant. Is this an answer at all to your post, Froggie? Am I overstepping the "on topic" requirement, Jackie? (Sigh.) Sorry. Off my soapbox. . . Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Sailboat Restorations, Inc." > Well, I could rant and rant. Is this an answer at all to your post, > Froggie? Am I overstepping the "on topic" requirement, Jackie? (Sigh.) > Sorry. Off my soapbox. . . As long as the topic is about conservation and environmental issues regarding the places we paddle and is not inflammatory, it's allowed by PaddleWise list policy. Cheers, Jackie list-owner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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