Lore wrote:The conundrum is a sustainable future is one in which there will be fewer jobs. It is antithetical to the capitalist growth system by which all forms of human endeavor are now valued and compensated for. Until the very nature of human beings is altered and they treasure the less tangible things in life as opposed to physical property and adolescent leisure, this will not change, or is it likely to.
Who uses plastic spoons at home. We dont go to a shop to buy one plastic spoon. If we did buy disposable spoons it would be hundreds at a time. Almost all of the effort is done by fossilised sunshine from another aeon. So its understandable that we substitute human labour for buring fossil energy. Its less labour for us.dbruning wrote:
When you think about it, we reallllllly need to lose some convenience in order to save a little extra for the future.
dorlomin wrote:Its a metaphor for 250 years of engineering progress.
Maybe so! When you consider the energy required to manufacture the dishwasher, heat and pump the water, and the electricity to run the dishwasher. Not to mention the cost to mine and refine the metals for the cutlery and fire the machine to mould the ceramics- it might very well be a net positive for everyone to stop using normal dishes and switch to disposibles?
Newfie wrote:I heard somewhere that China had banned wood chopsticks because they were not reusable and their use was leading to deforestation.
Urban legend?
dbruning wrote:Maybe so! When you consider the energy required to manufacture the dishwasher, heat and pump the water, and the electricity to run the dishwasher. Not to mention the cost to mine and refine the metals for the cutlery and fire the machine to mould the ceramics- it might very well be a net positive for everyone to stop using normal dishes and switch to disposibles?
Who said anything about a dishwasher? hot water and a little soap? (not being 100% honest, I use one at home)
Actually I heard some companies are doing the disposable container thing, maybe it would be less galling to me if the plastic degraded after getting wet or something.
Main point of the post was my agreement that our society has become really dependent on a complex ways of doing things, and that perhaps there will be benefits to stepping back to something a little simpler.
And I thought it was a little funny.
Newfie wrote:Good grief, lick it and lay it on the counter.
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Indeed, it's why Mother Earth made us in the first place: Plasticcareinke wrote:Yes truly amazing, in only 250 years we have developed something that will continue to hurt the environment for thousands of years, all for less than thirty minutes of use.
However, I think the plastic fresh produce bags are even a greater accomplishment.
vtsnowedin wrote:Newfie wrote:Good grief, lick it and lay it on the counter.
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You might do that but will your wife and daughters go along? (If you have them as I do ).
Newfie wrote:The same thing the Easter Islander's did when they cut down the last palm.
Serial_Worrier wrote:Newfie wrote:The same thing the Easter Islander's did when they cut down the last palm.
You liberals are fascinated with Easter Island. One data point does not mean much in the broad sweep of civilization.
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