ENVIRO(N)/MENTAL/ISMs (Submission:3)...................................................................by Bill Schleizer
"Time, time, time…see what's become of me." – Hazy Shade of Winter, The Bangles
When I was told the topic for this issue, I decided to actually use it to focus my thoughts unlike the previous two articles, which did not have anything to do with Summer or Food. But what a vast topic, "Time." I spent many a revolution of the clock dials pondering Time and what wrinkle of the subject I would subject my reading subjects to (sorry, I'm a bit nonlinear whilst penning this column). It would be the perfect segue into chattering about Scale and History in regards to geological and biological processes that have developed over the last several billion years—and the subsequent ridiculousness of the sustained economic theories formulated during the Industrial Revolution that are mucking it all up. Or, I could use it to launch a call to action, "Now is the Time! Repent your environmental sins!"…But I didn't for three reasons:
1. That's been before
2. I thought that might take a little bit too much time (and effort) to research a new angle
3. I didn't want to waste your time
4. I was feeling a bit lazy
5. I hope, dear reader, that you are already on board with that other stuff. I like pointing out the little things, not things that the media, advocacy groups, and other well-intentioned loud-mouth individuals hammer into society's collective ear hoping that it doesn't all dribble out the other side. I know, I know…I said three things, but I felt the need to extrapolate.
The column is going to be devoted to two things: an /ism/ and a /mental/, of course encompassing that /environ/ part as well.
"What time is love?" – KLF
Anachronism(s). Simply put, these are ideas, objects, thoughts, and various other things that are out of place in a chronological sense. One example: many of Leonardo daVinci's inventions did not fit the time period in which he lived, they belonged in the future. In an environmental sense, every now and then, an idea or concept is floated along that is ahead of its time. These are usually quickly killed off because no one knows what to do with them, how to develop them, or how to turn a profit from them. As I'm writing this, I'm trying to come up with a good example and am having a problem doing so. My own frame of reference can't readily identify a past anachronism that was ahead of its time; this is probably due to A) too much databasing at work today and B) I can't identify one because my synapses weren't ready for the idea. Wait, wait! I've got one. Hydrogen. Yes, dear little Hydrogen, the element that could. What could it do? Well, it already powers the universe, so why not provide power for the people. It was proposed decades ago, but at the time and still today is dismissed by many as pure scuttlebutt. Fortunately, OPEC be damned, interest and research into how to harness little Hydrogen is starting to take off. So this one time Anachronism may find its rightful place in the chronology of things.
I'll switch to other side of Anachronisms—things that are around that belong in the past. One example: Madonna wearing a full-out Victorian dress while performing "Like A Virgin" at the MTV Music Video Awards in the 1980s. The garb did match the time, while entertaining, it belonged in the past. Every single day, I am hit by an anachronism on the environmental front. If it weren't for the progress it seems that we are making, it would be quite a depressing field indeed. There are so many ideas, objects, thoughts, and various other things that government, business, industry, and society keep in place that should allowed to expire to further our pursuit of global balance and prosperity. I have a virtual quiver full of sharp, shiny examples to shoot your way:
1. Anachronistic Law. Many decisions regarding wetlands in the United States is based on the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. And the main purpose of that law is navigation. So not only is it inappropriate, it is completely out of date.
2. Anachronistic Technology. Some of the largest oil refineries and chemical plants were built over 100 years ago. Technology has progressed, and while many processes have been added on, many of the plants have those original units still running (and are working on keeping it that way).
3. Anachronistic Energy. Petrol, Coal, and those dirty Fossil Fuels.
Coherent, Contemporary Energy. Sun, Wind, Tides, Geothermal, and little Hydrogen. Enough is enough already.
4. Anachronistic Bureaucracy. The United States.
5. Anachronistic Environmentalism. Green Peace. Not a fan, say what you will. It was great in the 1970s.
Really, the point is this: We're way behind, using tools that belong in the past.
"Time is on my side." – The Rolling Stones
White Rabbit Syndrome. But in the case of environmental salvation, time may not be on my side. Using the anachronistic tools to solve environmental problems is becoming increasingly more frustrating and ineffective. At times, it feels as if we'll, collectively, be too late. I am defining this as White Rabbit Syndrome. We've got a watch to check the time, we know from sound science that human degradation of natural environmental cycles is causing a whole heck of a problem. And now, we're racing to catch up (well, some of us are). There are many projects that I work on, which are great for improving the environment. Sometimes, I think about the scale of things and react like the White Rabbit, "Oh dear, Oh dear, I shall be too late!" It's quite apocalyptic to think this way, and I really do try to avoid the doomsday attitude (downer!). But White Rabbit Syndrome does exist, and is sometimes exploited. I am optimistic 95% of the time that we are heading in the right direction, we just need to get it done faster. I'm just saying when it takes me two months to schedule a meeting with government officials, it makes me wonder.
Some fun Time links:
- Environmental History Timeline - click
here
- The Earth has been around a long time, geologically speaking -
click
here
- Energy Time Machine - click
here
- Evolution
Timeline: Author's note-evolution did not happen in a line,
it was a bit wonkier than that. But time marches on.
P.S. Not until I started writing this column, did I fully realize how many bad clichés exist that involve Time.