I think what the myfootpring.org website is trying to do is an attempt to made us think. To think about how we as a people waste our resources. I'm guilty of throwing away food that I could not eat. What I should have done is prepare a meal that was the right portion. I've driven my car when I should have walked. I've had my heat set at 78 degrees when it should have been set at 68 degrees. I've worked 20 miles from where I live, when I should have worked withing walking or biking distance. I think the people behind the website may be trying to point out to us that I may not be making the right choices when it comes to the way I live. I live in a modest home, I drive modest cars, I have a small fishing boat, I have 7 computers, 2 printers, several boom boxes, a 30 inch TV, a big stereo system, and 100's of books. I leave a light on all night in the kitchen and I don't remember the original reason it's on all night. If I look at the waste I produce, I may waste less. I can't fully explain why, but I know we as a people consume more then our "fare" share. We are selfish and greedy when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of living. The crime is that we don't realize what we are doing. Zealots are on both sides of any issue. When we make light of an issue it shows a lack of understanding of the issue it shows we do not have a valid argument against that issue it shows a lack of understanding and reasoning it shows we are in a defensive posture trying to protect something we believe is our right and in that _we choose_ to ignore reality. In the words of Chief Seattle... This we know, the earth does not belong to us We belong to the earth This we know, all things are connected Like the blood which unites one family all things are connected This we know. We do not own anything, the house I live in will exist when I have turned to dust. In time no one will remember me because they never met me. I can trace my family back to 1849 in this country but I do not know these people, I have no true memory of them. Does that mean I should ignore the people of 2200 when they say they can trace their family back to 1849? Does that mean we don't at least think of leaving them something? Will there be anything left for the people of 100, 200, 300 years from now? Do we really believe that the stars will provide for humanity? Or will the stars laugh at our small existence telling us we really only had 1 chance and leave us to die out? We need to think beyond our door step, we need to think beyond our own existence. If we don't we will be looked at as a selfish, ignorant, cruel, and forgotten planet of fools, if the beings of another world do arrive. If they have already arrived, they have found us fools and not worth talking to. Sam. _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list