"Fog Catcher's Harvest Air's Water in Arid Places"

[Jess]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/photogalleries/fog-...

How amazing! I think those of us who live in wasteful parts of the world can learn a lot from efforts and lifestyles like this. Do you think if we had to collect our water like this, we wouldn't waste so much? Furthermore, do you think more of our spending efforts should be concentrated on helpful, sustainable inventions like this instead of all those late night infommerical gadgets that seem to promote laziness above all else?
Perhaps humanity needs to focus more on making the extremely hard lives of people in third world countries easier instead of making our already cushy lives more luxurious.

In your opinion, how far is too far when it comes to inventions that make life easier? I think that's a tough question because there are so many inventions like faster, smaller phones and computers and indoor plumbing that are fantastic, but are we eventually going to end up being able to do EVERYTHING from a chair and losing bone mass while health effects sky rocket and more money gets poured into developing medication to battle obesity to avoid any type of exercise?

[Anna Billings]

Great post, Jess. This has me thinking of Janice's comment on Mike's Forum, The Happiest Place on Earth. I placed a comment there also and made a reference back to your post here.

Yes, I agree that Third World countries have much to teach us. Our bent towards convenience-oriented improvements often takes us away from the nourishing contact of life in its natural, simpler forms. And yes, sadly the easier it is to gain access to resources, we can lose our awareness of and appreciation for our essential relationship to these resources. We end up taking it all for granted and becoming disconnected from the responsibility of our interrelatedness. As you pointed out, we become wasteful.

Your last paragraph is a call for us to wake up. An on-going inquiry worth paying attention to. What constitutes healthy, useful, aligned-with-life improvement and what is mere interference, overindulgence, and disconnection with nature (and thus an assault on our own health). Much to ponder.

[Connie Weber]

Jess,

So good to have you around. Yes, stir us up with questions, those earnest Jess-questions! Love to have you around, just asking away in your thoughtfully-open style.

I'll add in some of my questions, ones that come up from what you wrote.

I worry a lot about kids' health these days. Why do we turn our heads from an obvious health problem: children's obesity?

Why do we turn away also from children's (people's) need to play? Taking play time away is not an answer for how to help students become interested in their learning. Wouldn't you say that time to be playful is essential?

And regarding how we use water, I have a lot to say about that. I was raised by an administrator in the State of Michigan Water Resources Department. Like him, I take short showers. Like him, when the faucet is running to fill up a sink or tub, I'm aware of it; there's a low-level anxiety until it's turned off. And I learned from him that when garden plants or lawns need water, apply it efficiently, not sloppily.

Those behaviors are quite a bit different from many people I know. Most people (us especially in Michigan, perhaps?) think water is "free," like air. Gush it, use it, keep it on, it'll all come back again.

Oh--Jess--wouldn't it make a great school study? Students could explore people's attitudes about water, study whether some change is necessary, and then set up some experiments about how to effect attitude change...

[Jess]

Thanks Connie!
Regarding the ignoring of childhood obesity, I think a lot of that stems from the fact that figuring out the root of the problem requires way too much personal connection and heavy subject matter for a lot of people. Most likey it could get emotional, and that brings embarassment, awkwardness, anxiety and pain (from parents, child, or both) that a lot of people don't want to get involved in if they try to help. People need to care more about each other and not look for a 'quick fix' to everything. Sometimes solving a problem requires getting 'messy' and involved. We need to not be afraid of emotions and opening up to one another, after all that's what makes us human!
Does that make any sense?
I'm with you on the water thing (I did an invitation on water conservation using Graeme Base books). I even take it as far as the old motto 'if it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, let it mellow." Hey, it all uses water! And after you've seen or heard of people who don't have access to water, or have to walk four hours to get a bucket of water (not even clean water), it makes you realize how lucky you are, and want to fight that much more for those who don't have it.
Again, having students study how to effect attitude change involves getting people to shake off their apathy. Lots of people know what's going on, but choose to ignore it because it's easier to just go about their own lives. It's too touchy-feely and emotional to get involved caring about others and their problems. That puts people out of their comfort zone which is something that a lot of folks do not like in the least.