Sustainability Weekly Reflection

June 27th

'In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future.   The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.'   (Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983)

20th June

Dirt:  the Ecstatic Skin of the Earth   (Book title, by William Bryant Logan) 

13th June

.....the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created:  converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon.    (Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist) 

6th June

Live simply. A high living standard – measured by wealth and material acquisition – has become the be-all and end-all of modern society. For an eco-friendly life we need to seek quality of life instead. More bluntly, we need to live more simply, so that others may simply live. Any fool can make life complicated; it requires genius to make it simple.   (Satish Kumar, editor 'Resurgence'

23rd May

Every day last year [2009], some 247 billion emails were sent across the globe..... A recent article in the Harvard Business Review entitled 'Death by Information Overload' reports that, on average, company executives get 300 emails a day and workers need 24 minutes to return to work after each email interruption.   Brain-scanning science tells us that our human wiring is not configured for constant interruption and distraction.   (From 'What a lot of hot air' - John Naish - Resurgence May/June 2010)

16th May

The Universe is the creation of the Supreme Power meant for the benefit of all creation.   Each individual life form must, therefore, learn to enjoy its benefits in close relation with other species.   Let not any one species encroach upon others' rights.   (From the Isha Upanishad)

8th May

What to do?  Stay green.

Never mind the machine

Whose fuel is human souls.

Live large, man, and dream small.

(R.S. Thomas)

1st May 2011

Any definition of a culture of peace must address the problem of achieving justice for communities and individuals who do not have the means to compete or cope without structured assistance and compassionate help.   (Mahnaz Afkhami, Iranian-American Human Rights Activist)