Topics
9 Comments
-
Re: the down side of flourescent bulbs and cfl's
2008-07-09 13:50:30 UTC
I have not found a problem like this. I think it is an "urban legend" spread by incandescent light manufacturers. I have been using CFLs in my closets for 5 years, they have yet to burn out.
Bob Waldrop,
OKC www.energyconservationinfo.org
-
Re: Sustainable foods course
2008-06-26 16:17:05 UTC
Sustainable foods courseOne resource would be the local food coop movement, which is starting food cooperatives that only sell local foods. General information: http://www.oklahomafood.coop/local-food-system.php Directory of local food coops and organizing campaigns http://www.oklahomafood.coop/otherstates.php Information about our software which we make available to start-up local food coops under the General Public License system, free of charge http://www.localfoodcoop.org/
Bob Waldrop,
president and general manager
Oklahoma Food Cooperative
www.oklahomafood.coop -
Re: We'll Save the Planet Only if We're Forced To
2008-02-24 07:46:46 UTC
Individual efforts lend authenticity to advocacy, in the eyes of both the public and government officials. When I speak with a government official, I speak with some "authority" because of the various actions I have taken in my own life -- e.g. founding a food coop that only sells local foods, superinsulating my house, growing 100 different varieties of useful or edible plants on my former lawns, etc. People are attracted by that example, and as they change their own lives, they also become more effective advocates for political change. Further, reality is much more complex than Mr. Hari suggests. It is common in this era to think that "politics is everything" and that culture/religion/society/economics are totally subordinate to the political. But that is not an accurate description of reality. As is often the case, the answer is not "either-or", but rather "both-and". My urban ag and food coop efforts detract not a single moment from my political advocacies, which are many. If the government saves the planet, it will only be because We the People got out in front and led our "leaders" to the table and forced them to sit down and do something useful. You can't lead from the front if there is no difference between your personal lifestyle and the lifestyles of the greedy and highly consumptive.
Bob Waldrop,
president
Oklahoma Food Cooperative
www.oklahomafood.coop
www.energyconservationinfo.org -
Re: Surveying Our Group's Sustainability Mindsets
2007-12-09 13:44:58 UTC
If you wanted to have a conversation on this subject, you wouldn't use emotionally laden terms like "fearful" to describe those who disagree with you or have a different position. The fact that many others use this term is simply indicative of the low state of public conversation these days. I would hope that this group would have a bit higher level of conversation. The limited participation of group members in your survey suggests that I may not be the only person who feels this way about your rhetoric. Personally, I invest little time and effort in trying to "convert" people to a particular way of thinking. I tend to invest my time and effort in useful activities that contribute to long-term sustainability.
Bob Waldrop, OKC
www.bettertimesinfo.org
www.energyconservationinfo.org
www.oklahomafood.coop
[email protected]
-
Re: Surveying Our Group's Sustainability Mindsets
2007-12-07 17:37:47 UTC
Well, it doesn't seem like much of a survey to me, it's more of a sermon in favor of your position. Those who disagree with you are "fearful", those who agree with you are "hopeful". If only the universe were so simple!
Bob Waldrop,
Oklahoma City
-
Re: encouraging cloth nappies
2007-10-17 08:12:09 UTC
AFAIK, one of the main advantages of diapers from the parents' viewpoint is that the kids potty train earlier, sometimes several months. Or so my parent friends who have transitioned from disposables to diapers tell me. They all think that is a major benefit.
Bob Waldrop, OKC -
Best Practices for Healing Historical Wounds?
2007-08-07 10:52:12 UTC
Here in Oklahoma City, the government has historically used eminent domain to destroy low income neighborhoods and convert the land to the uses of non-low income people (e.g., freeways to bring commuters from upscale suburbs to downtown, upscale housing and shopping, etc.). This has harmed many people and created lingering sentiments of resentment, fear, and hostility. I am wondering if there are other areas that have faced similar situations that have developed ways to deal with these externalities of urban renewal, and if so, what would those best practices be?
Bob Waldrop,
Oklahoma City
-
Re: church-related programs
2007-05-06 07:10:15 UTC
We aren't a church, but we are a religious organization. We deliver food to people in need who don't have transportation. We also promote organic gardening, organize the planting of fruit and nut trees and bushes, sponsor permaculture workshops (occasionally), distribute energy conservation flyers in the bags of groceries we give out, and every two or three years publish "Better Times: An Almanac of Useful Information", in tabloid newspaper format and give it out free of charge, mostly in bags of groceries given to people in need (2004 press-run was 10,000 copies). The text of the most recent almanac (2004) is at http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004index.htm . The texts of our most recent winter and summer flyers are at http://www.energyconservationinfo.org/2006noacokc.htm and www.energyconservationinfo.org/printwarmth.pdf
.. Note that some of this information is climate-specific to central Oklahoma (hot summers with humidity, moderate winters with the occasional spring tornado/extreme weather)and the orientations are for buildings in the Northern Hemisphere. We also helped start the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, which operates an internet-based ordering system and a volunteer delivery system that makes it easy for people in cities to buy food directly from local farmers. In April 2007, gross sales were $36,500, operating expenses were about $3,600 (392 orders for 17 pickup sites).
See www.oklahomafood.coop . This is probably late news for people here, but we are having an workshop for local food cooperative organizers May 17-19 here in Oklahomia City. http://www.oklahomafood.coop/2007workshop.php . Thus far people are coming from Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Massachusetts. Registration deadline is May 10th. We also participate politically by encouraging support for mass transit, organizing campaigns against proposals to cut bus service
Bob Waldrop
Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House
www.justpeace.org
Oklahoma Food Cooperative
www.oklahomafood.coop -
Re: Transport of Energy
2007-05-06 07:09:51 UTC
Regarding solar. . . most people tend to think of using solar power to make electricity, but biofuels are also a way to convert the sun's energy into fuel made from plants that can be transported and used. They aren't a panacea, but they have an important role to play.
Bob Waldrop
Oscar Romero
Catholic Worker House in Oklahoma City
www.energyconservationinfo.org
see also www.oksustainability.org
0 Recommends
You haven't saved any recommendations.
Messaging 0 colleagues