From: CFINNEY%UVMVM.BITNET@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU (Chris Finney)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.biosph-l
Subject: Re: What Does Green Mean to Business?
Date: 15 Oct 92 16:05:15 GMT
Reply-To: Chris Finney <CFINNEY%UVMVM.BITNET@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

On Wed, 14 Oct 1992 21:50:27 -0400 you said:

>>  I would guess that the nature
>>of this business was probably inefficient and environmentally
>>destructive and unsustainable.
>
>Chris,
>       It is rather easy for someone like yourself, who would hardly be
>affected by a small business closure to make such statements about the
>importance of sustainability. As a matter of fact I do know of small
>businesses that have ceased to exist due to the inability to  afford
>certain environmental changes. Recently, there was small business in
>Maryland which employed a substantial percentage of a small town. The
>business for the most part was run "efficiently" , unfortunately it did not
>have the financial capability to make the required adjustments.

I'm sure the business which you are referring to was run efficiently
in the administrative sense.  My use of the word 'inefficient' was to
describe a scenario in which the environmental costs (materials used,
waste generated, energy expenditure, etc.) far outweigh the social
value of the product.  If you would please tell me what the product of
this small business which you have referred to was, I would be glad to
to give you a personal evaluation of cost/value ratio.

> Who needs this kind of business,
>you ask? Just a couple of hundred families.

I'm tempted, at this point, to make some hard-ass remark like:
'Shit happens.', but before I do so I will acnowledge the luck I've had
and the way I've CHOSEN to ORGANIZE my life:

-Supportive, intelligent parents who CHOSE to ORGANIZE their lives in
 a certain way.

-I have CHOSEN not to get myself into any precarious family situations
 until I've GOT MY LIFE TOGETHER (I'm 22)

-I am CHOOSING to develop skills and knowledge in areas which I think
 will benefit this planet and the people who live on it.

In other words, I never want to be labeled 'victim' by anybody.  I would
much rather be thought of as 'responsible.' In turn, I am not about to
support your notion that the employees of this defunct business are by
any means 'victims.'  I hope they are capable of taking charge of their
lives rather than wallowing in self-victimization and blame.  CHANGE,
CHANGE, CHANGE.  It hurts, but sometimes we gotta do it.

>I feel that if I were
>faced with the decision to pollute the environment or have my family
>starve, I would choose the former. Besides can't technology, resolve the
>enviromental problems of today and eventually the ones in the future?
>Something to think about.

We do have the technology to help CONTROL pollution, but inertia and
resistance have prevented its use.  Even still, this technology does not
address the source issues, which only people, not technology, can solve.
To answer you question: No, technology cannot solve the environmental
problems of today.  On the contrary, technology has been one of the
main causes of todays environmental problems.

If I were faced with the decision to pollute the environment or have
my family starve, I would choose the latter and grow a garden so my
family wouldn't starve.

Sorry you received this message twice.  I only know 'reply text'.

                                   -Chris