CURB YOUR CONSUMERISM

The United States, with a population of 301 million, makes up 5 percent of the global population, which is now at approximately 7 billion. Yet this country consumes 23.7 percent of energy generated and consumes 26 percent of world oil production, at more than 20 million barrels of oil per day. U.S. gasoline consumption accounts for 11 percent of world oil production. Depending on OPEC and when you ask, daily world oil production hovers between 73 and 74 million barrels.

We the people can no longer afford to wait for someone to save us from ourselves.  Our commitment to more continues to lessen our chances of survival.

Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their planet. Now is the time for all good people to say no to Madison Avenue and the temples of consumption. Wal-Mart, Kmart, Costco, Best Buy, and idiot presidents who tell you to go out and shop in support of war are not looking to the future outside of quarterly profit projections.

We can no longer afford the conveniences that litter our homes, pushing us deeper into financial and ecological debt, and threatening our communities. We just can’t. And no amount of Pollyanna thinking, or faith-based denial, will alter the inconvenience of the climate change.

In other words, we’re toast.

(Bob Nanninga - from "one nation under gluttony, avarice, sloth")