Interview with David W. Orr What is the purpose of education? What exactly are we trying to achieve by sending kids to school for twelve years? Dr. David Orr, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College, sees a direct connection between how we teach children and the disastrous impacts of our dependence on fossil fuels. A pioneer in the ecological literacy movement, he believes that all education should be ecologically based, from the design of the campus to the curriculum itself. “All education is environmental education,” says Orr. “Students either learn that they are a part of or apart from the natural world.” He points out that some of…
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The Mysteries of Recycling:
Part I Understanding the Problem What’s so mysterious about recycling? We dutifully put our waste paper, cardboard, empty cans, plastic containers, and glass jars into our recycle containers and then set them at the curb. Some of the more conscientious of us even give some thought to the rules for what can be recycled and how it should be sorted. Others don’t. Then we all go about our daily lives thinking that we are building a more sustainable world by turning our waste into someone else’s treasure. Seems simple enough. Ah, if only that were true. Historical Perspective Recycling, as we think of it today, didn’t come into existence until…
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Studded Tires
Studded tires have bothered me for years. The driving on ruts, the road noise, the dangerous hydroplaning, and the costs to repair the roads are all concerns for me. As a citizen activist, I contacted my legislator and the Oregon Department of Transportation, but couldn’t get any justifiable answers as to why studded tires are still legal. According to an Oregon legislative fact sheet, only 10 percent of drivers use studded tires west of the Cascades, yet they cut road life by 50 percent. They were banned in Minnesota in the 1970s and if any state has winter weather, its Minnesota. The more research I did, the more I learned…
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Inner (tube) Beauty
Artful Accessories from Recycled Bicycle Inner Tubes When Julia Garretson looks at bicycle inner tubes, she sees jewelry. When others look at her jewelry, they see- well… Jewelry. As a member of Portland’s Trillium Artisan Etsy Team, Julia is one of several local artisans dedicated to using recycled materials in her work. The end result is a wonderful collection of handmade paper and jewelry that she markets locally as well as online. Having grown up in Massachusetts, the clever craftswoman brought her passion for making things with her hands to Portland. Here, she graduated from Oregon College of Art and Craft with a degree in metalsmithing. The talented artist forges,…
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Simplicity Is the Way
When I started my journey beyond the borders of my upbringing, I learned that simplicity was the way. I built a cabin on the back of a flatbed truck with a six-cylinder engine. You know, the kind of engine where you could see the parts and knew what they did. I found my way to a cabin in a canyon with a spring, a cow and an outdoor shower. I learned to make bread in a wood cook stove, to churn butter and raise honeybees. I went to work and came home tired from a day well spent on producing something tangible. I know simplicity is the way, but like…
