You’re Only Half the Man Your Grandfather Was
By Donella Meadows
–January 25, 1996–
“Downward Motility” is the title of a January Esquire magazine article about declining human sperm counts. A similar piece in the New Yorker is called “Silent Sperm.” The press is beginning to pick up the endocrine disrupter story. Of all environmental scare stories, this one really hits home.
Over the past two generations sperm counts in many [...]
An Age-Old Choice Presents Itself Again
By Donella Meadows
–January 18, 1996–
It’s an ancient urge to want to destroy those who don’t believe what you believe. People who think in strange ways seem even more dangerous sometimes than people who cheat, steal, or kill. The latter merely threaten your property or life. The former call into question your identity, your purpose, your God, your whole world.
So history [...]
Ten Reasons to Wonder About the Cost of Saving Species
By Donella Meadows
–January 11, 1996–
How much would it cost to save all the endangered species in America? Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) the chairman of the House Committee on Resources recently assigned the General Accounting Office (GAO) to answer that question, not because he cares about species, but because he wants to rub out the Endangered Species Act. He expected the [...]
Dear Folks: January 6, 1996
Chuck Blitz’s house, Santa Barbara, California
Dear Folks,
This is going to be one of those rambling on-the-road letters, otherwise I’ll find it impossible to remember everything.
It’s hard for me to believe I am where I am right now. The doors are open to let in the breeze, the air smells of sage and rosemary blooming just outside in the garden. I’m sprawled [...]
What Should Be Privatized and What Should Not?
By Donella Meadows
–January 4, 1996–
The other day I saw a cartoon in which a puzzled housewife, ready to plug in her vacuum cleaner, is confronted with a dozen plugs on the wall. Each has a company logo — “Captain Jolt,” “Flower Power,” “Zapco,” “Super Dude Electric.” Behind the woman an ad blats from the TV. “Hi! Crazy Pete here with [...]
