johnhenrehan's Blog

When I was a child in the 70s-80s, the environmentalists/conservationists of that era didn't want people to burn things like wood in fireplaces or burn leaves in the autumn because they said that the smoke contributed to air pollution. Not to mention that the use of wood and other natural products were depleting the country's reserviors. So using natural fibers, like wood pulp for paper grocery bags, was discouraged in order for conservation.

It's kind of ironic that the efforts to "save the planet" by conserving natural products has contributed to its environmental deterioration. And that we are once again being asked to use the natural products we were encouraged to conserve about 30 years ago.

Starr, I'm sure you remember that. Don't use paper bags because we need to save the trees, so use plastic instead. Don't burn trash because it contributes to air pollution. Don't burn leaves in the fall because it contributes to air pollution.

So everyone switched to plastic, stopped burning trash and leaves, and the landfills began to fill up.

Even more ironic, I was thumbing through a magazine like Ladies Home Journal or Better Homes over the weekend. There was a feature article in it on how to be more environmentally friendly by re-using items for other things. Their example was to use empty cans or glass jars as pencil holders or holders for small items like paper clips, etc. rather than buying those items.

I wonder when we'll be able to incinerate leaves and trash again?

Don't worry, they will find a way to outlaw them or charge an arm and a leg to get the pellets. We will have to learn that the free market is not beneficial to the consumer.

I am with you there John, also loved to go up to Christmas tree bonfires.

"Not to mention that the use of wood and other natural products were depleting the country's reserviors"

Wood is a renewable resourse.What part of renewable is it that these stupid hippie freaks just don't get?
I've told this before and it deserves telling again.I once knew a fellow who worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and traveled all over the country telling young school kids all about how natural resources were used.
Once is a school in NJ he was explaining to the kids how lumber companies replant more trees than they cut.Of course in the usually liberal Nazi modus they asked him to leave the school.Apparently cutting wood and anyone who does it is evil train of thought prevails and offering evidence to the contrary is met with the usual Nazi style censorship.

Mountaineerfan, you forgot to mention how the lumber companies use selective cutting as well.
Instead of the old level the forest mind set.

Just yesterday, another fuel, ethanol, well they now say the nitrogen in the fertilizer is killing the waterlife, dead zones, IIRC, oxygen-depletion. We all need to consult the Periodic Table of Elements?

About trees, I don't know what's so great about old trees. I thought they cause lots of wild fires. They just rreplaced old trees where I live and it's wonderful. I can see more of the area and what's going on. After all corn grows on stalks and we cut them down for food and fuel.