Nov
30
My Two Bits Worth
By Shirley O'Kealey
Five of my undies have just this week lost the elasticity in their waistbands requiring that I either drag my portable sewing machine out from deep in a closet and proceed with all the complicated threading and winding of bobbins to install new elastic bands or else use these undies as five dainty dustcloths. Things used to be made to last and producers were proud to put their names on a product. I could toss them in with the garbage which is what we all are doing with our cameras, tvs, blenders, fridges and all. This, of course, is what the producers are happy to see. Then we run off to the next big "blow-out" at the nearest box-store. Most of us don't even wait for things to fall apart. We see the home & garden shows or the pretty girl announce the latest autos and decide we must have a fresher look.
We are wearing blinders and looking the other way as we speed toward the concrete wall and an ultimate smashup. We have been taught to WASTE, encouraged and rewarded. Waste to the point where all our supplies (resources) are gone and Earth is a giant junkpile where, even now, many of us are scrounging desperately to meet our needs, and countries are ready to war over much needed food, water and oil. Slow down everybody, and start doing what the words on the garbage trucks suggest: re-use, refuse, recycle. Let us also rethink, repair and rebuild. Plan, conserve and share to keep our little earth spinning cheerfully.