May 2010

Synthetic life has just been created priming us for a bold new future, leading us to believe that science and technology will find answers to all our woes. It may be, however, that such a notion may lead us in the wrong direction. Take shipping, for instance, and the turbulent course it is on in its quest to cut down on carbon emission. We’re all for reducing our carbon footprints and shipping goods across the oceans of the world leaves big ones. As it turns out the hopeful sign in reducing our footprints lies in a very old fashioned method, sailing, or the use of the wind instead of fossil fuels. It wouldn’t be sailing the way Columbus and others did it. Our present knowledge would enable sailing in a safer and easier way, with less hazards and problems. It all hasn’t yet been worked out, but in that old fashioned and tested way lies a hope for our future.

The green movement has long been accepted in just about every phase of our lives, so much so it seems odd that vegan shoes haven not made an appearance before now. Several manufacturers are currently engaged in a line of shoes without leather, shoes with materials that are organic and environment friendly. Some, while comfortable may be ordinary looking, some are quite stylish. There are at present some 40 manufacturers with some 200 styles to choose from. The article I read only mentioned women’s shoes, but surely that is quite temporary. As the idea becomes more established lines for men’s and children’s will soon also become popular.
It all sounds so great—unless of course one views the advent of vegan shoes as part of what one commentator called the commoditization of the environment.

For many Americans, Viet Nam, if not a war zone, is a third world country struggling with the same issues other developing nations are. We’ve heard news reports of its fledging economic successes and many returning from trips to the area report the vibrancy of certain regions. Still it is a welcomed surprise to read that Viet Nam is now helping Chad improve its food security. Chad a land-locked West African nation bordering the Darfur region is among the world’s poorest countries. According to a recently signed agreement, brokered by the FAO’s technical cooperation department, Vietnamese experts will help Chad with activities such as irrigation meant to improve food security. Nevertheless, Viet Nam is now sharing its knowledge with those less developed—an accomplishment to be sure.