Benevolent Prince | Trickle-Down Recycling

Image via WikipediaA post by Raul at Hummingbird604 started me thinking about how trickle-down economics is really just political rhetoric for tax cuts. The post was about recycling, which, of course, is a long way off from economics. But the theory of trickle-down, where those with too much pass along "something" to those with less, is to me a concept humanity already is familiar with. I mean, haven't most families been using this concept for generations...? We call them hand-me downs.

It doesn't work so well for items with only conceptual basis, such as money, apparently. Nobody seems to want to just "hand-me-down" some cash without some sort of artificial lever or consideration, like "tax cuts". (Unless you consider my own "Cottagist Anima" which has never yet been spoken of. And shan't be just yet.) But what about "trickle-down" recycling?

(I know, it already exists. But "trickle-down" recycling sounds much sexier than what goes on every day at the local thrift store, wouldn't you say...? Maybe it's time for a "re-branding" of the concept...)

"Hand-me-down" on wikipedia.

The point that got me thinking about it was Raul points out that BC Digital Divide will give donated computers to impovershed recipients. (H.604)

And check out the Electronic Recycling Association of Canada. (era) And the Vancouver page of the ERA site. (eraVan)

And according to this story in the CBC, recyclemycell.ca will show people where to recycle their cell in cities across Canada. (Here's the in-depth look at the cell-recycling issue. (cbc)

For a quick look at what other countries around the world are doing to curb their economic impact, check out this Good article. (good) My favourites: kick the oil habit, save the trees, and increase no-fishing zones along the coastline.

And finally, the best recycling program is the one that doesn't hae to start in the first place... Good brings us a list of five Anti-Consumer Groups... because the best way to save the planet is to reduce one's usage of something to nothing, if possible. (good)

Doomed of History: The Arctic

I read the news over time and I start to feel like we're missing patterns and events that are rushing us toward obstacles and conflict. Here's the progress of the Arctic Problem, up to now.

Global warming is both a problem and an opportunity. Scientists predicted that there was a 50-50 chance the arctic would be ice-free this summer.

And that means open waters and new trade routes... and people are starting to notice.
The Americans have changed their northern policy. The Canadians are quietly studying the continental shelves to bolster claims. Plus there's that whole Russian thing that needs to have an eye kept on. So we need to bolster the forces at home, sort of. (Here's a bit more on that.)

But the ice keeps shrinking.

And Canada announces an extension of the northern jurisdiction. But to make it viable, we need to get folks to move up there... but before that happens we need to improve the economy and invest in the region. And we need to identify and defend the resources in the region. Then it's all over the media: Canada is talking tough... Canada is being assertive...

And the ice keeps breaking apart.

But we start building, you guessed it: icebreakers!

Now the Americans want to have a chat about the definition of "international" and "internal" waters.

And the ice... the ice... two words: ice shelves.

And none too soon: the Northwest Passage is open, for the second time in history, and the second year in a row. By the way, want to move to Nunavut?

Anyway. Let's hope it all ends better than it did for these poor buggers: the Franklin Expedition.