Earth Policy Update #62: SANTA CLAUS IS CHINESE! 18 December 2007

SANTA CLAUS IS CHINESE

Why China Is Rising and the United States Is Declining

http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update62.htm

by Lester R. Brown

I know Santa Claus is Chinese because each Christmas morning after all the gifts are unwrapped and things settle down I systematically go through the presents to see where they are made. The results are almost always the same: roughly 70 percent are from China. After some research, it seems that my one-family survey is representative of the country as a whole.

Let’s start with toys. Some 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States–from Barbie dolls to video games–are made in China. Talking toys that speak English learned the language from Chinese workers. Electronic goods–from Apple’s iPod to Microsoft’s Xbox–are made in China. Clothing–from the latest cashmere sweaters to gym suits–is also likely to have a “Made in China” label.

The Christmas tree itself may come from China. While real Christmas trees are grown in every state in the United States and are marketed locally, many families now gather around artificial Christmas trees. Eight out of every 10 artificial Christmas trees sold in the United States are made in China. Last year Americans spent over $130 million on plastic Christmas trees from China.

This year Americans will spend over $1 billion on Christmas ornaments from China. And in perhaps the greatest irony of all, even nativity scenes are made in China. Last year Americans spent more than $39 million buying nativity scenes shipped in from the East. China’s success in attracting foreign investment capital and mobilizing this huge workforce has made it the workshop of the world.

That the U.S. Christmas is made in China is a metaphor for a far deeper set of economic issues affecting the United States. Today Christmas is celebrated in both the United States and China–but for different reasons and with far different economic consequences. For the Chinese, the manufacturing bonanza means record profits, rising incomes, and, in a society where people save some 40 percent of their income, a sharp jump in savings. In the United States, Christmas shopping expenditures, headed for another record high this year, contribute to rising credit card debt and a soaring trade deficit.

Underneath the American Christmas spirit and good cheer is a debt-laden society that appears to have lost its way, marred in the quicksand of consumerism. As a society, we seem to have forgotten how to (more…)

BACK ALLEY TABERNACLE DEBUT 14 December 2007

Today is a red-letter day in Tod Brilliant land. The world may be rushing madly toward oblivion, but my first political piece has been posted on eleven-time Webby-winning, Nobel-nominated, New York Times-featured, Brad Pitt-supported, Cesar Chavez-founded website BACK ALLEY TABERNACLE.

Here’s a teaser of “How Charlton Heston Snapped Me Back into Circle Jerk ‘08″:

This past weekend, my honeybaby lovedoodle and I were poking around in a junk shop on the NorCal coast when I stumbled across something of a holy relic: A VHS copy of “Planet of the Apes.” No, not the recent retread by the overrated (it kills me to say that, but I have to finally admit the truth) Tim Burton. No, the real movie; the 1968 classic starring the Omega man himself, Charlton Heston. At the time of purchase, I had no idea the cinematic powerhouse was to shortly shatter a vow of willful ignorance I had maintained with great diligence for much of the year.

Let me explain. About eight months ago, I swore off all media. This is a big deal for me, as I’ve been known to those who can stand my presence as “Mr. Read Everything in the World about Current Events and Politics” for the better part of two decades. Yet, I realized that with an election cycle upon us, there’s no better time to shut it down. Eighteen months of empty promises and bullshit campaigning I thought I could do without. Until, that is, Heston the lost and ever virile astronaut (as Heston plays only Heston, character names are trivial formality) reminded me of my duties as an American citizen. By the time Chuck planted Old Glory in the soil of the alien world, I was itching to get my hands on a Gallup poll, any Gallup poll.

I never knew that Planet of the Apes was a prophetic film, but behold (READ THE STUNNING CONCLUSION AT B.A.T.)

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See this? Do you really? It’s called a big smile on my face. I’ve finally arrived!

To celebrate, the Police have offered up this obvious gem: “Omega Man.”

PLEASE READ PLAN B 3.0

Please, do yourself and your family a favor this holiday - read Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. I beg you. It’s that important.

Even if you’ve read Plan B 2.0, do this. Enough has changed in the last two years to make a host of revisions necessary, but to allow for a frightening contrast between what was projected in 2005 and what is happening in 2007.

Please. Read the book. I’ll refund you every penny if you don’t find it the most important book you’ve ever read. If you read this site, you know it’s alternately sarcastic, shrill, nonsensical. However, this post is none of those things. This isn’t the ‘blog persona’ typing right now. This is me. Please, ignore the election absurdity and read this book. Urge others to do the same. Come back and tell me what you thought when you’re done.

Buy it now for almost nothing at the EPI Website.

Paris Goes Green! 13 December 2007

I know, I’m likely really late to the party on this one, but I absolutely have to give credit where it’s due. In this case, it’s to Paris’ agent or whomever it is that convinced the media to run with the following quotes and info from Ms. Hilton:
“I changed all the light bulbs to energy-safe light bulbs, and I’m buying a hybrid car right now,” the celebrity heiress explained just yesterday. Further, she said turns off the lights, doesn’t leave the TV on or the watter running when she leaves the house. “Little things that people can do every day to make a huge difference,” she added.

Now, I’m a bit torn on this. On one hand, it’s great that she’s doing all the things most six year olds do. It means she’s growing up and sending a positive message to millions of American teens and celebrity-enthralled adults who still haven’t gotten the “You’re Pretty Much Doomed for Having Shit in Your Own Bed” memo from Mama Earth. Yet, endorsing the notion that turning off the lights and tele is going to make a massive difference is almost criminally negligent.

It’s easy to pick on Paris, too easy in fact. I’ve done it before and feel guilty about it as I have a rule (sort of) about belittling someone who I’ve never met, unless their actions are willfully harmful to others. Could be her heart is in the right place. You decide.

Damn, I must be getting soft in my old age to let her off so easy.

Buying Local Foods: Bad for the Environment? 9 December 2007

A provocative new study by UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture and Research department suggests that buying local food may not be such a slam dunk for the environment after all. Rather than summarize the info, I’ll point you to the New York Times, whose writers do a little better job than yours truly: IF IT’S FRESH AND LOCAL, IS IS ALWAYS GREENER?

Much of the questions raised are ones that I’ve leveled at my local beef-eating eco-friends in the past. Nothing new there. Two great items I’d failed to consider are:

1. If you drive to the store/farmer’s market multiple times per week for fresh, local food, you’re negating your eco-gains through wasted gas. Yes, even if you’re driving a Prius.

2. Buying from a farmer’s market stall whose farmer drove in a handful of produce in a beat up old truck means your per-calorie carbon footprint is vastly greater than if you’d purchased items from thousands of miles away that arrived in a container, as the per-item carbon count is vastly reduced for bulk shipped items.

Interesting questions that need to be asked. Interesting ideas to ponder. Great article. One thing it will accomplish, hopefully, will be to reduce, even just a little, that look of smugness found all too often on the “Whole Foods/Prius” crowd (I’m generalizing of course. I don’t support Whole Foods, but I’d drive a Prius if someone gifted it to me. However, Toyota is a very eco-unfriendly company, on the whole - which is why I drive a Volvo, a company dedicated to the goal of a 100% recyclable auto). This smugness does as much damage to the movement toward a sustainable future than an army of Bush/Cheney lawyers.

Stop Stealing Our Forests! 8 December 2007

Friends of the Earth Europe is conducting an amazing campaign at present to draw attention to and then STOP worldwide illegal logging.

For years governments and politicians have discussed the problem of illegal logging. Now there’s an opportunity to do something about it. In early 2008 the European Commission will do a proposal to combat trade in illegally logged wood. Friends of the Earth believes environmental legislation should require all wood and wood products placed on the European market to be legally logged. Your support is crucial! Therefore sign the appeal to European Commissioners.

Find out more and sign the appeal at STOP STEALING OUR FORESTS.COM

While you’re there, check out the great video footage of ‘urban commandos’ in Amsterdam and Brussels as they plant trees right in the heart of these cities. Ask yourself, is it unethical to plant a tree?
BTW, I tried to post the videos, but YouTube is acting like a cranky bitch as present.

Thanks, Peter.

World’s Greatest Coat by Rag & Bone: An Ethical Dilemma? 6 December 2007

It’s the holiday season, right? I can bend my fairly rigid “thou shalt not indulge overly much on nonessentials” rule, right? Okay, you’re right. I really shouldn’t. We are, after all, consuming the earth right out from beneath, above and around us.

However.

However, I’m a bit cold. I don’t have a good warm jacket. Well, I didn’t until last week when I found this amazing creation from Rag & Bone at Arboretum in Healdsburg. At over $500, it’s not Made in China cheap. In fact, it isn’t made in China. It’s handmade in New York state by a very unique company (check this Men’s Vogue article for info on how Rag & Bone resurrected a North Carolina factory town). While the ingredients aren’t organic, the fact that they weren’t shipped from India to be assembled in China to be flown to the USA for consumption means a lot to me.

So, the question is: Is it better to have an organic product or one that meets ethical standards? That is, do I buy the horribly made Same Underneath (stay away from this company - they even buy cheap zippers, a BIG sign that quality is third rate at best) coat that is made from organic cotton, but assembled in China before being flown back to the USA, racking up massive aviation fuel demerits in the process … or do I pick up the coat made by a company who believes in stimulating local economies, paying more than fair wages and creating clothing that will last for years, obviating the need for more consumption down the road?

While you ponder this, I’ll talk a bit more about my new favorite thing. A classic hunting jacket, it has ‘bird’ pockets in front and back, meaning it can carry a whole lot of extra items in a very discrete fashion. No, I’m not carrying drugs or guns, but a big pet peeve of mine is how many coat pockets BULGE rather unsexily when the smallest items are inserted - not so with this baby. Handmade, expertly stitched, beautifully lined . . . I’ll have to take some pictures to show you guys what you’re missing.

Head to Arboretum (or just call them?) to grab this beauty. I noticed they had one left (size 40?). Just north of San Francisco, this shop is far and away the most extensive ‘ethical’ and/or ‘eco’ fashion boutique I’ve come across anywhere in the States.

Yes, that’s me in the picture above, standing in front of a Helen Garber painting (genius painter, tip-top person). As I’m freshly shaven (I only shave every two weeks or so as this cuts down on razor use and we all know how mining for razor metals depletes the earth, right? See THIS POST for more info on my shaving obsession.), I did my best in photoshop to simulate some growth. Some of you may notice the doctoring, likely only those of you who work with photo manipulation professionally.

Public Routes: December Blog o’ the Month (Hezbollah Pork Farmers Revisited)

No flashy graphics (no graphics at all, actually). No naked women. And yet, somehow I find blog.publicroutes.com to be my overwhelming choice for Blog o’ the Month. Used to be I needed tits and ass to get me excited. These days I favor juicy tidbits about card-swipe turnstiles and solar-powered double decker buses.

CHECK IT OUT.

FYI, six of my past seven Blogs o the Month have ended up being featured in either Time, Newsweek or Cricket magazine. The once exception? The Hezbollah Pork Farming tips blog which I must confess was an odd choice (it was the muddy naked girls that hooked me).

Plan B 3.0 NOW AVAILABLE! ORDER NOW for Xmas!! 5 December 2007

IT’S HERE! CLICK HERE TO BUY PLAN B 3.0!!

In all honestly, I can’t think of a better holiday present than the third version of Lester Brown’s seminal “Plan B”. A more nuanced, better balanced call to eco-action and responsibility cannot be found. Unlike too many other books and movies, “Plan B” refrains from the shrill tone that alienates too many, instead choosing to lay out facts and examine unfolding global scenarios with utter impartiality. Well, Brown is partial to continued existence of life on Earth, but beyond that he shows no political allegiances as he knows full well it will take politicians of every crooked stripe to bring into reality that changes he urges in his writing.

Best of all, “Plan B” is just what it says, a PLAN to move forward into a realistic, sustainable future.

If you buy this book and find it less than 100% compelling, I will personally refund your purchase price. No, I don’t have a lot of extra funds lying around to back up this promise. Instead, I have absolute faith in this book.

Do what I just did: buy “Plan B 3.0″ directly from Lester Brown and the Earth Policy Institute. Not only will you get it before Amazon and other retailers stock it, but you’ll be directly supporting one of the world’s most important nonprofit research organizations.

Divorce, the Planet Killer 2 December 2007

Turns out that fighting over the Prius isn’t just petty, it’s bad for the Erth. Divorce may help your sanity but it will torch the planet.

Here’s the lead-in:
As if going through a divorce was not stressful enough - now researchers are saying marriage break-ups are bad for the environment.
A survey of 12 countries shows that rising divorce rates around the world has resulted in more households with fewer people in them.
This escalates the use of resources like water, land and energy, leading researchers to declare that divorces lead to less sustainable lifestyles.

Check out the rest of this illuminating article (CLICK ME).

Choice quote from above: “People have been talking about how to protect the environment and combat climate change, but divorce is an overlooked factor.”

I feel like such an asshole. Had I known, the world would be in slightly less peril, while I would be suffering stoically.

My hope is that divorce rates will plummet among the rest of the eco-conscious crowd, once they get wind of this. In turn, they’ll outbreed the rest and their innumerable descendants will rectify the wrongs of past generations. Too bad eco-couples don’t pop out many babies. We need to swiflty bring the Mormons into the fold. And the Mexican Catholics. We’ll have Amory Lovins or Lester Brown elected President by 2028.

Am I suggesting that eugenics can save us? Fuck yes I am.