This month the Environmental Book Club discussed “The Extravagant Gesture: Nature, Design, and the Transformation of Human Industry” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart (the authors of Cradle to Cradle ). The authors argue that the conventional environmental wisdom of limiting consumption is insufficient. They write, “Using fewer resources, people may feel a bit ‘less bad’, but no one can quite slip the trap of being merely a ‘consumer’ in a world of poorly designed, toxic products.”
Instead, they argue, through design, industry can be transformed to echo nature. In nature, everything that is produced is a nutrient for more production, and nothing is wasted. The essay describes industries where products (cars, carpets) are already being designed to be reclaimed and constantly re-incorporated into new products. In addition to industry, the authors go on to describe how good design can be applied to towns and communities and even the process of Globalization.
The story the authors told was one of hope, inspiration, and infinite possibility-a refreshing change from the usual environmental emphasis on limits. One member commented, "For once, someone wasn't saying we have to go back-we can go forward!" We agreed that human capacity to invent is immense, but most of us had some skepticism-how would it really work? Why hasn't this approach been taken more often? We generally agreed that people will tend to do things the cheap and easy way, and yet as landfills reach capacity and products like oil become scarce, there will be an increasing economic incentive to design products to be continually reclaimed.
We also talked about the role of regulation. If corporations are not responsible for the waste they generate, they have no motivation to design good products. In fact, they have the opposite motivation-the faster things break, the sooner people will buy more. However, if we require corporations to take back broken/worn out products, they will respond by making products to last and to be reclaimed. We brought up the RI E-waste Producer Responsibility Act, which is designed to do just that. Learn more about the bill and let your representatives know what you think!
A very interesting discussion, and we look forward to the next meeting, below:
 MAY READING: Sippewissett: Or, Life on a Salt Marsh by Tim Travers. "A biography of the famous New England salt marsh, interweaving science, history, and memoir." For more info. click here.
BRISTOL
Tuesday, May 20, 7-8:30 pm
Audubon's Environmental Education Center
Directions: http://www.asrieec.org/directions.htm
SMITHFIELD
Wednesday, May 21, 7-8:30 pm
Audubon's Powder Mill Ledges Refuge
Directions: http://www.asri.org/pml.htm
Don't forget, Barrington Books has a 20% discount for all our Book Club selections! Just let them know you're part of the Audubon Environmental Book Club to get the discount.
Barrington Shopping Center
184 County Rd., Barrington, RI 02806
Tel 401 245-7925, Fax 401 245-6470
Mon-Fri 9-9, Sat 9-6, Sun 10:30-6
See you next time.
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