Comments on: Environmentalism in India http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/ News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:32:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gavin Hudson http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-54013 Gavin Hudson Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:57:12 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/#comment-54013 "There is an issue of pride at stake here. Very few people in the UK (and I’m guessing the US) would be proud to be a shoe repairer. We often tend to think that these jobs are somehow “above” us - because we all deserve to be rock stars, and society should provide that for us instead of us giving hard work back to other people." I think that Mr. Simmons raises a good point here. “There is an issue of pride at stake here. Very few people in the UK (and I’m guessing the US) would be proud to be a shoe repairer. We often tend to think that these jobs are somehow “above” us – because we all deserve to be rock stars, and society should provide that for us instead of us giving hard work back to other people.”

I think that Mr. Simmons raises a good point here.

]]> By: Matthew Simmons http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-54012 Matthew Simmons Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:43:58 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/#comment-54012 When I said "above", I meant below...! :S When I said “above”, I meant below…! :S

]]> By: Matthew Simmons http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-54010 Matthew Simmons Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:42:56 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/#comment-54010 "in India, if you have a damaged shoe you can find a repairman sitting out on the street or even if you take it to a shop it will not cost you a lot to fix up the shoe. In the US, shoe repair is so expensive most times you’re better off just going out and buying a new pair of shoes even if it is just one show that is damaged" I think this is a fantastic observation that deserves further exploration. Here's my tuppence worth: There is an issue of pride at stake here. Very few people in the UK (and I'm guessing the US) would be proud to be a shoe repairer. We often tend to think that these jobs are somehow "above" us - because we all deserve to be rock stars, and society should provide that for us instead of us giving hard work back to other people. This was not necessarily always the case. Buck 65's "Craftsmanship" is worth a read and a listen if you can where you are: "And that's it, you treat each shoe like it's special Care about your work, and be a professional ... It ain't about the dollar or trying to go fast Unless you take pride in what you're doing, it won't last" I don't think this is universally true of Westerners, but I do think there is a pervasive nastiness about aspects of society that goes hand-in-hand with conerns over the environment. “in India, if you have a damaged shoe you can find a repairman sitting out on the street or even if you take it to a shop it will not cost you a lot to fix up the shoe. In the US, shoe repair is so expensive most times you’re better off just going out and buying a new pair of shoes even if it is just one show that is damaged”

I think this is a fantastic observation that deserves further exploration. Here’s my tuppence worth:

There is an issue of pride at stake here. Very few people in the UK (and I’m guessing the US) would be proud to be a shoe repairer. We often tend to think that these jobs are somehow “above” us – because we all deserve to be rock stars, and society should provide that for us instead of us giving hard work back to other people.

This was not necessarily always the case. Buck 65′s “Craftsmanship” is worth a read and a listen if you can where you are:

“And that’s it, you treat each shoe like it’s special
Care about your work, and be a professional
…
It ain’t about the dollar or trying to go fast
Unless you take pride in what you’re doing, it won’t last”

I don’t think this is universally true of Westerners, but I do think there is a pervasive nastiness about aspects of society that goes hand-in-hand with conerns over the environment.

]]> By: Govind Singh http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-54011 Govind Singh Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:15:55 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/2008/02/24/environmentalism-in-india/#comment-54011 Interesting example there...with the 'shoe'. Come to think of it, it's indeed so much true...the comparison of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product in the US and back here in Delhi, will indeed reveal striking variations. At the same time, even though New Delhi is one of the greenest cities in the world, the existing revamping of the city..owing to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, and the ever increasing urban sprawl has put a lot of pressure on the greens of Delhi. Regards Govind govind@delhigreens.org Interesting example there…with the ‘shoe’. Come to think of it, it’s indeed so much true…the comparison of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product in the US and back here in Delhi, will indeed reveal striking variations.

At the same time, even though New Delhi is one of the greenest cities in the world, the existing revamping of the city..owing to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, and the ever increasing urban sprawl has put a lot of pressure on the greens of Delhi.

Regards
Govind
govind@delhigreens.org

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