Comments on: A spell of inaction http://goodnewsindia.com/pointreturn/online/a-spell-of-inaction/ ...the point is to return Thu, 17 May 2012 00:42:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: dv http://goodnewsindia.com/pointreturn/online/a-spell-of-inaction/#comment-2421 dv Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:44:00 +0000 http://goodnewsindia.com/pointreturn/online/?p=75#comment-2421 Sorry, I have taken all this time to reply you. You ask some significant questions and make suggestions that I have given much consideration to. First off, this: "how about 40 or even more people living off the land, with all the creature comforts that they are used to currently, making absolutely no compromises to their quality of life, and living completely in harmony with the environment." I fear there is a mutual contradiction in this question, that arises out of what 'creature comforts' are. If high-end single-user cars, air conditioning, all the electricity you need are excluded, would the residents be making "compromises to their quality of life"? I do hope pR succeeds and becomes a template for others. But once we become aware of 'inconvenient truths' about sustainability we must be prepared for 'inconvenient changes' to our life-styles. I consider safe and comfortable housing, self-rationed electricity, clean water, air and food, collective or public transportation and access to the Internet are all that is required for a modern life and I aim to work towards providing these at pR. The costs of a project like pR are surprisingly modest. I do keep meticulous account of the sums spent and will publish them some day soon, when the project has passed certain milestones. Suffice it is to say now, that the whole thing will not exceed a upper-end apartment and a fancy car in any of India's metros today- and that, in an increasingly wealthy India is within the reach of a population that would exceed that of the UK. Sorry, I have taken all this time to reply you. You ask some significant questions and make suggestions that I have given much consideration to.
First off, this: “how about 40 or even more people living off the land, with all the creature comforts that they are used to currently, making absolutely no compromises to their quality of life, and living completely in harmony with the environment.”
I fear there is a mutual contradiction in this question, that arises out of what ‘creature comforts’ are. If high-end single-user cars, air conditioning, all the electricity you need are excluded, would the residents be making “compromises to their quality of life”?
I do hope pR succeeds and becomes a template for others. But once we become aware of ‘inconvenient truths’ about sustainability we must be prepared for ‘inconvenient changes’ to our life-styles. I consider safe and comfortable housing, self-rationed electricity, clean water, air and food, collective or public transportation and access to the Internet are all that is required for a modern life and I aim to work towards providing these at pR.
The costs of a project like pR are surprisingly modest. I do keep meticulous account of the sums spent and will publish them some day soon, when the project has passed certain milestones. Suffice it is to say now, that the whole thing will not exceed a upper-end apartment and a fancy car in any of India’s metros today- and that, in an increasingly wealthy India is within the reach of a population that would exceed that of the UK.

]]> By: vlp http://goodnewsindia.com/pointreturn/online/a-spell-of-inaction/#comment-2393 vlp Sat, 31 May 2008 05:39:05 +0000 http://goodnewsindia.com/pointreturn/online/?p=75#comment-2393 I salute your spirit, and admire your courage to involve yourself in this project. I have a few suggestions for pointReturn - I did think a lot before giving these suggestions, because you are out there, doing something that is commendable - and to sit where I am, and just give you suggestions, is something I actually feel guilty about! If you turn around and ask me - why dont you actually do something instead of just giving suggestions, I would be at a loss of words! I would like to suggest a subtle rethink to the goals of pointReturn. If this project is to make a meaningful difference, it is not enough to show that it can support 40 people, who are willing to make compromises in their lifestyle, and can live off the land, without damaging the environment. Though that goal is by itself laudable, I think that is something which will not make a meaningful difference to mankind. I know this goal itself is quite a challenge, and is quite difficult to acheive. But please consider changing this goal to some other goal, so that it can make a meaningful difference - how about 40 or even more people living off the land, with all the creature comforts that they are used to currently, making absolutely no compromises to their quality of life, and living completely in harmony with the environment. At the same time, it should not cost any more to live this kind of life, than it does to live a regular life. In a sense, this project is about a differnt way to live life - but I think if it is just about a different way to live life, people will watch it from far away, and applaud you for your courage and conviction. This has to be a better life to live - not just better in terms of the environment, but actually better, in terms of comforts, quality of life, health, wealth, everything. I hope this project will actually start a trend - not just prove a point. Please also publish all your costs of pointReturn - land costs, input costs, labour costs, everything. Let the whole world see how possible and affordable it is to get this kind of lifestyle. Any upfront investments in windmills, solar power, etc. can be quantified and offset against the long run savings of using them. Like a company does audits, there can be initital capital costs, interest costs, depreciation, tax benefits, savings in long term costs, everything factored in. This is the sort of project that should make a meaningful difference - it should not be just an experiment, or a proof-of-concept. It should be the stepping stone for hundreds and thousands of such projects all over the world. Pls let me know in what ways I can be involved in this project. I cant think of a better way to give meaning to life! I salute your spirit, and admire your courage to involve yourself in this project.

I have a few suggestions for pointReturn - I did think a lot before giving these suggestions, because you are out there, doing something that is commendable - and to sit where I am, and just give you suggestions, is something I actually feel guilty about! If you turn around and ask me - why dont you actually do something instead of just giving suggestions, I would be at a loss of words!

I would like to suggest a subtle rethink to the goals of pointReturn. If this project is to make a meaningful difference, it is not enough to show that it can support 40 people, who are willing to make compromises in their lifestyle, and can live off the land, without damaging the environment. Though that goal is by itself laudable, I think that is something which will not make a meaningful difference to mankind.

I know this goal itself is quite a challenge, and is quite difficult to acheive. But please consider changing this goal to some other goal, so that it can make a meaningful difference - how about 40 or even more people living off the land, with all the creature comforts that they are used to currently, making absolutely no compromises to their quality of life, and living completely in harmony with the environment. At the same time, it should not cost any more to live this kind of life, than it does to live a regular life.

In a sense, this project is about a differnt way to live life - but I think if it is just about a different way to live life, people will watch it from far away, and applaud you for your courage and conviction. This has to be a better life to live - not just better in terms of the environment, but actually better, in terms of comforts, quality of life, health, wealth, everything. I hope this project will actually start a trend - not just prove a point.

Please also publish all your costs of pointReturn - land costs, input costs, labour costs, everything. Let the whole world see how possible and affordable it is to get this kind of lifestyle. Any upfront investments in windmills, solar power, etc. can be quantified and offset against the long run savings of using them. Like a company does audits, there can be initital capital costs, interest costs, depreciation, tax benefits, savings in long term costs, everything factored in.

This is the sort of project that should make a meaningful difference - it should not be just an experiment, or a proof-of-concept. It should be the stepping stone for hundreds and thousands of such projects all over the world.

Pls let me know in what ways I can be involved in this project. I cant think of a better way to give meaning to life!

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