vol 110, issue 18

[HighlandWindsLLC Miller]

In response to Steve Smith's views on our inalienable rights to have access to the natural resources we need to continue our lifestyles, I found a couple things worth noting --1) I do believe we all have the right to oxygen, water not contaminated by outside influences (i.e. industry and non-community users), the sun and wind; I could even be argued into a new view of land ownership that might take into account some defense of public recreation, community garden needs, access to publicly owned resources within defined bounaries. But I do not believe that we have the right to go into any other country that we are stronger than militarily and take minerals, etc, without that country allowing said "taker" to do so with some sort of agreement. I do not agree with the world where might makes right, because new lifestyles will constantly develop new needs for new products, and just because one country (or a few) decides they want a certain product to enhance their lifestyle, I don't believe that gives them the right to walk into another country and simply take the resources needed to create that product. Water is the most difficult of the resources that I believe all must share. If water starts in one state (headwaters), can that one state use it all up, drying up a river that other peoples in other states have come to rely on? An ancient question. I would argue that it is up to all peoples using that water to work out the amounts that all together each gets. Of course, that then gets into population increases. What if a downstream population  suddenly burgeons immensely (a new "cool" place to live or whatever). Do they then get far more of that water supply, putting the upstream lower population at a disadvantage. I would argue that the downstream community needs to figure out new sources of water over and above the original agreement or understanding once their population has gone a certain amount beyond expected growth. But fancy magnets (and I am very for wind power, but I think we are figuring out a new wind system that doesn't require those magnets) is a questionable product. We either have to pay a high price to the country that has them, or design other type windmills, or develop solar, or geothermal, or help the Japanese finish up their work (with our DOE) on cold fusion, or all of the above.
2)  I am not sure I would have characterized Genghis Khan's depradations as "extravagant". For some reason that term seems to reduce the level of violence that was used to quell resistance.
Just some thoughts.
Good discussion.
Peggy Miller


--

Miss Peggy Miller, owner/OEO

Highland Winds
wix.com/peggymiller/highlandwinds
Art Studio/HerbShop is at 1520 S. 7th St. W. (Just off Russell, four blocks from Good Food Store)

406-541-7577 (home/office/studio shop)
Shop Hours: Wed: 11-6
                   Thurs:  3-8 pm
                   Fri-Sat: 11 am -6pm

Herbal Consults during studio shop hours and also on Tuesdays.

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