Green Daily

Humans give dollars to hurricane victims, they give blood to transplant recipients and they give carbon to the atmosphere. Usually giving back to the planet is the consideration of driving only five miles above the speed limit. In the economics of this relationship, the Earth is the co-dependent lover draining herself. Can't you hear Dr. Phil crying out, "Honey, he's using you. You're exhausted. Look out for yourself?"

Well, flip open or point your browser to this week's New Yorker magazine and you might find yourself refreshed. A little island in Denmark called Samsø is producing more energy from renewable sources than it is using. Wind, straw, photovoltaic cells and canola oil are a few of the renewable sources of energy the island has put to work. Offshore and land-based turbines generate enough electricity for the island, what's leftover is sent to the mainland.

Some farmers converted their tractors to run on vegetable oil, and houses are insulated with newspaper. Villagers even own shares in wind turbines.

Are the Danes just generous folk interested in saving the Earth? Read Elizabeth Kolbert's article. The islander's take is that some people saw it as a competition others saw it as a way to be ecologically friendly and still others wanted to save money and even earn some. The sugges tion is that perhaps it is best if instead of asking people to go against their natures and think "globally" and empathize with what they are not (oceans, polar bears, coral reefs and rain forests) we ask them to act in their own best interest: earn and save money, compete with each other, use what's on hand.

[via New Yorker]