Dude,
where's yourText: The
Ecologist.
Illustration:
Marc Kolle.
As found
in Sep 2004 ODE magazine.
It's often said that the world is getting smaller, as breakthroughs in communications and transportation make it easier for us to know what's happening in the far reaches of the planet. It's almost effortless now to swap opinions with someone ten time zones away and draw upon information from almost everywhere in deciding how to lead our lives. Yet, paradoxically, nearby places still seem surprisingly large, full of undiscovered knowledge that can help us know the world better. Britain's Ecologist magazine worked up a few simple questions that inspire us to explore the places we call home. As the American farmer and philosopher Wendell Berry put it: "If we could think locally, we would take better care of things than we do now. The right local questions and answers will be the right global ones." - ODE magazine editorial staff.
1. Look out your front door at the nearest tree. What species is it?
2. From where you are sitting, can you point north?
3. How many days till the next full moon?
4. When was your home built? What was on the site before that?
5. What was life like in the place you call home 100 years ago? 1000?
6. What is the source of your tap water at home?
7. When you flush the toilet, where does the waste end up? Where does your garbage go?
8. What spring wildflower is the first to bloom where you live? When does it usually happen?
9. Can you name five year-round bird species in your area?
10. Can you name five edible plants in your region?
12. Where is your nearest farmers' market and when is it held?
13. What public services in your area are paid for by local taxes? State or provincial taxes? National taxes?
14. From what direction do storms generally approach your area?
15. When was the last time you borrowed something from a neighbor? What was it?
16. Where is the nearest source of electrical power to your home? Nearest mobile telephone tower?
17. What is the name of your neighborhood or community? Where did the name come from?
18. What is the farthest place you have walked to from your home?
19. When did you last talk to your postal carrier? What is his or her name?
20. How many constellations can you see from your bedroom window? When did you last look?
Taken and adapted with kind permission via ODE magazine from The Ecologist (June 2004), a British magazine on environment and an important player in campaigns for a more humane world. More information: The Ecologist, Ecosystems Ltd, Unit 18 Chelsea Wharf, 15 Lots Road, London SW10 OQJ, United Kingdom, www.theecologist.org.