Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pollan's perspective


While Kyle Madsen brought to light some intriguing counterarguments, there is one in particular I would like to address.   Madsen states, “This intense angle of vision may leave out some readers.  For example, I am left wondering why gardening is less effective than, say, converting to solar power.”  As I know very little about the scientific aspect of solar power (and I am fairly certain the common reader does not understand it fully as well), I cannot accurately compare its effectiveness or emissions with those of fossil fuels in a way that I feel comfortable.  Thus, I opted the avenue of a more local approach. 
Not all readers may have the financial means to convert to solar power, but the majority of the population can plant their own food.  While I used gardening as a topic throughout the paper, I also mention other examples of simple ways to contribute, such as abstaining from power for a day or giving up meant.  I was not intending to make claims that other avenues are not effective, nor was I stating that gardening is the most effective avenue for change.   Rather, as I stated,  “The idea is to find one thing to do in your life that does not involve spending or voting, that may or may not virally rock the world but is real an particular.”  This is what I hope readers took from my article, and I hope in this way they feel compelled to alter their lives minutely so that a collective change will take place.

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