Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust

I liked what McDonough had to say in Cradle to Cradle. The implications of how toxic-filled an environment we live in, with toxins in just about everything we eat, wear, or use, waiting to get out through unorthodox usage of those materials was not what impacted me the most. Rather, what struck me most was the clarity and optimism given to the vision of technology and eco-friendliness living side by side.

A great deal of environmentalist action is dedicated towards, as metioned in Cradle to Cradle, a vicious battle between economic growth and environmental protection. However, this does not have to be so, and in that respect I think McDonoughs use of the materials of Cradle to Cradle to make that point is to thier credit. The point, since I don't think I am being very clear, is that humans do not have to technologically downscale themselves, or sacrifice economic progress in order to pursue environmental protection. It doesn't ahve to be a zero-sum equation. Prevailing attitudes towards relationship between the two claim that we shouldn't solely rely on technological progress to save ourselves from our own destruction. While this is true, that doesn't mean that we can't rely on technology to help us. We don't need to revert to being hunter-gatherers to save the planet. As McDonough mentioned, innovation is what brought humans the sort of affluence we now have.

The only problem with the innovation was that it was poorly designed. Misguided technology, if you will. But in the cases where technology has been successful in making people happier and/or healthier, while not being detrimental to the environment, most people will think that they want to continue pursuing the technological path, advancing our society.

So why not? Let's continue to innovate. But from now on let's try to make sure we're doing it right. One saying may go "history repeats itself," but another tells us to "learn from our mistakes." Let's shoot for the latter, one, and start printing books from entirely reuseable (not reuseable in the downgrading sense, but in the Cradle to Cradle sense) paper, and start designing our lives to be not only environmentally friendly, but economically progressive. The technology that humanity is so proud of should not have to come at the cost of a ruined planet or a burdened conscience.

To say that having the "recycle, reuse, reduce" slogan I grew up with so easily overthrown is unsettling is an understatement, but I think most of what McDonough and Braungart have to say consists of viable optimism. For the moment, I'm a convert. The ideas behind Cradle to Cradle seem sound: McDonough and Braungart are trying to solve our problems by looking at all sides of the equation.