Mari Lynch Dehmler's Profile
- Monterey, CA
- USA
- Writer, editor, and publishing collaborator/consultant since 1981. http://www.finewordworking.com Creator of the HER Helmet Thursdays project, initiated in Monterey County in 2009. http://www.BicyclingMonterey.com
Author's Comments
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Thank you for your hands-on work. Today when my haircutter--Larry Wagner of Capelli Salon in Pacific Grove, California--was sweeping the floor after snipping off five inches of my golden locks, he asked if knew where the hair was going. I was pleased to hear that not only was it not being landfilled, it was going to Louisiana to help clean up the oil spill! Others may direct their hair salons to the Matter of Trust site to participate: http://www.matteroftrust.org
Posted by Mari Lynch Dehmler | May 24, 2010 8:09 PM
Thank you for sharing news of this global simulcast on Earth Day Eve (4/21) and for your thoughtful exploration of the work of the Sleeth family. I would like to offer a point of clarification.
This article states, "Blessed Earth is an educational nonprofit based upon a powerful mission to preserve the earth for future generations by returning to a simpler way of life." It makes sense that the Sleeth family's downsizing and personal lifestyle changes led to this impression. However, having met and discussed his work with Matthew Sleeth in 2007, I did not have this same understanding of what their mission is.
I checked their website to see if perhaps they'd changed course, and they have not.
Their website has a mission and beliefs page that lists six points of belief (no mention of returning to a simpler way of life). These six points include promoting measurable change, conserving energy, caring for the beauty of this world, and more. There are many ways to do this, and the Sleeths encourage people to begin making change now, whether their life is city or rural, simple or complicated! We can all do it, right where we are.
Also, a note for WIP readers in Monterey County, California: all are welcome at a local public gathering to view the simulcast. Details at http://www.BicyclingMonterey.com
Posted by Mari Lynch Dehmler | April 19, 2010 1:21 AM
We Americans have to take responsibility for leading our government, corporations, and communities, not expectantly wait to be led. With regard to privacy, it took persistence, but decades ago I got my life insurance companies to accept as my identification # an alternate # instead of my Social Security #, after I read "Guard Your Social Security Number with Your Life" in Coevolution Quarterly/Whole Earth Review. (Don't recall the article's author for sure, but I think it was Paul Hawken.)
It was tougher to get Blue Cross to accept an alt ID#, but soon after 1993, they finally agreed to my request. Of course, many years later, Blue Cross and virtually everybody has started using alt ID #s, across the board, realizing their earlier folly in sharing SS#s so freely.
The last to catch on seemed to be our local community college. With great reluctance, they finally agreed to allow my 21-yr-old to use an alt ID # a couple yrs ago, and they have indeed now gone with alt ID#s system-wide. (I'd switched our family's own practice before she was born.) http://www.marilynch.com/blog
Posted by Mari Lynch Dehmler | September 28, 2009 11:43 PM
Nancy's son Clark, who Nancy reported in her Blessed Earth blog used just 1/2 tank of gas over a five-month period, inspired me to return to bicycling for transportation. ("We're All Heroes on This Bus: How Clark Sleeth & Ma Nature Inspired My Return to Cycling," http://www.marilynch.com/blog)
The greatest personal benefit isn't the economic one at the gas pump (I fill up my car's gas tank far less often); it's the great joy of bicycling! As with drying my laundry on a clothesline, so many "green acts" that benefit our planet and all life on it are not a sacrifice but a great personal pleasure. Thanks, Nancy, for your entire family's contributions.
Posted by Mari Lynch Dehmler | May 25, 2009 11:12 AM
Here in Monterey, where I've always dried my clothes on an outdoor line, when I do so now I feel my inter-connectedness with people in other parts of the world. Yes, our lifestyles matter. And besides, I had the joy of seeing the starry sky while hanging out a load of towels late last night, and I enjoyed the songs of the morning birds while hanging out clothing earlier today. Drying laundry this way is a great pleasure--my favorite household task!--not a sacrifice.
Posted by Mari Lynch Dehmler | April 22, 2009 8:42 AM