The BBC News carried a story about a New York family radically decreasing their environmental impact. No refrigerator. No AC. No TV. No elevator No toilet paper. No plastic. Mr. Beavan has turned off his electricity, except for what he can harvest from a solar panel.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7000991.stm
Enough for one lightbulb and a laptop.
I’m also interested in cutting my carbon emissions. Organics trash I throw into the swamp abutting my house. I don’t accept plastic bags and switched to low-yield light bulbs along with sluicing my butt with water instead of wiping it with toilet papaer. I even bicycle a little. The city of Pattaya shuts off the E once a week without warning and everyone is thrust into the 19th Century. Candles from illumination and hand fans to keep away the mosquitoes.
The street grows quiet in the absence of TV, but Thais like westerners can’t live without TV. I am an addict too, but this week Sophon sliced my cable and I’m trying life without it.
I miss the news, but my thumb has recovered from years of channel-surfing. I returned to reading, which puts me to sleep faster than a TV. None of this would be possible if my wife was at home. Thai people are allergic to silence and the TV is on 24/7 with soaps.
Peace in the modern world.
For a week it’s okay, but the Beavans from NYC are going for a year.
I wish them luck.
Me, I’m waiting for the Sophon guy to reconnect my service so I can live in paradise on my sofa.
TV paradise. At least I’m not driving my car.
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