Quote of the Week -Waste Not- In Case of a Meltdown

 

Quote of the Week

American democracy will fail... “If it is going to use this power to force the world into color prejudice and race antagonism; if it is going to use it to manufacture millionaires, increase the rule of wealth, and break down democratic government everywhere; if it is going increasingly to stand for reaction, fascism, white supremacy and imperialism; if it is going to promote war and not peace; then America will go the way of the Roman Empire.”   --W.E.B. DuBois.

 

 

 

 

 

 Waste Not

    There is a looming threat to the environment that we are avoiding -waste. People complain about trash left by the homeless. Piles of it strewn about but how practical is it to carry around bags of garbage? Look at a garbage can and see how much refuse we accumulate every day. We don't think about it after it goes in a can to be picked up and poof- gone.

    The waste happens every day. I've seen perfectly good, usable glass jars pitched in the trash like crumpled paper-also recyclable. A mere drop in the vast ocean, you may say, but such small discards pile up and spread.

    Food, construction material, clothing, furniture- all tossed when expired, imperfect or out of date. Capitalism failed to take in to account that our resources and demand are finite with no more space for the cast off.

    The problem is vast. Whole towns under construction then halted to rot. Office buildings empty as the work environment changes, last years fashion shipped to third world countries to be burned in mounds -creating toxic air pollution. People make a living picking up stuff the rich put on the curb and what box store throw in their dumpsters is beyond appalling.

    We already have plenty of stuff. The covid lock down demonstrated this when supply lines were disrupted.

    Sneering at the idea of reuse, recycle and reduce or buying second hand is propaganda from the producers of all this crap. Unfortunately, the onus of reducing waste is placed on the consumer rather than the manufacturers. We have been sold on the convenience of disposable goods when they simply make a bigger mess and ends up costing us more. Recycling plastic- one of the major evils of the modern age- is unprofitable.

    There are things we can do on a daily basis to reduce the waste. I use my own bag when shopping or get a paper bag for garbage instead of plastic.  Since I'm handy with tools I have found ways to repurpose furniture, cardboard and fabric. I've made pillows out of old tee shirts. Food cartons are used for storing crafty stuff and yogurt containers are great as a picnic cup. The longer it stays out of landfills, the better.

     Such efforts might be a drop in the ocean but like the drops, they will accumulate and pay off.

 

Autism: In Case of a Meltdown

    A reader asked if there is something they can do to help when a melt down occurs. Yes-- nothing.

    What people tend to do when someone freaks out is yell and demand the person calm down immediately. Horror stories abound of police taseing, shooting, or injuring people when they are having a fit. Children are punished and locked in isolation rooms. Mental cases are subdued to death.

    All because of extreme response to distress. When someone is in crisis, they are not thinking clearly--apparently the rescuers aren't either. Expecting someone to understand and obey commands in that state is unrealistic. Like someone having an epileptic seizure, the best thing to do is stand by and make sure they don't hurt themselves or others until the moment passes.

    Asking "What can I do to help?" can be a way to stop the cycle when they are only focused on the storm within. Change the subject if they persist with obsessive behavior to help them regain their balance and lose track of the cause of their break down.

    I don't know about psychotics, but autistics are usually horribly embarrassed by the lack of control on display. They spend a lot of energy to maintain a sense of normalcy and are bound to lose it on occasion.

    Everyone has moments of frustration and anger. We need to recognize the difference between genuine despair or someone just having a bad hair day. Treat them with kindness not punishment and they'll be fine again.