What we need and what we want again
I have participated in a Franciscan Pilgrimage movement which emphasizes more love to nature and more love to simple life. I feel it is very rewarding.
During the trip, I talked with a friend Gunner who is an engineer in heap pump. He said he is building a ecological house for himself. That is he will use much of the natural sun and underground heat to warm his house.
He will build a small house inside his big house. For example, the house is 150 square meters, he will build a 90 square meter house so that the house will be warm enough in winter while the middle land can be a warehouse.
He will use a bit alcohol and water for his heating system in a way, it will save a lot of electricity.
He said in Linkkoping, a city of Sweden, all the public bus uses methane as its fuel. And the waste incineration can be enough for heat supply in the country.
He said due to the severe pollution in the process of bleaching toilet paper, the factories nowadays simply don't bleach toilet paper. That's why all the toilet paper in Sweden is a bit yellow, but not pure white. The reason is that it lacks the last procedure, to bleach it. But in this way, it saves a lot of energy and resources and good for environment.
In England, people suggests we use common paper for toilet paper, it's not a bad idea. It's very practical and very good.
During this movement, participants will take their own luggage, a backpacker's stuff such as sleeping bags, rice bowl, water bottle, a stick, a book and other small things and clothes for a week. People pay a small amount of fees which is used for food.
Mostly, the movement take place in Europe, so far in England, Spain, Germany and France.
It's usually arranged by host countries about routes and map. And this group of people will have one or two leaders so that all the logistics and programs will be implemented during the walk.
Usually, people take turns to prepare food and clean the dishes. It is all on the volunteer basis. The route of walk is usually very beautiful, not too difficult, nor too easy as it might go across the forests and rivers.
I said it is like long march in China. The difference is that this is designed, but not forced. This is well prepared and people walk within their capacity during the day. And in the process, people share their views and experiences and make friends. In the end, people have a thorough relaxation from them noisy city to retreat in the country. They are closer to God, to earth and to nature.
As the modern industrialization has driven people crazy. People are driven by profit orientation like a real machine. But human beings are not machine. Therefore, a reflection is needed and many people suggest a new healthy life style should be promoted.
Recalling the past, I think working 6 hours a day for an academic or technical worker should be a good time frame. I feel 8 hours are a bit too long. Traditionally, 8 hours won't be a problem because people live near work or not far even by public transport or car. Traffic jam was not a big problem.
But now many people have to travel more than 3 hours for work, plus 8 hours, it will be 11 or 12 hours for work. If one does this everyday, it is a bit too much.
I know many people manage to do this, but many have broken. Should we really adapt to this tense and stressful situation, or should we as human being change the rules for ourselves?
I choose the later. We do say that we should adapt to the environment, but when human's behavior does harm to the nature and even themselves, I think we got the right and the capability to change it.
Now sustainable development is just such a great reflection and a remedy for the current human crisis.
If we think carefully, what we need is limited, but what we desire is unlimited. There is no end for our desires. And only within the limit, we know what's happiness while with unlimited desires, people will never feel the happiness.
