After a couple of years of hard service my blackspot environmentally/socially/economically friendly shoes are fast approaching the end of their life [i know this as it rained today and my feet got wet!]...
It is part of me making a conscious decision that as a christian i should look to support ethical, environment, social supporting manufacturers who are trying to promote justice as well as make money - it hasn't cost me more than buying a pair of designer trainers other than to buy something that is less trying to get a cool image by proxy and more about helping others...
So I have decided to continue to invest in eco-sound footwear and have ordered this pair of wornagain trainers [sneakers for my cros atlantic cousins] which are 99% recycled and also made to high economic/social standards.
I'll let you know if they are anywhere near as good as my blackspots have been - hopefully in a couple of yrs time!
Good on you Paul!
Posted by: Rick Meigs | 12 February 2007 at 04:17 PM
nice idea!
Posted by: Duncan McFadzean | 12 February 2007 at 10:36 PM
Thanks Rick - i'm not sure if you can get worn again shoes in the states [but you might] - you can definately get blackspots tho - i loved my v1's :)
Posted by: Paul | 12 February 2007 at 10:53 PM
Thanks Duncan - might as well start from the ground up :)
Posted by: Paul | 12 February 2007 at 10:53 PM
The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.
The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.
Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.
Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist.
Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.
If there are no gaps there is no emotion.
Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.
When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.
There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.
People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.
Emotion ends.
Man becomes machine.
A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.
FAST VISUALS /WORDS MAKE SLOW EMOTIONS EXTINCT.
SCIENTIFIC /INDUSTRIAL /FINANCIAL THINKING DESTROYS EMOTIONAL CIRCUITS.
A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY CANNOT FEEL PAIN / REMORSE / EMPATHY.
A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY WILL ALWAYS BE CRUEL TO ANIMALS/ TREES/ AIR/ WATER/ LAND AND TO ITSELF.
To read the complete article please follow either of these links :
http://www.planetsave.com/ps_mambo/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=75&func=view&id=68&catid=6
http://www.earthnewswire.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=89&page=viewtopic&t=11
sushil_yadav
Posted by: sushil_yadav | 13 February 2007 at 02:50 AM
I've never seen "worn again shoes" here in the States, but we do have lots of options. My hiking boots are just about done for after 6 years (around here hiking boots are our everyday shoe of choice), so I have my eye on a new pair of Pachira Hemp hiking boots.
Posted by: Rick Meigs | 13 February 2007 at 04:40 AM
Thanks sushil
Posted by: Paul | 14 February 2007 at 05:10 AM
Rick, it sounds like those boots were made for walking :)
Posted by: Paul | 14 February 2007 at 05:33 AM