“Desire drives consumption, and consumption is destroying the earth.” So states Peter Schoonmaker, the director of the Illahee environmental lecture series here in Portland, and I agree with him. Peter circulated my review of Susan Cheever’s lecture to Illahee members (I took issue with Ms. Cheever’s claim that broken promises are what define addiction). Beth, [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Illahee'
Beth’s Take on The Nature of Desire
April 1st, 2009 · No Comments · health & well being, lifestyle, sustainability
Tags: addiction·alcoholism·Illahee·life·relationships·Susan Cheever
The Nature of Desire: Promises Are Not The Problem
March 22nd, 2009 · 2 Comments · lifestyle, sustainability
Why would “The Nature of Desire” be the theme of a serious environmental lecture series like Illahee? What is the connection between desire and the environment? As Illahee director Peter Schoonmaker explains, “Because desire drives consumption, and consumption is destroying the earth“. I agree with Peter. In fact, I see the diamond-cut life as being [...]
Tags: addiction·consumption·desire·environment·Illahee·life·Peter Schoonmaker·promises·Susan Cheever
Unclothing The Horse and Juliet Schorr
February 29th, 2008 · No Comments · simplicity, sustainability
My husband Thor and I went to the Illahee lecture last night here in Portland. Juliet Schor spoke, a sociologist and economist from Harvard University. She was excellent, and one of the most salient takeaways for me was on clothes. (It’s only fair to report Thor has sometimes termed me ‘a bit of a clothes horse’.)
Ms. Schor reported that in 1991 we in the U.S. bought an average of 34
Tags: clothes horse·clothing·consumption·culture·economics·environment·fashion·garments·happiness·Illahee·Juliet Schorr·life
