The Lorax

In reading the 1971 publication “The Lorax” by Dr. Suess, you’ll immediately notice something is fundamentally different than the rest of his children’s books. Not only does it look different, with darker and more sinister illustration, but it delves into issues revolving around man and his relationship to nature. What does it mean to be a good steward of this world we live in?

The book was first published on the heels of the counter-cultural energy of the 1960’s, and I first encountered it in 7th or 8th grade in an English class. What I discovered just recently is that “The Lorax” is currently enjoying a new surge in popularity thanks to the environmental consciousness that is being reborn in the American population. Parents are buying the book for their children at a record pace.

A recent L.A. Times article sums up the plot nicely:

The book tells the story of the Once-ler, a greedy businessman, who, literally, can’t see the forest for the trees. The Once-ler builds a huge factory and chops down lush Truffula trees to feed the demand for his product (a frivolous item called a thneed).

In spite of repeated warnings from a creature called the Lorax, who speaks for the trees (but also for the creatures), the Once-ler continues to raze the forest. Eventually, the wildlife become deathly ill before finally moving away in order to survive. After polishing off the last Truffula tree, the Once-ler finds himself alone and out of business, surrounded by a wasteland of his own making.

With hindsight, the Once-ler learns his lesson, but is it too late?

The same could be asked of all of us, the grown-ups who push the buttons in the real world. What is it about taking care of the earth that we don’t understand? If anything, environmental conditions have gotten worse since “The Lorax” came out all those years ago. With the rollback of environmental regulations and the slashing of EPA budgets, President Bush has been a veritable Once-ler in chief for the last eight years.

If you’ve never heard of “The Lorax” I would highly recommend it. I had totally forgotten about the book until I stumbled on this article earlier this week.

“America has lost her footing, lost her elegance,” says 87-year-old Audrey Geisel, widow of the late Dr. Seuss. (He was born Theodor Seuss Geisel and died in 1991 at age 87.) “Globally speaking, it’s not good, and it’s getting less good all the time. We didn’t learn from ‘The Lorax.’ We’re paying a price, and we don’t seem to know it.”

Is Recycling Worth It?

Popular Mechanics has a great article on recycling.  They take a closer look at just how economical it is and how much pollution/energy savings is really involved for the recycling of different materials.  No surprise, Houston ranks dead last among major cities for recycling rate (at a measly 2.6%).  Check it out!

Tom Friedman: We Need “Overwhelming Force” To Green The Economy

Tom Friedman’s take on issues surrounding the “greening” of our economy, and Obama’s role in getting the ball rolling here in the USA.  In case you don’t know who he is, Friedman is an author and writer for the New York Times.  Click the image to read the article…