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It is just my opinion but I think that green issues and concern for the environment will continue because in many ways it is economically more sound.

Walking and biking are certainly cheaper than driving. Organic farming is more sustainable and eating both seasonally and locally reduces costs of transporting food, while supporting our family farms.

Solar and wind energy, while expensive initially, provide energy savings in the long run. It seems to me that the financial benefits of being 'green' will encourage people to support these causes even in difficult economic times.

I know this is off topic, but you may be driving through Lubbock, TX on a Saturday on your way to Sweetwater. If you are, you should check out the an American college "football" game while you are there.

Just a suggestion, you could get the college attitude on the whole race (granted, in that region, it will be more republican than democrat, but you could see what people have to say).

To#2Schwab84

An excellent suggestion! I have only my own grandchildren as an example but it seems to me that young people are much more interested and involved in this election than in years that have past.

In support of aquarizonagal's post, green energy also offers advantages from a security and political standpoint (not giving money to the Middle East which could trickle down into funding Islamists, or being kind to Middle Eastern governments which don't deserve kind treatment) and economically in terms of providing jobs (even if the solar panels are made in China, they'll need to be installed by people here in the United States).

Still, contrary to that ludicrous commercial on the air about transitioning to 100% renewable energy in a decade, nuclear, and arguably even coal, will still be needed, especially if vehicles transition to electric from internal combustion. Nuclear plant growth should have already started, considering how long they take to build (unless they've finished designing a standardized pebble reactor).

The environment and evironmental issues are very important, we could all do better. I am constantly surprised in my part of mid Wales how seriously the Council takes recycling. Anything is better than putting everything in landfill.
Jon I am finding the articles enjoyable reading.

Actually, newspapers are pretty out of touch in America. No one really pays attention to them anymore. Locals are especially hokey, full of insignificant stories that no one cares about except the people who attended the event being covered. The fact that it's full of stories that only cover one side of the story (the environmentalist side) means it's probably put out by a few like-minded people who are not listening to readers, but instead are manufacturing propaganda.

On another note, I hope I can catch you when you come to Dallas. That is where I live.

'Maybe green issues are going to be a bigger deal than the pundits think?'

Not certain--but local quality-of-life and the ability of small towns and counties to retain their independence always rank high in people's minds.

It's not so much a about a global 'green' view of life, as about our ability to convey our good local lives to our children. We want to be able to work this out amongst ourselves, locally, without the state or federal governments encroaching upon us. We live here, we have the most at stake!

The incredible mess that the great-and-good in Washington and New York have created does not inspire confidence. They have earned our contempt, not our trust!

#1 aquarizonagal

I agree one hundred percent. I might add that these things (walking/biking/reusing bottles and bags) aren't as hard as some might think.

PS. I think, yesterday I mistook your pride in your state for the "get out of here, european meddlers!" (here being a bbc site, so how can europeans be meddling?) attitude that I occasionaly come across on these comments sections. Sorry about that.

Dude - welcome to New Mexico.

The difference between Arizona and New Mexico is as vast as the difference between Texas and New York.

Funny, isn't it?

(Oh, and you should drive through Albuquerque. From what I understand, the coffee houses and artist communities are reminiscent of San Francisco, but with a rural Native American twist. )

SO - Don't worry about the Money/Banking Crisis, it's ALL over the news everywhere else around here. It's on the front page, second page, and every page on the Wall Street Journal these days.
("AIG, Lehman Shock Hits World Markets" Sept 16, Vol.CCLII no.65)

... not that the banking crisis is going to affect a poor urban working mom like ME. Much. After all, I have neither investments nor cash.
-- Heck, it sounds like the Herald has it's priorities right.

Green, it's the New Black.

Or, in the opinion of Spike Lee, Barack is the New Black.


Which reminds me:
JON - when are you going to find some Black People to interview???

PLEASE tell me that the SW USA isn't so segregated that they don't even let the nice British tourists go near "Those Parts of Town"???

Please?

Jon - Get out of these small towns already! They are a unrepresentative part of the country in every respect. The USA is a urban nation. As of 2005, 80.8% of the population lived around cities according to the UN Development Project and that's only going to increase. It better increase if we want the country to stay competitive!

#10, so only 1 out of every 5 people in the US are not crammed into miles of houses and roads? No wonder our nation is so crazy.

We have the (generally) conservative small-towners and farmers (and I come from a small town), the suburbanites (nearly all of my relatives are from suburbs, and I HATE visiting them, as the suburbs are so completely foreign to me) and the true city dwellers. It seems to me that the issues for each group are very different -- no wonder they don't mix too well. But just because small towns are different is no reason to dismiss them. Small towns and countryside take up a whole lot more space than the cities do.

The town of 4,000 I come from is split between the farmers who have been there for generations -- conservative, generally Republican, who want no government regulation touching their property -- and the back-to-the-land people, who are generally liberal, usually progressive, almost hippie wannabes. These communities rarely cross. But in a small community you have your circles, be it from church, school, work, issues organizations, or any other group, and you see people from them everywhere. Even if you do not know someone personally, if you tell someone your last name, they can usually come up with a relative they know, or you have a mutual friend. People are nearly always friendly, unless you are challenging them in a political arena.

Agent00Soul, this is a time when you can work from home for certain jobs. But out here most people are into physical labor of some kind. Even if someone commutes, the drive is a heck of a lot more beautiful, and there is a whole lot less sitting waiting for traffic than in the cities.

I am in my first year of college in St. Paul, MN, and I miss the hills of my hometown, and the people, and even the politics. Some people feel trapped in a city, and I am one of them. I just got lucky with St. Paul -- it feels less like a city and more like a HUGE small town.

To#8Aardvark808

I am also sorry that you misunderstood my posts. I enjoy posting here and want to communicate with people from other countries.
My written English is far from perfect so sometimes I do not present my thoughts in the best words. I love where I live and want to share it with others. I am happy that you have understood that.