: We do need to look at this issue further as boat builders and work to
: mitigate the future problems of our chosen craft.

: The forum is always open.

: Chris Ostlind

It's nice to feel that we, as individuals, may contribute in some small way
to conservation or preservation of our natural resources. However, it's more
of a warm fuzzy feeling than an exercise in reality.

Since the topic is wood, let's explore it a bit farther. A tremendous amount
of perfectly good timber is converted into wood pulp which in turn becomes
paper products. We have a far more easily renewable resouce in hemp, which,
throughout history has produced a far higher quality and long lived paper
than that from wood. Why wood? Simple, corporate greed and profit.

Construction materials - Why are homes built with wood products ? Again,
profits. There are perfectly good alternatives in steel 2X4's , all concrete
structures, and commercial standard steel structures that would work equally
well in the residential housing market. As long as there are corporate
lobbyist, corrupt politicians and greedy industrialist, there will be
wood used in this wasteful and unnecessary manner.

When will it change, not until all the natural resources are gone. Take oil
for example. We have a renewable source of energy just waiting to be tapped
for free, but as long as big oil holds all the solar energy patents, we will
be denied access to the suns energy.

Only when the ozone is destroyed, and the oil is gone, will it become
economically feasible to harness the suns energy. Problem is, will we
still be alive to enjoy it.

So, until the big boys do something about our status as a planet, our little
conservation efforts are meaningless. I can hear the politicians, and CEO's
laughing as I speak.

Money talks, and Democracy has mutated into Capitalism. We are not viewed
as humans, but rather as consumers, a new race for the new Democracy.

Tom