Comments

tundrasea, I believe, podboq, is describing the relatively new science of Biomimicry. It is true that we as a species would be much better off by replicating the models, systems, and processes provided for us by nature... Title: Biomimicry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a relatively new science that studies nature, its models, systems, processes and elements and then imitates or takes creative inspiration from them to solve human problems sustainably. In her 1997 book, "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature" (ISBN 0-06-053322-6), author Janine M. Benyus introduces biomimicry, presents examples, and explains why the field is important now. She writes, "Our planet-mates (plants, animals and microbes) have been patiently perfecting their wares for more than 3.8 billion years ... turning rock and sea into a life-friendly home. What better models could there be?" - Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimetics ...Here is an interesting article on the subject... Title: Cow Used in Man-Made Spider Web Dragline silk makes up the radiating spokes of a spider web and is five times as strong, by weight, as steel. "It's incredible that a tiny animal found literally in your backyard can create such an amazing material," Turner said. "Spider silk is a material science wonder," Turner said. "A self-assembling, biodegradable, high-performance, nanofiber structure one-tenth the width of a human hair that can stop a bee traveling at 20 mph without breaking." - Source: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/01/49828 ...Plastic is made from oil. So, the less plastic used the more oil we conserve. The more oil conserved the less oil imported from foreign countries. The less oil we import from foreign countries, the more money that circulates within our own economy. Plastic shopping bags are a petrochemical product that end up in landfills and take several decades to degrade because of the lack of water, oxygen, and sunlight. Cities are starting to replace plastic shopping bags with reusable shopping bags. This is a good thing for the economy as well as the environment. I'm glad Americans are conserving more oil by driving less. Every little bit helps.