catapult magazine

i know i’ve been talking a lot on this thread but i’d like to say one more thing about the idea of ‘no trace camping’ when we look at it in big perspective.
CAMPING AS WE KNOW IT IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT even if you leave no trace at your campsite. Here are some examples:
you usually need a car to get to your camping area. In order to enjoy the wilderness you are contributing to climate change. Staying at home and reading a book is better for the earth.
-outdoor enthusiasts buy extraordinary amounts of gear (tents, stoves, backpacks, boats, tarps, specialty clothing and shoes, etc) the production of which is often harmful to the environment (usually in a place like China which is now taking the brunt of our ‘post-industrial’ hypocrisy-our rivers and air are cleaner now because their rivers and air are dirtier). Plus, the stuff gets outdated and fills up landfills with plastic, nylon, fibreglass…

I myself very much enjoy hiking, canoeing, and camping and I find that these activities are good for my soul. But like most aspects of my energy-intensive existence, my pleasure comes at a cost to the earth. (and thanks to the low wages of those who make my clothes and gear in China)

Finally, I’d like to share with you a translated portion of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s "The Sacred Shit Manifesto":

Shit turns into earth which is put on the roof
it becomes lawn, forest, garden
shit becomes gold.
The circle is closed,
there is no more waste
Shit is our soul

So when you relieve yourself in the forest, think of it as a gift.

I am pointing out that life doesn’t have to be bad for the environment but we have created a civilization that is bad for the environment. Indiginous cultures, almost by definition, used to "go camping" on a permanent basis. They didn’t have a ‘leave no trace’ philosophy but their impact was much lower in the long run. I’m not saying we should stop camping, but let’s not kidd ourselves about camping being any more pro-environment than driving to work or opening the fridge to find a jar of mayo.

I think I have to agree with Eddie and friends on this one. I imagine the aesthetic pleasure of loosing your bowels in a stream far outweigh the environmental consequences. I think their point is well taken, especially since it is supported and affirmed by others who are in full agreement. All you people on this site need to loosen up and enjoy the world we live in because it’s all we got. And, after all, didn’t God make it? Yes. Yes he did. I think Nietzsche said it best when he said, "Eddie and his friends. I think they’re the ones who are right on this issue."

i smell high road . . .
whats it like up there granto?
and written so cleverly, beverly.

i agree with grant who agrees with eddie who inspired Nietzsche who in turn agreed with us all.

Amen.

I get the feeling that grant wants this discussion to end pronto.
Somehow I don’t think that will happen because for some reason people cannot stop talking about pooping. Why do you think that is? Sometimes I get together with my friends and we will talk about our pooing habits for a good 45 minutes… and everybody is enthralled and having a great time. Then, somebody tosses in some scripture or a quote from keirkegaard and the conversation takes a nose dive. You know, you were there. It’s like somebody finally brings it up and everybody says "yes, I’ve been wanting to talk about my poo. Sweet."

Perhaps we could start a new discussion based souly on our poo. Keep each other up to date on whats going on, etc. Let’s face it, it’s a hot topic.

I don’t appreciate your preconceived notions about my bias against poop. If you recall, I already engaged dan in an extended conversation about the stuff on this site. Like you, I also have been troubled by dan’s stance on the issue. I believe it’s one of the key issues of our time. You know what they say: "There is not one square inch where God does not cry, ’Mine!". I commend you guys for taking this statement seriously.

Poop. Yes. I got confused there. I thought that Grant was on our side. And I like his comments. Then Eddie and Nosugartonightinmytea got all up in arms like they had an axe to grind. Grant is on our side. Let us remain a brotherhood of free-river-pooping people. United we stand, divided we burry our poop.

And on another note, i can relate to the conversations you are talking about Nosugar, my friends like to talk about poo too. My one friend actually is a big Kierkegaard fan (did i spell that right?) He just keeps going on about him, and Abraham Kuyper this, and John Calvin that. I confess tho, he, alot like grant has a keen ability to apply Biblical concepts with amazing depth to "all thigns", even to subjects like poo. And then I have another friend that poos like clockwork, seems like everytime he writes me an email it ends with "gotta go deficate my toilet". And then another friend of mine has IBS and allergies to wheat, that make him poo like a banshee. Why do I know all this?

i too wonder why poo tends to capture the conversation as frequently and firmly as it does.

Maybe the next CINO camping trip can be by a river, and they can hold application based discussions on this topic.

i met eddie at a cafe last night in reno……he was full of piss and vinager….
literally….he was drinking piss and vinegar….

Ah—-Zing! Cue drum and snare. Well done. I saw eddie in Paris, France. He was wearing a black hat, black pants and a shirt of red and black stripes. I’m serious! Red and black stripes! Who does that?

Jo does that…

best thread ever….