NATURE'S TECHNOLOGY
Amory Lovins asks, "How do spiders spin threads stronger than Kevlar but without factories?" Good question. And in the process of answering this and other questions about the inherent brilliance of nature's technology, we might find an answer to a sustainable planetary future. Co-author with Paul Hawken and L. Hunter Lovins of Natural Capitalism, Amory Lovins is a globetrotting consultant who helps companies to become both greener and more profitable. Another intriguing question he asks is "How might Exxon officials have cleaned up Alaska after the Valdez disaster if they had known that hair absorbs oil better than anything else?” The phrase "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" comes to mind. Could it be that everything we need to make this world a safe and comfortable place for our family of six billion is right at hand? Could it be that the quiet consciousness of nature is speaking to us all of the time, offering answers to our most pressing questions? If so, it is upon us to listen and learn. As one author in the August 26, 2002 issue of Time notes, it is not the planet that needs saving. Environmental concerns focus on maintaining breathable air, drinkable water and renewable food and energy resources so that human and other species can continue to survive on planet Earth. In your daily prayer and meditations, or in your moments of quiet musings, remember the diligent efforts of the genius innovators of our world—the men and women who work full time to make our world livable—oh, yes…and don't forget the spiders.
