ENVIRONMENT Concept of ‘stewardship’ looks beyond self-interest IT’S NO secret that environmental stability can only be achieved if we change our attitudes and long-held beliefs about our relationship with the pianet. The change required goes far beyond learning to reuse bags or mugs. What each of us needs is a personal sense of responsibility for the well-being of the whole sphere in which we operate. We can’t simply concern ourselves with getting a healthy dinncr on the table for our children or making sure the plants in our backyard are watered. We have to look beyond our es- tablished boundaries and_ realize that if we don’t help feed hungry school kids, perhaps no one will. If we don’t contribute to saving rainforest, they'll probably keep burning. And if we don’t pick up the garbage we find on trails in the forest, it will still be there when we visit two months later. What we need is to change our cohcept of ‘‘ownership’’ and give it a meaning similar to that of “stewardship.” ’ From the Book of Genesis to the hierarchical British Beehive, mankind has assigned itself domi- nion over the creatures, plants, seas and land of this planet. This has led to the belief that the concept of “‘ownership’’ exists solely ta delineate the rights of the owner. it does not confer any rights on that which is owned, or assign responsibility to the owner. In the dictionary, the definition of “ownership’’ includes phrases such as ‘‘private property,” “belonging to oneself,’? and “have as property, possess.’? Em- phasis is placed on the legal status of the individual in relationship te his/her property.- And from a strictly legal point of view, this makes sense. But the * elevation of the rights of the indi- ‘vidual owner over the needs of society as a whole has proved untenable. We, after all, ‘“‘own’’ nothing on this earth. For the short space of a month, year, or a lifetime we borrow it from those who are yet to come. Given this reality, we had better think of ourselves as “‘stewards,’’ not ‘‘owners.’’ “Stewards of the Earth’’ is a phrase I’m beginning to hear more often as environmental conscious- ness takes hold. In the dictionary, “stewards’* are. those who keep order, who are responsible for Peggy Trendell-Whittaker ECO INFO other people or things, and who attend to others. It evokes an image of parents caring for the needs of their children, while ‘‘owners,’’ on the other hand, often play the part of the child — expecting their needs to be served, but having few responsibilities of their own. Most often, owners look at their land or other property in terms of what it can provide to them, not what they can do to enhance the land. Stewards, however, know that it’s a two-way street. If we don’t) Manage our property wisely, it will cease to benefit anyone and become a loss in our eco-system. And as the concept of owner- ship is primarily a legal one, it br- ings with it property lines and other boundaries. These bound- aries serve to relieve us of a feel- ing of responsibility for what takes place on the outside of our ““private’’ property lines. When we're walking down the street and see a nearby creek choked with litter, ‘‘it’s someone else’s job.”’ Depending on the sit- uation, perhaps it is. But even so, is it a job that is going to get done? If not, then it becomes our job — either to make sure it gets done by the ap- propriate body or to do it ourselves. If you approach your surroun- dings with a sense of stewardship, it’s less important who should be doing what than it is that the right thing gets done. If we were all stewards, we would leave our property showing the positive effects of our care, not the wounds of domination. [f owners were stewards, the goal of healthy environmental and eco- nomic inter-relationships would be well within our reach. The North Shore Recycling Program has had a last push on to get apartment buildings and townhomes participating in the recycling program. As a result, more than 87% of the multi-family complexes are now recycling their bottles, cans, milk jugs, pop bottles and news- papers. If you live in a building that is not yet signed up for recycling service, ask your apartment man- ager or strata council to call 984-9730, and they will be sent an authorization form. Remind them that the building is already paying for the service through its municipal taxes, so there Is no extra cost to join. Our Green Planet Recipes for a cleaner, healthier environment Laundry Powder 1 cup of pure soap flakes or powder 3 tablespoons of washing soda Fabric Softeners To soften hard water, use more wash- ing soda. To Make natural-fiber fabrics softer add | cup white vinegar or 1/4 cup baking Soda into the final rinse-water to rerrove any Soap stum. For Cough stains Soak Clothingina mixture of tpart hydrogen Many commercial -, detergent manu- facturers now of- fer products with- out phosphates, dyes, or perfumes. These products can be foundinanewcor- pact size, requiring 'es5 packaging and Creating less garbage. . y SAVE NOW! | z HALOGENS J CHANDELIER | © 48H x 19 Wi * 7x60W lights LOWER “BUILDER” PRICES STORE HOURS: Mon-Thurs. & Sat. 96 Fridays 9-9 Sun. closed 251-6007 TRACK-LIGHTS SALE ™ SRQ90 R ASK ABOUT OU! oon wide © 6X40WN1 downlight ERC 2390 East Hastings 7 (just over 2nd Narrows Bridge) © corner of Hastings & Nanlamo, -turn right at Hastings The Four Thread Serger We made a special purchase ‘of these wortd famous 4- - thread overiock machines. ‘These macinnes are paced A to sell. The 20-Function “7 Serger ® S-1hread. 3 thread. 2-thread # Rotied rem ® Numbered tension control * Self threaa.ng tooper 7 * Binarem 1. Model 802 & Light weight Free Am: *& Aluminum Construction \oe % Storage and extension table. 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For more information call NO PREVIOUS § SALE © OR RENTALS APPLICABLE ~ ROPICANA Industries Ltd. 403 Riverside Drive, North Van. 929-3811 __ ate “months no interest . 12 monthsi “hous financing SAVE YOUR SUNDECK FROM WEATHER DAMAGE 525-2298, or address cor- respondence to Fraser Muster/92, Ron Scott, 327 Pine St., New Westminster, V31 2Ti. .