The Myth of Progress... Myth or reality?

In the remaining few chapters of the Myth of Progress, Wessels first describes the role of co -evolution and how it goes hand in hand with mutualism within an ecosystem. He illustrates how in nature, mutualism allows species to coexist and provide for one another while gaining benefits for doing so. If one thinks about our existence in a more broad view, everything is on a smaller scale in comparison to something else. For example, we consider the Earth a rather large place, in comparison to us, but in comparison to other planets, and...to the universe, Earth is minuscule and is just another system working within larger systems. My point being is that if smaller scales of mutualism can function in a positive manner, such as the example of the bull's-horn acacia tree and the acacia ant, then it can also work on a larger scale, such as humans and the environment. Wessels then describes the several drawbacks of our continuously growing industry. Big-box stores and large corporations like Wal-Mart are devaluing humanity. In the simple ages of human existence, everyone relied on one another to make ends meet and to survive, now that way of life is extinct and it's every man/woman for themselves. We need to look back to our roots, in order to move forward into becoming more sustainable.

The McDonough and Braungart reading, I found very enlightening. Unlike in David Suzuki's "Green Guide", this text seems to have gone much deeper into the understanding of each of the fact's they provide (just like Wessels said, understanding something is much more effective than just knowing the facts.) I have already found myself questioning the products I buy, and where I buy them from. I find myself asking, "What is going to happen to this product after I'm done with it?" "Is their a more eco-friendly alternative to this product?" Yes, there is. I'm very eager to find out what else this motivated two-man team has to offer in the next several sections.