Ralph J. Cicerone quotes Aldo Leopard as saying that "for a person to be a successful tinkerer requires, at a minimum, that all the parts be saved." Chemical and Engineering News, April 7, 1997.
Hogwash!
To believe that the creator of the original work make a product so perfect that no improvement can be made by alternate design and perhaps having a few spare parts left over, is rubbish. One need only look about us to see many instances where a new and improved product has fewer working parts. I remember most clearly, when my brother undertook to repair a grandfather clock. The clock didn't work when he embarked on the activity, and it did when he finished, and low-and-behold, he had a couple of spare screws, and pieces that were no longer required. Now you may say that the clock was not returned to its original condition and of course you are right, and if you define "original condition" as that in which the clock was before he made the repair, then of course you are also correct. But, the clock now worked.
In argueing that the environment is now worse than when mankind began tinkering with it and should be returned to its original condition, is a luddite approach which most environmentalist would disdane. It is not at all surprising that there are some of those among us that will foul their (and our) own nest, and we do need to make sure that it doesn't happen, but is it necessary to impose restrictions on us all just to correct the missteps of a few. What Cicerone and others who he support, are attempting to do is to impose their will on others, as they believe that they have the only key to the solution of environmental problems.
Save the spare parts if you like and recycle them. But don't burden Society with a "monster" clock that has so many additions that it no longer is a clock worthy of being called a time piece. Oh yes, in the case of my brother's clock, the mainspring was broken. So he just shortened it a bit, refastened it into the holder and the clock worked as originally intended although it did need winding a bit more frequently.
---
NB Ralph J. Cicerone is dean of physical sciences at the University of
California, Irvine. Let's hope he is more objective in studying the
effects of halogenated hydrocarbons in our environment than in reviewing
books. While he quickly supports reduction of chlorofluorocarbon release,
he is quiet about "natures" release of methylbromide, &c. He cites
"compelling evidence" for reducing man's contribution to the environment,
and chastizes those advocates of opposing views who "claim" to use
science to support their views.
Welcome to the 21st century, Dr. Cicerone, "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander".
ABOUT Joe Wortham