[Cob] cob and The Code

[hms.mommy at juno.com]

On Wed, 2 May 2007 21:54:19 -0400 "paul" <dotpaul at paulleblanc.net>
writes:
> No, seriously, John, the people you wish to regulate cob are the same
ones 
> that annilated teepees and their inhabitants.  If freedom was what they

> really were about then we would have Indian nations as partners on  the

> continent of North America.  If freedom was what was really going down
in 
> North America we wouldn't be living on stolen land and rooting for  the

> Redskins on Sundays.

Paul, I appreciate where you're coming from.  Freedom is not what they
are really about.  But should we let them reign without opposition?  If
we don't meet them on their own ground, are we not guilty of giving up? 
The reason they are where they are is that too many people like us
thought that they could do nothing against so much power.  They'd like us
to go on thinking that--it's so much easier for them.  Who knows, maybe
they will triumph in the end.  But if we do nothing, then we have already
lost.  Let's not give up while we're still alive to make a difference.  

Yesterday I contacted a structural engineer in Salt Lake City who
advertises in the local "green businesses" guide.  He said, "Structures
made of earth are not acceptable in high seismic demand zones such as
Salt Lake."  You and I know that cob can perform just fine in "high
seismic demand zones."  What we need to do is put in the time and effort
to persuade people like him that it can.  It's doable.  

We are at a strategic window of opportunity right now.  Ecology is being
brought to the center of public discourse, and cob is around enough that
many people have heard of it.  There is support for what we are doing;
many more people would be prepared to take on their own cob projects if
they just felt reassured that it was safe.  If we put in the time and
effort to provide that reassurance, we will have influenced the course of
history.  We can make it happen.  

Carrie