Ecotopia Imagined: As a Thought

Ecotopia Imagined:

As a thought experiment, take seriously the society that Ecotopia Emerging creates. Picture living in that society. What would be difficult? What would be fulfilling?

The world envisioned in Ernest Callenbach's text Ecotopia Emerging seems both familiar and foreign, dated yet oddly prescient to a 21st century reader. The book was written during a period of rising conservative sentiment in the nation, and was meant to criticize an anti-environmentalist, pro-consumption, and fuel-wasting America around 1981. Callenbach wrote during the beginnings of the Reagan administration and towards the end of the last spiral of inflation, high oil prices, and turmoil in the Middle East. The nation in Ecotopia Emerging is ideologically split, between East and West Coasts, rather than 'red' and 'blue' states today. The novel depicts the breaking away of pro-environmentalist, ecologically-minded states like Oregon, California, and Washington from the rest of the nation, after the Supreme Court declares a proposed car tax invalid. There is a crisis in the Middle East involving Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the nation is preoccupied with the pointless war the U.S. is waging with Brazil. The ideals of the Ecotopia Survivalist Party begin to seem more appealing to the residents of the West Coast.

Living in an entirely self-sustaining land that is not dependant upon dictatorships for fuel would be fulfilling on an emotional level, but the loss of freedom and mobility with the shift from cars to buggies would initially be difficult, especially since the rest of the world would still be using cars. Of course, there might be a certain amount of fun in learning how to drive a horse and carriage, and the emotional relationship provided by living so close to nature, and being dependant upon a warm and caring living being rather than a box of metal would be a bonus. But there would be added extra time every morning, to feed the horse, to hitch it up to a buggy or to saddle the animal, and to take the time to ride to work or school.

Train travel would mean that an Ecotopian would not have to live like a 19th century dweller. But even though mobility across wide geographical expanses would still be possible, life would become recognizably different. Despite a greater availability of public transportation, individuals would be forced to live in a more collective manner, and plan their schedules around the time table of transport, the needs of animals, and other community schedules, rather than just jump into a car and 'joy ride,' or get a quart of milk from the 7-11 at 3am. People would appreciate their transportation more, and the cost involved to the environment, but there would be a loss of freedom and individual autonomy, at least for middle-class and wealthy people used to using cars.

Organic farming would produce healthier produce, but it also might limit the types of produce available around the year. People would have to buy fruits and vegetables in season, rather than rely upon these goods being shipped from other locations. There would be no nectarines and tomatoes in the dead of winter, although when these foods were eaten in season, they would be healthier, tastier, and leave less of an ecological footprint. This would require a shift in approach to buying food, and perhaps require more canning, freezing, and preserving of foods than people might have done in the past. More cooking would also be necessary, given the smaller supply of foodstuffs. Produce might also be more expensive, given the more labor-intensive practices involved in pesticide-free farming.

With the use of solar power for energy, people would no longer be able to live in a 24/7 society. Sunrise to sunset would define the day as it did so long in the past. This might make people happier, given the beneficial effects of sunlight -- it raises the mood, is full of Vitamin D, and is naturally energizing. But again, this would come at a 'cost' -- no more all-night parties, no more surfing the Internet at 12am. Of course, the miracle solar cell that provides energy through tidal and wind energy would enable the existence of some sustainable forms of non-solar energy after the sun had set, particularly during the times in the winter when solar power is in short supply, but unfettered consumption of electricity, and essentially living a life in artificial light would have to come to an end, depending on how functional solar cells would be over time.

By requiring everyone to do this, there would no longer be pressure to do shift work, or to check one's email at 3am, to make sure a crucial document had been sent from far away, from another time zone. And almost everyone in the community would have the same time schedule. There would be less living in isolation for good, or for ill. People would feel more relaxed, but people who like to live by their own schedules might be frustrated.