Page 20 RAIN October 1977 Waste Oil Dear Rain, The Standing Stone Garden Club and the Huntingdon County Recycling Project are beginning a Used Oil Recycling Program this we.ek. With the cooperation of local service stations and garages the public will be able to recycle their used motor oil. Individuals in Huntingdon County will deposit their used oil at any of about 50 participating stations who have suitable storage facilities and are already selling their used oil to waste oil dealers. The entire program will be set up at a cost of less than $25. • Sincerely, Charles A. Salkin Huntingdon County Recycling Project P.O. Box 535 Huntingdon, ·PA 16652 Japan's Energy Lifestyle Dear I~.AIN, . Having played with the ERDA toy, "The Energy-Environment Simulator," many times, I have wondered why the United States has such a high "energy slave" rating (7 8-m<';aning 78 people working full time for each person in the country)* compared to Japan (18). In a fully developed, modernized country, how do they do it? I just returned from Japan, and thought I would share some observations in the differences in lifestyle. 1. In Japan, the average person does not own a car. It is not necessary to own a car. The~e is usually one car per family (in the middle class sector). 2. The transportation systems are incredible. They have commuter trains, subways, buses, monorails, and of course, the shinkansen (bullet t'rain) that will take you a distance of 310 miles in 3 hours. All of these systems are inexpensive to use, are speedy and always efficient. Trains and buses are never late. Milli.ons of people use them every day, even if they do own a car. 3. The people who do drive cars pay the equivalent of about $2.00 per gallon of gas, and endless tolls on roads, bridges and highways. Driving is a discouraging and frustrating experience. 4. The Japanese people of all ages have accustomed themselves to walking distances that most Americans would be appalled at. Walking a mile or two to the store or train station every day is not uncommon. 5. Young and old alike ride bicycles every~here. Bicycles are used mainly as trf!.nsportation vehicles for people, goods and services ... !lot as recreation. 6. In the home, the.bathtub is filled once every evening for the family to take their baths in. Most older homes do not have showers. Everyone uses the same water, thus avoiding the waste of water and the energy it takes to heat it. 7. When entering a home, the shoes are always removed. This keeps the floors very clean, and avoids the need for excessive cleaning. 8. The basis of their diet is rice, tofu and fish, rather than corn-fed beef and potatoes. Their food is generally more energy-efficient and takes less time to cook. Many times, the ingredients are all cooked together, rather than in three or four different pots and pans. Dear RAINpeople, Words of praise and a suggestion: we heartily enjoy RAIN-it has top routing priority among the reference staff-and appreciate the access it offers to otherwise hard-to-find information. By the way, why buy a ~'home peanut butter maker" at all? Any electric blender can be used. Just start wi_th a few peanuts-a 50/50 mixture of Virginia to Spanish is good-and add more gradually. No sense adding an extra unnecessary appliance 'to the home menagerie. • Best wishes for your continuation. Sincerely, -Cynthia Stewart-Petty Montana State Library Helena, MT LETTERSThese a:re a few of the ways that the JapaI).ese people "conserve" energy. The difference is that to them it is a way of life, something they don't even think about. To many Americans, it is something that' will have to be forced by government regulations or rationing. We have some valuable lessons to learn from our eastern neighbor. Debbie Seifert OMSI Energy Center *In equivalent energy BTUs. Peanut Power Dear 'RAIN, Thanks again for another issue of RAIN. It's an inspiring magazine. I'm glad you had the article on Peanut Butter Power. 'It's those kind of philosophical-trend-information type articles that really help. I had some questions about that article, though. Scott talks about "returns" on the PBII as if it is in the same league as big ,companies, and that these great "returns" mean that this machine helps make households more important aspects of the economy than industries, etc. In this same veiw, so does the juicer, blender, freezer, and most any processing tool. What I don't understand is the importance of these tools alone. If one bought the PBII, we'd still have to be shelling out money for peanuts all the time. Now if we grew the peanuts too, then the self-sufficiency factor would really come into play. Otherwise we're just good consumers. Baruch Bashan Scio, Oregon Inside a Home's Walls Dear RAIN, Hey, a pet fantasy of mine I occasion- 1 ally dabble in is making a really together children's coloring book(s) on simpler lifestyles, environmental awareness, and what happens in a house behind the walls..Have you seen such a thing? Do you know anyone who might be into doing one with me? If you knew someone who would want to do it, so that it really makes sense (simple, to the point, clean, fun. Art.), I'll trade 2 days of some of the best carpentry they've seen in exchange and travel anywhere in the Northwest. It depresses me to see Ronald McDonald getting all the action on kids t1>at are so young and open. "Get 'em young and get 'em hooked".i's the sugar industry's angle, so let's battle them with their own methods. Why wait 'til they are college age and re!,lding dissertations in CQ? That's too late. - Can anyone help? Any suggestions? Take care, Bob Reyburn • Sound Construction P.O. Box 2087 Bellingham, WA 98225
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