A mi me llama la atención la costumbre japonesa de quitarse los zapatos antes de entrar a la casa. En primer lugar porque es rico andar descalzo; y en segundo porque, contrario a lo que hacemos por aquí, que es barrer la casa, allá de lo que se trata es de no ensuciarla.
Esta meditación viene al caso por un ensayo, de Michael Munger, que “cayó” en mi bandeja de entrada. Munger se refiere a la sociedad estadounidense, pero sus ideas se aplican allá, aquí y donde sea
“…A generation of Americans has been indoctrinated into a “save resources, recycle at all costs” mindset. “Recycle!” is used as a moral bludgeon. This is different from “Don’t Litter!” Littering is a collective action problem, a genuine social dilemma: cheaper for me to throw that cup out the window. But I myself would prefer a world where no one throws cups out of windows over a world where everyone does. “Don’t litter” is an attempt to solve a real problem.
“Recycle, regardless of cost!” doesn’t solve a problem; it creates one. Laws requiring recycling harm me, the environment, and everyone else. We have to take prices into account, because prices are telling us that we can’t save resources by wasting resources.”
