Sunday, January 30, 2011

the miraculous clothesline revival anywhere, any sunny day!


When people here in the U.S. think of solar power, often the first thing that comes to mind is the costly and mysterious system of panels and batteries they imagine they’ll need to run standard household appliances and electronic gadgets. This misconception is convenient for the fossil fuel industry, which depends on our continued reliance on their products for their continued success.

Here in the high desert of far west Texas, we have one of the sunniest, driest climates in the country - and yet many people still overlook all the excellent opportunities we have to employ the power of the sun passively – without spending a cent on panels.

After hearing acquaintances speak of purchasing new clothes dryers and witnessing college students, tourists, parents of small children, and others stuffing quarters into the barely-functioning units at the Laundromat, I became inspired to try to raise public awareness of the elegant simplicity and beauty of clotheslines through a kind of “happening” which combined performance art and public demonstration.

As part of the 10.10.10 international day of climate action, I organized “Big Bend Clothesline Appreciation Day: The Miraculous Clothesline Revival” by establishing this blog to raise awareness about the inefficiency of electric dryers and encourage folks to try using a “solar powered laundry drying apparatus” (clothesline) instead. Wearing a costume inspired by Ama the Hugging Saint, I put up a clothesline in downtown Marfa, Texas and offered to free hugs to anyone willing to be wrapped in a warm towel dried in the sun.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

OBVIOUS ORDINATION

NOWHERE DRYER!


those in communities in the big bend region of far west texas - please "hang out" with us on 10.10.2010! NOWHERE DRYER is a celebration of the miraculous power of sunshine to help us conserve resources and save money!

please help us get a seed grant from 350.org by voting for our project!

THE MIRACULOUS 10.10.2010 CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL!



The average American household that gets its electricity from a coal-fired power plant burns an average of 78 lbs of coal in an average month of laundry-drying using an electric clothes dryer. The USE HALF NOW MIRACULOUS SOLAR POWERED LAUNDRY DRYING APPARATUS CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL 10.10.2010 is aimed at raising awareness of the inefficiency of electric driers, and inspiring citizens in the United States and beyond to take pride in, and have fun with, using an old-fashioned clothesline. Line-drying has become a lost art in a society that values speed and (so-called) aesthetics over energy efficiency and saving money. The CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL will highlight one simple way that individuals can conserve resources and save money.

MISSION

In order to slow or even reverse climate change, the first step is to reduce pollution – the root cause of stress to the environment. While climate legislation would go a long way towards shifting our culture towards one of reduced waste and increased efficiency, the power of personal action is too often underrated. The ability of every individual to simply choose to use less is the most accessible, cheap, and immediate “green technology” available! Every kilowatt not burned reduces carbon emissions. And the sense of physical and emotional satisfaction that comes along with making small shifts, such as riding a bicycle, shopping locally, eating a more vegetable-based diet, and hanging laundry out to dry is a less tangible but equally important aspect of the grassroots resources conservation movement – one that has the power help our society to quickly become healthier and more sustainable.

The 10.10.2010 CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL is an open-source idea – anyone who feels the call can become a community REVIVAL LEADER and receive a FREE ORDINATION CERTIFICATE from the CHURCH OF THE OBVIOUS, signed by the HOLY MOTHER OF BATHSHEETS herself.
To receive your certificate, send an email to alyce at alycesantoro.com containing the following information:

1. Your name with preferred prefix (“Sister”, “Reverend”, etc.)
2. The name of the town or region where you intend to preach the CLOTHESLINE gospel.
3. A brief description of your intended 10.10.2010 REVIVAL festivities.
4. The emailing address where you would like your certificate sent (to conserver resources, your customized certificate – suitable for printing on half a sheet of paper – will be sent as a .jpg file via email).


The CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL will be a success when more people become reacquainted with the beauty and efficiency of a simple “Solar Powered Laundry Drying Apparatus” – a length of cotton rope and a few clothespins. The ultimate goal would be to establish permanent public clothes-drying areas where those such as apartment dwellers and university students can proudly show their support of the environment by airing their wash in a community environment.

TIMELINE


Publicity for the 10.10.2010 CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL is to begin immediately. Individuals are invited to plan their own local events and establish their own media coverage by contacting local newspapers and radio stations, hanging fliers in local establishments, employing social networks, recruiting local students to become involved, and by encouraging local businesses to join in the festivities by designing window displays dedicated to the event USE HALF NOW MIRACULOUS SOLAR POWERED LAUNDRY DRYING APPARATUS CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL 10.10.2010 will establish a dedicated communal flickr site and invite participants to upload images of their clotheslines. 

COMMUNITY


The CLOTHESLINE REVIVAL is an all-inclusive event, open-source event – everyone who believes that small personal shifts can lead to dramatic positive impact on our culture and our environment are welcome to participate or to lead their own events. Together we can make a difference – we ARE the greenest technology available!