The latest topic stirring up discussion in New Vrindaban is the idea of leasing the gas rights.
See here for a taste of the NV community discussion and here for some idea of the discussion in the broader community.
This is a very emotional topic. Personally, since finding out about the current opportunity, I have had numerous sleepless nights and examined the issue from as many sides as I can find.
From all this I realize I am a demand side environmentalist, that consumption drives drilling. My question to many dissenters is, is the opposition to drilling overall or is drilling okay as long as it isn’t where we can see it?
I suppose being the one who has proactively brought a lot of info into the community, I am being demonized by those who want to shoot the messenger. So be it.
This is the third time this gas lease thing has come up in NV, and the previous two times management was considering leasing the rights for a fraction of the current offer. Both times I was active in having the leasing rejected, the latest time was in June. This time around the financial dynamic has changed considerably and it is creating an opportunity for a paradigm shift in New Vrindaban. I was the one who brought the topic out into public.
The key thing for me is how would the money be used. If simply for more of the same that is going on now, then I would oppose it. If, however, it is used to shift the NV paradigm from being financially one dimensional — dependent on Hindu donations – to being more dependent on the land, then I think it is worth the negatives.
Pivotal to my support is the idea that $1,000,000 would go into a trust fund to guarantee the protection of 100 cows in perpetuity. Now we have excess capacity for cows that is not being utilized due to lack of funding. There are cows who are being killed that could be saved and while many seem to be able to live with this, it bothers me. This funding would make that happen.
The temple is dependent on ugrakarma already, from propane to heat the apartments to the oil that fuels the cars that bring the pilgrims to the dhama. If the money from gas leasing is used for infrastructure for decreasing that dependency then, from a global perspective, less fossil fuels would be consumed and there would be a net gain for the planet.
Currently NV has no community root cellar, no grain storage, and no alternative sources of energy. Covering the roof of the temple with solar panels would be a minimum to get my support for the temple to sign the lease.
While Tapahpunjah and his posse are doing a great job of raising awareness and real world activism, that is a minority energy in the overall picture of what we could and should be doing. All ventures are dependent on capital and here is an opportunity to expand Tapah’s program into areas he is too strapped to get into now.
Micro loans for cottage industries and farming projects, subsidizing an oxen working program, renovating the temple to make it more energy efficient, restoring the Palace are other projects that come to mind.
For me personally, I am signing in my acres. I want to rebuild the barn and fences on my property and there is practically zero hope for that happening as long as we remain committed to living by means of a cottage industry.
Additionally, my closest neighbor is already signed up for a gas lease, and when her property is drilled, my gas will be drained in any case, so despite my many misgivings (and I understand how devotees have them, believe me) and sleepless nights, I am going to sign.
