“Local Direct” versus “Detour-Economics”
By
Thomas Schinkel
Labor Day Weekend, 2008
The 2008 Olympics over, the athletes returned to their home countries, let’s talk Globalization and the cost of fuel. The rapidly rising cost of fuel during the last few years gives us pause to reflect on numerous issues. I want to discuss the energy equation in a simplified format, recognizing that simplification the title I use two concepts that are starkly opposed to one another.
Local Direct
First of all, what does “Local Direct” mean? Well, I live here in Boston and when I want to eat fish for dinner I have two options. I can get fish sticks from a package on display in the frozen section of my supermarket, or I can get it freshly caught by a local fisherman (who anchored his boat in Gloucester harbor early that same morning. Getting it fresh from the local harbor is an example of ‘local direct’. No packaging, no freezing, no branding, no private label, just nature.
Exhibit One
