 |
Who Is Erik Leipoldt? A Baby Boomer Of Course!So what's this about Erik Leipoldt? Well, yes, I am a baby boomer of course! Who else but people from the "irresponsible" generation would put up a website about environmental and social responsibility—and about what you can do? 
The "make love, not war" generation becoming responsible? It happens!
Born in Amsterdam, I have lived "two lives"—so far. Actually, there are a few pairs of such lives in my life... I am a funny cat! Sorry, I am confusing you. Let me explain because my personal experience is very much part of the story behind this website about alternate energy sources. I roughly have spent half my life in The Netherlands and the other half in Australia. I have also lived a bit over half my life with paralysis, quadriplegia. Sorry? What’s that you ask? Yes, it is the second half for both. I have long been concerned about "the environment", and about “pollution.” I recently found a high school essay of mine where cops would do such things as arrest smokers for adding to pollution. And they would be banned from public, clean oxygen dispensers for a time. All tongue-in-cheek of course at the time, but... these days coming closer to reality perhaps? I have also long been interested in social issues. I was involved in mental health nursing, before I broke my neck by diving into the Indian Ocean. I gained experience in various roles, in disability advocacy, policy and services afterwards. And horticulture! These interests have come together in applying, what I call a “disability experience of interdependence” to sustainable living. As you move through my website, and as it develops, you will see how the personal knowledge of living well with fragility, dependency and limits, is of great practical value towards a sustainable world--says he! I believe that it pushes our noses onto practical values that are a lifeline in our chaotic world. Am I a perfect person with a disability, a supercrip, a saint, or hero, who has conquered his disability like some amputees do Mount Everest? Emphatically: NO! I don’t find that life is not getting any easier as the years tick by. But I am more conscious of the richness of life. About the possibility of meaning and reward under frustrating and challenging conditions. And I got a little better at navigating the shallows and the shadows. Many other things I am yet to learn about. I have a PhD in philosophy. My thesis explored the views and experiences of Dutch and Australian people with disabilities on the topic of euthanasia. A subject where dependence, limits and vulnerability play important roles.
Here you can find some of my recent writings about the value of the disability experience towards a sustainable world
Leipoldt, E.A. (2005). Disability, interdependence and community. Journaal voor de humanistiek. Leipoldt, E.A. (2004). Interdependence: A contribution from disability perspective in life worth living. Journaal voor de humanistiek.
My wish for this website is that it may stimulate conscious thought about the global predicament we’re all in and about appropriate values for living well, as much as technological answers to our problems. Your feedback, comment, news and ideas are always welcome! Please come back often. Kind regards, Erik
PS... |
