This WWII homefront poster is still one of the best pieces of public information on practical energy wisdom I've ever seen:
"WINTERIZE YOUR HOME! Insulate walls and ceilings. Install storm doors, sash, weather strips.
"CHECK YOUR HEATING PLANT! Clean and repair equipment. Install fuel saving devices.
"ORDER FUEL AT ONCE! Take your dealer's advice on amount and kind of fuel. Be ready to accept delivery."
Good advice then and good advice today.
I'd like to see this poster paired with a 21st century version that included solar since, in point of fact, a south-facing window is already a solar collector and a south-facing porch can become a greenhouse or sunspace. We should learn how to see solar as civil defense because
SOLAR IS CIVIL DEFENSE.
I've been using reproductions of WWII posters in my Solar Survival Show and at anti-war events for the last couple of years. They cut right to the point and highlight the seriousness of the homefront during WWII against the greedy silliness of the "homeland" today.
I even gave a set my favorite WWII energy conservation posters to Al Gore at a recent book signing ( http://www.youtube.com/... )
I'm the guy in the maroon shirt.
You can download the full image above from http://www.library.northwestern.edu/... and find an extensive library of downloadable images of WWII posters at http://www.library.northwestern.edu/...
It's way past time to get real and shame the chickenhawks by shoving the reality of history in their faces.
PS: The Project for an Old American Century ( http://www.oldamericancentury.org ) and the Propaganda Remix Project ( http://homepage.mac.com/... ) are reworking some of these posters for 21st century purposes but I tend to be a purist, preferring the originals for their jarring resonances across the decades.
Fourth in a series of WWII posters that have relevance today.
Previous entries:
7/25/06
Should Brave Men Die So You Can Drive? - WWII Poster
http://www.dailykos.com/...
7/30/06
Do With Less So They'll Have Enough - WWII Poster.2
http://www.dailykos.com/...
8/6/06
Have You Really Tried to Save Gas...? - WWII Poster.3
http://www.dailykos.com/...
These are all four WWII posters I gave Al Gore. I also sent a set to Bill Moyers. This set of four images is also available at
http://solarray.blogspot.com/...