PACA(Preservation and Conservation Association)についてのTomさんのお話の続きです(前回はNo.567-2へ)。主な話題は、PACAのSalvageの活動とその背景にある環境保護運動、そしてアメリカのDIYカルチャーについてです。1月に26日にChampaingのTomさんと日本のShizuoからRyutaさん、KyotoからMugikoの3人がオンラインで収録しました。各PartでのTomさんとの英語のトークをRyutaさんが日本語でもわかりやすく解説しています。こちらは、2月10日収録しました。また、Podcastの文章をTomさんが英語でまとめ、Ryutaさんが日本語でさらに詳しくトークの内容を説明しています。
Part1, 環境保護運動とPACAのSalvage
In this episode, the hosts and guest continue their discussion about the efforts of the Preservation and Conservation Association. They begin by talking about the history of salvaging still usable architectural elements as part of the overall preservation process. Thomas briefly mentions the connection between salvaging and recycling and describes how the environmental movements that first gained international attention in the late 60s and early 70s led to an increasing awareness of the importance of reuse, and that this need is very much a part of the thinking of the PACA volunteers as they approach a structure that cannot be saved.
Part2, 解体される建物から回収した建材のリサイクル、教育プロセス
Thomas mentions that PACA doesn’t simply take things that they think they can sell, they also try to save anything that they feel someone may have a use for as long as they believe it will be possible to get the items to them, and he talks about how they regularly work with other organizations in the community to find new uses for discarded items. Mugiko mentions a previous guest who also utilizes salvaged materials and she and Thomas briefly discuss how reuse is itself a form of preservation as older items continue to provide useful services for new owners and in new situations.
Part3, アメリカのDIYカルチャーと「強い一人前の男性像」
Tom also tells about how he became interested in preservation and history in general, and this leads the discussion in the direction of people being interested in DIY or ‘Do It Yourself projects. Host Ryuta-san wonders if the average PACA customer is a ‘DIY-er’ and Tom says yes and goes on to talk a little about the prevalence of the DIY ethic in American culture. His hypothesis is that because of the relatively young age of the country and its closeness to its pioneering roots, there is a lingering sense that people should be ‘self-reliant’, and that this creates a common sense that one should know how to fix and make things as part of their general life skills. He also credits the post-war celebration of traditional notions of masculinity with there being a certain level of a DIY attitude associated with ‘manliness’. As times have changed these attitudes have become more egalitarian, and now there are nearly as many women interested in learning these types of skills as there are men.-Tom
PACAの回収品販売事業は、家や家具を自分で直そうと考える、DIY (Do It Yourself) の精神を持つ人たちが地域にいるからこそ成り立つ事業とも言えるかもしれません。Tomさんによると、DIYで工作や修理をするときでも全国チェーンのホームセンターのような場所で新品の材料を購入する人がおそらく大半、ということですが、それでも、アメリカの各都市には、再利用品、廃材などを販売する古物商、ジャンクショップが少なくとも1軒はあることが多い、ということです。新品、再利用品を含め、こういった場所では、例えば家のドアやバスタブのような、日本ではあまり個人では購入しなさそうな建材も扱っていたりします。アメリカ社会におけるDIY