Enironmentalism could be refered to as the "ism of our time." The world's been through phases of communism, liberalism, realism, naturalism, modernism, and now enviromentalism is the new big in thing. Admittedly, it's not really new, but it's all the rage. Major polluters are making many out of it and lets face it, everyone looks good in green. Think global warming, holey ozone, overfishing, carbon trading, disappearing forests and all that jazz. You've heard of it, you're sick of hearing of it, TV goes off and life goes on, right?
No.
Yeah that's right, I said no.
But global warming can't even be proven can it? Isn't it just a hoax? The earth's ecosystem goes through cycles, and so it's not our fault it's getting warmer. And if I stop driving my car, it's not going to change anything, I'm just one person in a huge world, and I need to get from A to B, thats just the way it is. Plus people need jobs, and people need food. You can't just stop all development and progress, until you prove its ecological sustainable or because one species of bird may disappear.
Well, here's the dealio amigo, these excuses we espouse daily, the arguments we create for our right to pollute, those insults we throw at ridculous earth-saving hippys, they get us nowhere. Who care's if global warming is a big maybe end-of-world crazy theory? Lets look at what we know.
1. We know oil is running out, its not a scare theory, it's a fact. Oil comes from plants and animals that have rotted deep underground over hundreds of thousands of years. Theories say we'll be all out of the stuff by 2050. I don't know how long you're willing to hang around the service station for... but it's already bloody expensive, imagine when there's none left? NONE. Then it won't matter wether its a ford or a holden you're pushing...
2. Forests are disappearing. They have been since the 60's, but we still act suprised. Seven million hectares of ancient forest are logged, cleared or severely degraded worldwide, every year. For farmland, mining, housing, toilet paper production...and a whole host of different reasons. If you need an explanation, other than an appreciation of their simple beauty, tree's and forests are part of ecosystems which provide homes for animals, birds and bugs. Logging destorys valuable biodioversity. Any diddlebrain amongst us who half-way paid attention in high school science, knows everything in this world exists in a state of inter-connectedness and when you destory one part of it, you harm the rest.
3. Ocean's are being overfished. It's not just about Japenese whale burgers, or dolphins and turtles caught in tuna nets. Giant fishing nets destory the ocean bottom, as well as taking in huge hauls of anything that falls into the net, and throwing the 'crap' ,otherwise known as living ocean creatures, back. Some fisheries are sustainable, monitored by governments and NGO's. The majority, especially in Asia where a lot of seafood comes from, aren't. Do you really think thats ok?
4. Car pollution cased by fuel has and always will be a problem. New cars and new fuel are cleaner burning and healthier, but they are still polluters. Why the heck does the countryside smell so good and fresh? Because it's not full of cars like the city is.
Most of us live in cities, we forget that we cannot live without our enironment. People actually boast that they don't care much about the environment. I'd rather like to see them survive without it. Remember what it was like the last time the electricity went out? When the water was turned off? When we got put on gas restrictions? Nothing to keep food cold, nothing to drink... We are entirely supported by a supply network that harks back to humble mother earth herself, only a fool would ever forget that.
What do we do? Where do we start?
Start small, think big. Be committed, be active and I promise no one will make you hug a tree.
1. Think Transport. How do you get around? Do you need that big car? Newer is definetly cleaner, but using it less is way better. Ride a bike, take a bus, rollerblade, car-pool to work, walk, take a train. Yes it may take more time, but life is a journey, it doesn't start when you get to point B, alternative modes of transport allow you to actually use your time, save money, and maybe even get fit. Every individual person does not need a car with 5 seats, how big is your arse anyway? A family with 4 people and 4 cars? Do you really need to waste all that money when you could like.. umm.. share?
2. Water Wise. In Australia water, or lack thereof, is always an important topic. Everyone would do well to think about it as a resource when they are using it, if only out of respect for those who don't have any to drink, or only have access to unsanitary water.
3. Electricity. Energy. What makes the light turn on in your house? Fuel? Coal? Solar power? Wind? Certainly not magic. Power is expensive, everyone can gain by saving it. Try green-power, but beware the market ploys. Laptop's use less energy, turn the light off when you leave the room, unplug appliances when they aren't in use, open a window before you turn a fan on, close a house up during the day so the air-con doesn't need to be on, do things manually. (you know, with your hands)
4. Peter Singer pointed out in his book "The Ethics of what we eat" how, who people sleep with, and what they do without their clothes on, is the subject of close scruitiny and moral controversy, yet what people eat, which affects more than themselves, is never treated as a moral question. We eat more than generations before us, we have more types of food readily available than ever before and we waste more of it. Fuel is used to transport it miles and miles, energy in keeping it frozen or cool, land and ocean environments are devestated in the process by over-grazing and over-fishing, without even mentioning the misuse of animals in the process. Think about the living conditions of the people who produce your food, wether in your own backyard or half a world away. Our food is cheap, because local farmers and other people's environments absorb the costs. We need to eat, I'm not suggesting we stop. I am suggesting you think about where your food is coming from. Become a vegetarian, even a vegan if you like, grow some of your own vegies, buy organic.
5. Recycle and save. Print out your stuff double sided, don't get a receipt at the ATM (you only throw it out anyway), buy recycled paper, recycle your newspaper, (or read online) wrap your presents in recycled paper (make your own!), avoid plastic bags (re-usable ones dont break when you're walking down the street!)
6. You can calculate your Carboon Footprint (How much carbon you produce) and enter the newest green market, of carbon trading and offsetting. The idea being, if you give a certain amount of money to a tree-planting organisation, or pay a bit extra on your plane ticket, the money will be spent on methods to reduce carbon, thereby absorbing your carbon production. The idea is neat, its capitalist, and it may produce fruit. At the very least it offers people a chance to sleep easy at night. But the key is to reduce polution full-stop, and we should be aiming to do that, rather than just appease our consciences.
Find out more:
http://www.zeroyourcarbon.com.au/info/carbon_footprint/79/1
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
http://www.begreen.com.au/index.html?gclid=CIXBwbSmrZYCFQMCagodvCG93Q
Being green starts as simple as this, yet people are so ready to give up, before they have even tried. Arguing that nothing can be changed doesn't excuse you from trying. Your petty excuses are invalid and pathetic. Wake up, and get over yourself. Wether you think this earth is god's gift or just plain pretty, we need it. It doesn't need us.
But we need this earth.
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