Thoughts on Action
This post started as a lengthy comment on BubandPie's last post, but as I was writing it, I was concerned that it might not reach as many people if it is buried under 16 other comments, so I transposed it to my, er... somewhat recently increasingly frequently-visited blog. (Is it legal to string that many adverbs together?)
Anyhow, I was commenting because there have been a number of people responding to me and B&P that they, too, are concerned about our climate, but feel kind of like I did: "now what?" So here's what I came up with:
/comment mode on
I think one of the most important things we as individuals can do is to communicate our concerns with our MPs, congressmen and women, senators, MPPs, etc. They are our elected officials, and it is their job to care about the concerns of their constituents. Both Canada and the US are going through rather chaotic times politically, which means that having an ear for the public is crucial.
Contact your MP/congressman/woman/etc. and tell them that you are concerned about global warming/climate change, and that you want to see stronger initiatives being implemented. The "Clean Air Act" in Canada is really a joke, people. Something needs to be done SOON, not by 2050. We need to put pressure on the policy makers to turn things around over the next decade.
I'm very encouraged in the US over the decision to put polar bears on the "threatened" list. That means that there are arms/factions in the Government (US, primarily here) that are listening to the concerns of scientists and environmentalists. We need to encourage them to keep it up.
/comment mode off
It's a start. I'll let you know if I come up with anything else...
Filed under
Canada,
the environment
4 comments:
I have to admit, I was surprised the US was listing polar bears as 'threatened' because it calls direct attention to the climate changes that are taking place throughout the world. The Bush administration has gone to great lengths to gut so many of our environmental laws, including our version of the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act always seems to be endangered itself when it comes up for review and renewal. (FWIW, I'm an American and a lawyer; when I was in law school, I wrote a paper on the ESA. But now I'm in the UK.) And I've always felt Bush was in complete denial about climate change and what might be contributing to it (along with a lot of other things.)
Anyways, great post. I really your other posts BudandPie pointed out, too. And I hope you don't mind my dropping by to ramble once in a while. ;-)
The other day I was watching an ad for a gigantic SUV, and I actually thought to myself, "It's immoral to own one of those things". I feel disgusted when I see people driving Hummers around Muskoka. Like they need them.
But on the other hand, my family operates a transportation company with 37 diesel trucks.
I looked into MOT/DOT strategies and incentives for reducing emissions and consumption for transport companies, and the programs they offer are pathetic.
In my global way of thinking, I see our habit of endless consumption at the bottom of most of our environmental issues.
Maybe that's too reductionistic. (is that a word?)But I find myself overwhelmed with the amount of stores, and materialism around me. We create so much garbage.
I voted for the Green Party last election. In some ways it was a throw away vote. But I think they are gaining more momentum.
It's frustrating to think that there are technologies to reduce pollution, and they are not being utilized, or made available to the everyday person.
Christian and I have been thinking a lot about these issues over the past few years. We have tried to make changes to our lifestyle. But we would like to take it even further. Our dream of building a solar panelled cabin complete with a composting toilet is part of that.
I realize that not everyone is comfortable living like hippies, but we love the idea of living sustainably, and simply.
This sounds so corny, but ultimately "the people" do have the power to make change.
(Sorry this is so long and ranty.)
ewe - I think that there must be enough pressure building up within environmental lobbyist groups that it is becoming unreasonable to completely ignore the facts. And I know they're trying - there are people who used to work for the US Geological Survey who have talked about being censored. That's completely unacceptable. Anyhow, thanks for dropping by, and your ramblings are always welcome.
meg - I love the idea of having a fully-sustainable zero-waste home. If Patagonia can do it with their factory/warehouse, then why can't individuals do it? I know that it takes a little bit of capital to start (which we haven't got right now, but whatever) but eventually it would pay off. What would be wonderful would be for the government to set up initiatives to encourage people to do things like that.
I'm all for living like a hippie, so long as I can still have the internet. ;)
Hey Becky & Keith,
Will you please visit my blog entry from today titled "'Baptist Creation Care' aka Genesis 1:28-30" and let me know what you think of my minimal action steps? What other steps do you think Denver/Boulder Area Christians should be taking?
Yours in Christ,
Scott
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