An inconvenient truth … a convenient solution
Friday, November 16th, 2007After watching An Inconvenient Truth I really am scared. I’m scared about what this means for my future, what it means for billions of people around this globe. The threat is real. Yet there are naysayers.
So what.
I’ve given the issue quite a bit of thought lately. Global warming. The environment. Climate crisis. All of these are really names created to try to give us an easier way of not saying “we’re about to die”. It’s like making that kind of joke where you have to let your mind wander a little in order to get the punchline. But, this isn’t a joke. It’s very very real. People are dying in droves because the weather patterns have changed. We’re not able to grow quality food—and in some cases no food at all. Forget the massive storms and fires that are sweeping through our backyards. That’s nothing compared to the potential requirement for entire populations having to relocate. And when we do relocate it’ll be in shanty towns and whatever else we can quickly construct, which will just further erode and destroy the Earth.
OK, so let’s say the scientists are wrong. Let’s suppose that all the facts and theories are wrong. Green is still the way to go. It is cheaper, healthier, and better economically. I’ll put it in perspective to my own life.
I moved to San Francisco for many reasons, but one of them happens to be the environment. I drive maybe once a week. Not much more than that. I take public transit all of the time or I walk. This has resulted in a number of very tangible benefits:
- I reduce traffic. By not driving I am one less car on the road.
- I catch up on my email more often. By not driving I can use my iPhone to read my mail long before I get to the office.
- I spend less money on gas. I’ve gone from filling up every 4 days to filling up maybe twice a month at most. That means I save about $170 on gas per month, an annual savings of maybe $2000. This of course also means I reduce my dependence on all oil sources.
- I can drink more. Since I don’t drive I can drink as much as I want without worrying about endangering myself or other people.
- I exercise more. This year I’ve lost an average of about 8 lbs. That’s mondo big for a person my height!
- Profits from my spending go into the local community. Since I choose to patronize local restaurants my money goes back to the people that work there.
- I support organic. I can help to reduce supporting businesses that use chemicals by shopping organic.
- I download music and videos. Sure the quality may not be as perfect as a CD or vinyl or an HD-DVD, but by going completely electronic (via iTunes) I get my content fast, it takes no physical space, my garbage bin doesn’t fill up nearly as fast with discarded wrappers and packaging, AND it’s cheaper. If more people do this then that means there will be less manufacturing of physical media, which helps reduce chemicals required to produce them, reduces fuel to transport them, etc. etc. etc.
- I switched to online banking. Quicker and easier and far less paper, I don’t have to fill up my filing cabinet as much and I don’t have to deal with as much mail. Plus I save on stamps since I don’t mail anything anymore.
- I recycle more. Since most of what I buy is recycled and I try to recycle as much as possible I have far less trash.
- I drink more filtered water. Less bottles, almost no cost, fresh and cold all the time, and it forces me to be healthier.
- I eat less fast food. That means less fat, less waiting in line in the drive-thru, less driving, less packaging I throw away, and a chance for me to try out more local restaurants.
And, really, this is just the tip of all the good things that have happened. Going green is better for the environment, which affects our quality of life (or even the ability to sustain life). And it turns out that I have more time, more money, and better health for doing so. It’s really a win-win-win kind of situation! AND, if we factor back in that the scientists are actually correct, then that means I’m doing my part to contribute to the solutions. I don’t believe there is any silver bullet that can solve all of our problems, but by doing as much as each of us can we will be able to secure a future for ourselves.