Earth Day? Did you say?
Posted on April 24, 2008
So it was Earth Day yesterday. And what was it all about? I noticed because the Google logo on their main page changed into a green oasis with a little waterfall. Cute. But so what happened on Earth Day?
You can read loads of editorials online about efforts to save the planet, doomsday scenarios and of course large consumer marketing of so called green products for all kinds of uses. I am glad to see the amount of ink used for this purpose, I am very skeptical about our ability to really change anything anytime soon.
For example, I live in South California, I am bombarded with information about how live greener. I have followed many “green tips” such as changing my light bulbs to compact fluorescent ones (I live in a permanent gloom now at home), I minimize water use as much as I can, I have a lighter foot on the gas now, I drink tap water only, I make sure as much as my possible my groceries are locally grown and I hang out my washing to dry. So are we good now? Is the planet saved? or should I plant a few more trees in the back yard?
The basic issue is that all these little “green tips” do help, on the long run, we’ll adapt, but they are no where close to achieve anything really big. What is really needed is a total redesign of our lifestyle. As a friend of mine says: “We are in for a drastic change of lifestyle here!”. Think about it, I’d like to walk to the store, but who has a store anywhere close to them in South California? There are miles and miles of highways. New houses a built everyday with no local stores within walking distance. All stores are set up as major malls for which you need a car to go to, same for the local new schools. There are very few buses, trains or trams. I’ve tried biking, but its suicidal here. The bike lanes are protected by a painted strip of paint on the side of 50 mph roads! Is that safe? Would you send your kids to school on a bike on these roads? No. And sadly this is not only specific to South California, its all over the US and elsewhere, there just seems to be no planning at all for sustainable development.
So next earth day is in 363 days, as the count down clock announces on earth day’s web site. But what are we counting down to? Another year of hanging my socks out to dry?
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