martianwalrus’s Recent Comments

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  Do As I Say, Not As I Do

  I married a person who is currently researching climate at Columbia University.  Two things strike me about this community of researchers.  One, they primarily share their (dense and often difficult to understand) research with each other while there is only a handful of spokespeople assigned to reach out to the public.  

  Two, and not surprisingly, many of these scientists, people with whom I've spoken and who have expressed their deep concern about our impact upon the environment, are engaging regularly in the very behaviours they find so alarming.  If the people actually DOING the science are not so alarmed by their findings that they are dramatically changing their own behaviours, why on earth should the rest of America, much less the world, feel alarmed?  Why should we change our behaviours?  Why stop driving, flying, leaving all of the lights on in the house, letting water faucets drip, buying excessively packaged (or packaged at all) goods, and so on?  

  I'm looking forward to reading this study because I need to know that scientists recognize that they are ambassadors to the world of sorts.  The whole world is watching them and watching to see what decisions they will make in their personal lives to offset the damage we are doing to the earth as a species.  I certainly don't claim to be perfect.  I know that quitting one's car can be harder than kicking a smoking habit.  I just wonder if we prefer to keep driving or if we're ready to dig in and do the hard if unglamorous work of changing our deadly habits in honour of future generations.    On Americans and Climate Change: Intro and executive summary posted 3 years, 6 months ago 11 Responses

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  Global vs. Local

  One of the problems that I have frequently seen with the environmental movement is that, while pointing out the BIG disasters and highlighting the BIG polluters, it misses the obvious.  Each on of us, on a small scale, contributes both with our dollars and with our everyday behaviours to thoses disasters and polluters.

  I agree that part of the solution lies in focusing our energies where we have the greatest ability to effect change - locally.  I would argue, however, that we must start thinking of local as being our block or apartment building, not only our city or our state.  

  I live in New York City now and I have lived in four other cities in the US.  In each of these cities, few of the people I knew lived next door to me, and few of these people I knew actually knew anyone who lived next door to them.  This is one of the frontiers of the new environmental movement.  Yes, that's right, it's a social front, the one where you actually reach out to your neighbors and start to connect with them.  This may prove to be the most difficult part of our movement because it can be scary to break down that barrier.  Have a party once a month, get out front and garden (I garden in the median of Riverside Drive at 115th).
  Say hello to people every time you see them and introduce yourself.  If you've never or rarely done this, it can feel awkward at first, but I find that most people really appreciate the effort and are willing to meet you halfway at least.  Sure, some people are a little more private - patience, patience.

  In addition to getting to know your neighbors and neighborhood, start to get to know thyself!  I have heard many an environmentalist become outraged at the latest oil spill while being seemingly unaware of the connection of that oil spill to his/her commuting or heating needs.  How many of us drive or fly to a protest against the Iraq War or the WTO.  These events and organizations are merely reflections of our day to day behaviors and desires on a global scale.  In order to support my right to leave a light burning all day in my apartment, I'd better get used to the idea of dirty power and expanding landfills (where the burned out lightbulbs of mine and my neighbor and everybody else go).  

  In sum, we must bring our unflinching gaze to bear on our own lives and habits.  Bringing a canvas bag every time you WALK or BIKE to the grocery store and buy as many BULK or UNWRAPPED goods as you can really doesn't make that much of a difference....or does it?  We no longer have the luxury of using that excuse.  Multiply your choice by 280 million every time you make it.  Realize that those oil tankers are for you, that nuclear plant is for you (most electricity companies are allowing customers to buy "green" energy now - make the switch), the highways are for you, the jet fuel is for you, the cocoa from Ivory Coast is for you, the Coffee from Mexico is for you, the Mercury poisoned fish is for you and the war in Iraq....it's for you as well.  

  Depressed?  No need to be.  Every moment offers you the opportunity to change your mind and change your habits.  It's not always easy.  I drove a car from the time I turned 15 until age 28.  By that time, when I finally sold them both and bought a used bike, I actually owned TWO cars.  I still don't even know how much STUFF I own but I've started to tally it up.  ("Your Money or Your Life" is a book well worth reading if you are ready to start simplifying your life and walking more lightly on the earth).  Can you choose between your job and the environment?  Maybe you don't need to.  Maybe it's just a matter of taking a second look at your life in context - what can you change that will reduce your emissions and increase your enjoyment of life while helping the environment.  It doesn't have to be "big" stuff.  Really, remembering to take a canvas bag every time you shop is huge (multiply by 280 million and BELIEVE that when others see you they do think about it).  

  Oh, and if you want to do something huge that doesn't involve any major purchases - get out of debt and stay out of debt.  

  Remember, you are always doing the best that you are able to do at the time.  Keep striving but cut yourself a break when your brain is full and you're tired out.  We're stuck in a big mess, but the things we can change right away are small.  Dwell on the BIG stuff and you'll start believing that nothing you can do really matters.  Think small and local and you'll feel more energetic at the end of the day.  

  We're all in this together!  Do what you love and what brings you joy and the rest will follow.

  Ciao,

  MartinOn Whither the environmental movement? II posted 5 years ago 14 Responses