November 2009 Archives
Little Green Lies
In response to news of hackers accessing documents and email from the Climatic Research Unit at theUniversity of East Anglia, England,
Will Al Gore’s Oscar be taken back?
In all seriousness, his points were disputed at the time, but naysayers could get no respect. Mainstream media folk couldn’t wrap their heads around Gore’s being wrong, nor could the champions of the environmental cause fathom their efforts might be in vain. Heaven forbid anyone suggest that Mother Nature or God or Allah or fate or destiny might be just a tad more powerful than we mere mortals. Our climate is changing all the time, as it did prior to the industrial revolution. Forget the global warm-up following the little ice age, forget that the 1940s through 1970s were a tremendous cooling, bound to end at some point, forget that this planet has had measurable high periods and low periods, times of great weather disturbance and times of climatic calm, forget history and details and truth. Those points are all too boring; they don’t sell well; they don’t incite better treatment of our planet.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve gone green with the best of them. In many ways, I already was. I walk everywhere I can, or take public transportation. I turn out lights, unplug appliances, open the fridge door just once to take everything out or put everything back. I light candles, keep the heat low, seal my windows, wear extra layers, and use half-sheet paper towels. Don’t get my family or former roommates started on my ruthless recycling. I’m on an energy star computer, which goes nicely with my energy star printer, tv, dvd player, and lamps. I reduce, reuse, recycle, and even call junk-mail producers to have them remove my name from their lists. (All those AmEx “preapproved” offers kill trees faster than kudzo.)
I’m not suggesting we stop finding alternatives to our habitually wasteful ways. I am suggesting the fear-mongers zip their traps. They’re unconfident that they can inspire care for our planet on the principle it’s a good idea – doing good hardly spreads like a cool, new pop tune. But to take the fear-instilling approach, based wholly on false and inflamed ‘data’ is to tell the population of the planet a huge, compost heap of green lies. Lying to get what you want, in this case Earth-friendly behavior, is usually a great way to make sure no one ever believes you again (if they listen to you again at all). Why not have some faith and conviction in the idea that gong green is great for our wallets and our planet? Why not try selling the lifestyle on its actual merit, and resist the urge to give the public more reason to distrust scientists and the government?
If this green-going-gang would put a recycled newspaper in it, they’d emit less carbon. Isn’t that what we’re all after anyway?
