Enough about tax hikes!

I'm feeling feisty today, as I write this waiting for a flight that's 2 1/2 hrs late.

I am so tired of all the Washington windbags and others who argue against climate and energy regulation 'because it's just another hidden tax'. HELLO!!

Then again, many of these guys were at the wheel over the past 40 yrs while we repeatedly raped and abused and depleted our poor planet. What's YOUR plan? Do nothing because it might cost money? Didn't seem to bother you to go spend over a trilion dollars to fight an unjust war or bailout Wall Street, but God forbid we spend anything to restore some honor to this generation and leave something sustainable to the next.

Do I sound mad?? Try outraged. Revolted. Mortified. And I'm keeping this PG. Is this going to cost money? You bet!! Try running a bulldozer through your house, then see if you can make it habitable again without paying for it.

Even if there was no other upside than doing what's right it'd be worth doing. But there is in fact plenty:
- Renewable energy technology, sustainable manufacturing methods etc. are going to be in huge demand globally for decades to come. Japan dominated the fuel-efficient car market from day one and hasn't looked back. Does the US need to lose this race also because lobbies are so bent on protecting the status quo?
- The US produces more than 25% of the world's pollution with less than 5% of the world's population. How do you think that makes the world feel about the US when we refuse to sign Kyoto protocol etc... If any other country did this, we'd probably wage war on them citing national security interests. And that'd probably be a good reason!

There is no match anywhere for the power of US ingenuity combined with its entrepreneurial spirit. Let's lead the world in shifting to clean energy, let's make better use of scarce natural resources, let's all make better choices as consumers and citizens. Imagine being able to tell our children we're leaving them the Earth in better shape than the one our parents handed us.

This isn't about money. Or politics. It's about humanity and love for our planet and all its creatures, damn it!!
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Time to stand up and be counted

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." ~ Jean Baptiste Moliere

I came across this quote on Twitter today. Inaction, or not doing something about a problem, can be as damming as doing something to cause the problem. In France for example, 'non-assistance to a person is danger' is a criminal offense. If you see someone in urgent need of help and do nothing, you are criminally negligent.

There is overwhelming evidence that some of our actions as a people are reckless and putting many animal species as well as fellow human beings in mortal danger. The beautifully produced documentary Home makes a very compelling argument not only about the catastrophic effect of global warming (something some people still like to deny is a problem), but the irrefutable fact that we are depleting vital natural resources at an unsustainable rate.

Many of us - myself included - are aware of and concerned about these problems. We lament the dismal example being set by political and corporate leaders and their myopic focus on the next election or quarterly earnings. But when does OUR inaction become complicit in the fact that we are not addressing the problem? Many ordinary individuals at grassroots levels or through NGOs make great personal sacrifices to make a difference. But many more of us need to step up and take an active part in changing our ways, changing our world.

I have a comfortable, privileged life, even by 'Western world' standards. I have more resources at my disposal than a majority of my fellow citizens. I have a choice to make: Do I continue using these resources to avoid the problems of our world (pay more for 'healthy' food, hire home security services, air conditioning, etc...)? Or do I refocus my spare time and resources to help confront and address these problems?

The answer is obvious. Still, inertia is a powerful force, and I realize the crucial first step is to change my ways, my consumption before I can effectively or credibly seek to change anyone else's.

I'll try to keep coming back here to keep track of concrete steps I'm taking in that direction. All advice and comments are welcome!