Earth Day? Shouldn't Every Day Be Earth Day?
A lot of bloggers around the Cat Blogosphere (and around the web, generally) have posted for Earth Day today.
Image courtesy of Ann @ Zoolatry
I didn't join in on the cat blog because I'm rather cynical about this, and I don't think my opinion is appropriate for that venue.
Sure, it's great to pick a day and preach to the choir, so we all can feel good about ourselves. Post a graphic or two and feel like we've made a difference. And of course, on the individual level, many humans do their part every day to lower their carbon footprint, to recycle and compost, etc.
But the reality is that taking care of the Earth is not in the interests of Big Business, and unless human nature ever changes, or something catastrophic happens (to the Earth) to force a significant change, the destruction of the Earth and Her resources will continue. You cannot have 7+ billion people on this planet without huge negative impact, yet people still continue to breed like, well, rabbits. (And I happen to think that one day our species will do itself in because of all the associated pressures on resources due to our overpopulation.)
So yes, let's do the best we can to take care of Mother Earth within our own circles of influence, let's educate the younger generations with the hope that they can and will do better, but don't think that marking one day on the calendar is going to make a fundamental difference or that those who control the planet's resources give a rat's ass. They don't.
But the reality is that taking care of the Earth is not in the interests of Big Business, and unless human nature ever changes, or something catastrophic happens (to the Earth) to force a significant change, the destruction of the Earth and Her resources will continue. You cannot have 7+ billion people on this planet without huge negative impact, yet people still continue to breed like, well, rabbits. (And I happen to think that one day our species will do itself in because of all the associated pressures on resources due to our overpopulation.)
So yes, let's do the best we can to take care of Mother Earth within our own circles of influence, let's educate the younger generations with the hope that they can and will do better, but don't think that marking one day on the calendar is going to make a fundamental difference or that those who control the planet's resources give a rat's ass. They don't.
Thus spake Cynic Kim.
Comments
Nothing will change until fundamental thinking does. I like to blame big business as much as anyone, and it is largely to blame. But ordinary people are little different. In Canada, Tim Hortons, a doughnut shop, sells very popular coffee: there and a half million cups a day - none of the cups are recyclable. It costs too much. Even if they all get thrown into garbage bins, is that a solution? That garbage has to go somewhere. And that's not big business buying all those cups of coffee. That's ordinary people.
I guess you could say I'm a bit cynical about things, too.
But you've made a good point.
I do like to rant about corporate greed, blah blah, but it starts with individual attitudes.
Maybe I ought to rant about all the idiots who leave their garbage in bus shelters too, who can't be bothered to put their litter in nearby trash cans, or even in the trash bins (small) on the buses themselves.
I'm glad I'll be long gone before then...If our species even survives to 40 billion!
What's worse, is often the 'green' option is worse for the environment than the 'conventional' but they painted it green and called it green and hoped no one would notice.
But I do agree with most of your post. There is so much more we could do with the trillions that are spent on advertising alone. The focus of business is getting us to spend more, nor re-use and recycle.
I feel, as you do, that something catastrophic will have to happen or very little will change. We can all do a little bit, but it will take others more powerful and influential to make it truly happen.
One of my favorite movie quotes of all times says it all: "There is a lot of bad ism's floating around this world and one of the worst is commercialism...make a buck, make a buck..."