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| "In the heart of a bulb is the promise of spring....." |
The
environmental cause is a true concern; nature is drowning in plastic, car
exhaust fumes pollute our atmosphere and mountains of fast-fashion clothing rot
away in landfills while we continue to drive cars running on fossil fuel and feel little, or no shame at picking up a bargain at the shop or online for items
made thousand’s of miles away, while knowingly overlooking locally made products
due to their higher price tags.
In Sweden a
teenage activist named Greta Ernman
Thunberg has been making news with her fight against global warming. Following
in her example hundreds of scandinavian children and students have also gone on school strikes in
March 2019 to campaign against climate change.
Had I been 16 I would
have been the loudest and most eager participant, pushing my way to the front
of the line, and shouting until my voice is hoarse “Stop using plastic !”. I am
in the over 40 category now, and while I one hundred percent agree
that the planet is sick and needs help, I might be seeing the situation from a
slightly different vantage point.
Yes ! The planet is not
doing too good, and while it is easy to blame the older generation for
the plastic mess, the truth of the matter is that plastic and cars alone are
not the main cause of global warming and climate change – Greed and it’s little
sister – vanity, are the true origin of the
problem!
Greed is the reason why
the cucumbers at the grocery store are individually sold in plastic wrap ! Someone
at one time figured out there was more profit to be made selling beautiful,
matching vegetables wrapped in plastic than trying to convince customers to buy
the short, deformed or damaged ones.
Greed is also the
motivating factor behind much of fashion industry, and any manufacturers that
produces and sells non-biodegradable / recyclable items, as well as those of
inferior quality. Someone, somewhere is making a profit on the culpability of
customers.
Vanity is the reason we
keep buying new items that are easily expendable. Think about it for a while,
how many things do we have around the house that we do not actually use, need,
or even like? Or, how often do we replace a perfectly good item for a shinier,
newer version ?
We are all guilty, and
while we feel good about going shopping with our recyclable nets, or tote bags the important question should be not in what we carry our purchases in, but what did we buy ?
Don’t get me wrong I do
support the engagement for the global health of our planet, but
demonstrations are not enough, what we need is a change of attitude, a change
in our appetites and shopping habits.
I urge all those who
feel strongly about the environment to make a pledge, a personal vow to live
simpler, more purposeful lives. To reject greed and vanity in not just their
daily lives, but also in their career choices.
Grow a vegetable garden,
plant flowers bees are attracted to, be conscious and aware of your responsibility
as custodians of our delicate eco system, recycle, and buy local products.
But most of all remember
actions speaks louder than words, and cliché as it sounds this saying is as true as ever "To change the world
you must first change yourself!"
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