Can’t we do otherwise?
February 27th, 2008I have good friends who are miles away from understanding that our way of life is unsustainable. The minute they learnt they would have a second child, they changed their brand-new car for the same model in station-wagon format. Now they have three kids and will have a fourth one soon, and they have upgraded their car to a mini-van to accommodate the newcomer (in addition to buying a second car for the missus).
When I try to suggest that they should try to invent other ways, all they can say is that they could not manage otherwise. Could not go to work on their bicycles; could not go on holidays by train; could not rent the big car on week-ends; could not take kids somewhere without a full army campsite in the trunk of the car.
Each time someone says (including me) that something pertaining to energy expenses, transportation, or comfort can’t be done otherwise, I feel sad for the next generation, who will have to do otherwise in any case. And if those who have four kids can’t think for the next generation, I don’t know who will.
It’s so frustrating when others really believe they need to make these kind of demands on our resources…especially when we know they don’t! You are absolutely right, though…the next generation is going to be forced to find a different way to live.
Honestly, I think that much energy-wasteful behaviour is driven by the need to maintain ’status’ (a bigger car, more cars, foreign holidays, truckloads of stuff etc). It’s only going to start changing when the broader public perception of ’status’ changes and it becomes cooler to have one car and take the kids on local holidays for which you pack less.
That’s what we’re seeing with recycling - when a national chain like ‘Pottery Barn’ gets in on the act and suggests it is more stylish to have an aluminium flask than a plastic water bottle, then I think there is the potential for the recycling effort to go mainstream.
Courtney: the problem is that even when we do not have to do some things, as long as the majority of people do them, we have to choose alternative lifestyles if we really want to swim against the stream. Some day, as Becky points out, alternative may become mainstream, but until then we have to be ‘different’.
It seems these days I am having these types of conversations in every circle: my work colleagues, my church groups, my neighbors (both those here and those we left behind in CT), and, of course, my blogging buddies. Now, maybe I just happen to hang with very special people, but I can’t help but be hopeful that if so many people are talking about these things that may be the first step towards change. The one thing that disillusions me, though, is that in this election year here in the U.S., the candidates are barely saying a word about it. Does that mean I’m out of touch with the public, or does it mean they are?
Politicians are by essence followers of the public opinion. The public opinion is by fate follower of the media. And the media are changing their mind as we speak. Information which used to be confined to specialized greeny niches now surfaces to the frontpage of mainstream media. Possibly I am just raving, but I guess we are going to witness the big mind shift soon. My only worry is that if people are stressed out economically, the big mind shift might turn into a green dictatorship (I should write a post about that).
If you could tell your friends that I have 3 kids and don’t own a car, and we get around fine, would that help? I have never learned how to drive, and since we live in a city - Ottawa, Canada - we have a decent transportation system in place, I have never felt the need to drive. Where I do miss it is going on holidays. Unlike Europe and to some extent the US, we have one set of rails that cross our country. And, while I’ve gone across Canada by train in my younger days, when we want to travel locally in our province, it is difficult - most places we want to visit are not serviced by the train, nor Greyhound bus (another cheap efficient way to travel). I think we have to rethink our idea of ‘holiday’, and also the use of cars. I really think renting for holidays and weekends makes alot of sense. It would ease the pressure on the transportation system during the week, and save so much energy. I also buy local whenever possible, and organic as much as possible. I think we have to be responsible for where our money goes - and if we support mass farming and animal raising/butchering, then we are supporting current farming practices, which I can’t do. I think we have to become aware of what we do, why, and the consequences - and as Emily says in a comment, why aren’t Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at least talking about the environment? Possible changes to how things are done? It’s as if Al Gore and his movie (which I did go see - it didn’t show me anything new, but repackaged it better for the general population) has completely disappeared off the planet. I would like to see a ‘big shift’ as you say, but I am not sure it’s going to happen yet. Especially if ours (yours, ours, anyone’s) is not willing to make a stand and get elected on it. By the way, love your chickens!
I wonder when a political leader will be courageous enough to promise us blood, sweat and tears, or anything uncomfortable.
You’re right, of course. No one wants to hear we have to give up anything. And to be honest, could we give up flying? I’m not sure….but it doesn’t mean we do nothing, and it certainly doesn’t mean our politicians should ignore it. but I guess they are waiting for The People to say something, and so far this election campaign has been so quiet that I’ve suddenly realized the politicians haven’t said anything. At all. Scary, isn’t it? Yikes, I don’t mean to come here and be all negative! I love your blog and that you talk about these things! And that you are trying - that’s what counts.