The Long View

The Long View

Mankind, even as cave dwellers, was motivationally incapable of keeping the caves clean. Now, as world citizens, we as a species are probably incapable of cleaning up our oceans and landmass of earth's litter and cast offs. Even space is getting filled with earth's flotsam and jetsam. Space debris is a real and growing problem.

We can't even get immediate family to agree on picking up laundry and taking out trash. So why should we assume that it is possible to get other populations representing myriad cultures, different histories, different economies, different needs, and different values to agree and act on the steps necessary to save our planet.

Fear of death won't do it! Especially if those deaths are out of sight, either in terms of time or space, and not an immediate threat to self and family. Education won't do it either. In fact education itself, because of politically charged anti-intellectualism and competition from cultism, needs attention even while we wrestle with trying to save the earth from our trash.

Just in the last few weeks Japan announced that a huge amount of water from a nuclear site was going to be dumped in the ocean. Their scientists explained how that was okay. Meanwhile, approximately 30% of the world's oil is produced from off-shore wells. That's no problem unless you remember the BP oil rig fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico from a few years ago.

Tankers move that oil across our oceans to users all over the world. But, no problem, unless you remember the Valdez off the coast of Alaska or any of our other historical spills.

Great pictures the other day showing good samaritans carefully cutting away nets and lines in which a whale had become entangled! We are treated regularly with stories and pictures of dying sea life, unexplained mass fish kills, dying corral reefs, and huge clusters of floating plastic trash.



And a new attention getter that everyone should look at and ponder is Google's recent pictures of the results of ten years worth of climate change from the view of satellites. For example, Greenland, which used to be white from snow and ice, is steadily turning green as the snow and ice melts. And remember the Northwest Passage that Henry Hudson unsuccessfully sought. If he were looking today he would find it.

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spite the enormity of the problem, there are some good things happening. Science and engineering are giving us greener alternatives to oil and coal. I have read of no dangerous wind spills from off-shore wind farms, and similarly I am unaware of any solar spill disasters. Take away the need for oil and coal and you take away the pollution. We need to personally and collectively embrace, use, and support these advances as they become available.

The movement to electric vehicles is decreasing the need for oil, which is a major pollutant to our oceans and air. Four years ago 20 rigs were wildcatting off-shore. A recent count found only 12 rigs still active, all of them belonging to Louisiana. As demand decreases, so will oil and air pollution.

The major moves must be made by government. Electric cars need charging stations. Lost gasoline taxes used for road building and upkeep need replacing, and interstate standards need to be addressed. That makes it even more important to vote into office at all levels lawmakers sensitive and committed to the need to save our oceans and lands for future generations.

How can we help! And we should help, because every little bit helps. One pixel won't make a picture. But hundreds of thousands of them will

Recycle.

Recycling should start at the point where you make the decision to acquire an item. For example. Paper vs plastic bags. An easy choice. We opt for paper bags, and then reuse those bags as containers for paper items that can be recycled.
Plastic vs foam vs paper for cups, packaging, straws, and other products. Local government banned foam cups making that choice easy. Our granddaughter banned plastic straws. If a straw is absolutely needed, there are paper ones. If a product comes in plastic or paper, it gets recycled.

Reduce

Reduce use and consumption. We reduce gas consumption by driving fewer miles. Planning driving outings combines multiple destinations in one trip rather than needing to make multiple trips, and thinking through the drive before leaving enables selection of the most cost efficient route. Our next car purchase is likely to be a electric vehicle. And for those who have the option, choosing not to drive during rush hours and choosing less congested routes reduces not only gas consumption but also reduces stress.

We reduce electrical use by unplugging some items when we are away. We use judicious settings on the thermostat by not overheating or over cooling (to include a smart thermostat which is on order) and we use LED bulbs in all fixtures. Add to that the purchase of energy efficient appliances, turning off lights when they are not needed, and adjustment of airflow in unoccupied rooms.

Reuse

Reuse and repurpose things. Hand down and pass on cell phones, tablets, computers, clothing furniture, books, and appliances. Join the neighborhood Facebook group that offers things free to each other,. Donate items to charities.
Repurpose that old Kindle to be your bedside alarm clock and let Alexis give you the first news of the morning or play a calming song at night. Use your old smart phone as a dedicated GPS in your car. Make purchases at thrift stores and reuse previously owned items.

My family is doing all of these things, as I assume most people do. The most important of those is carrying concern for the planet to the ballot box and being willing to accept some responsibility for the health of the planet.

In the meantime

Plant a tree!