Don’t get me wrong, I do believe we, as a race, are destroying our environment and must change our habits or pay the consequences. I do my best: I try to grow my own tomatoes, buy local and in season, and use beeswax wraps in the kitchen. Every time I go to a beach, I gather any bits of plastic to be found. Etc. Etc.
However, I feel a huge load of collective guilt is being dumped upon us citizens: everything we do is wrong! We are being made to feel guilty every time we turn on the tap. After generations of persuading people to use deodorant, now the new green is—wait for it—not to wash! Ourselves or our clothes.
Of course we should all modify our mindset and each do our bit, but perhaps some more laws could be passed that would make a bigger difference, faster. If I used a plastic straw every day for the rest of my life (I have an ancient packet at the back of a kitchen drawer, since the family kids refuse to use them!) I would still probably have used less than those sold in a single day by a fast food joint. I know a lot of companies are trying to ‘go green’, but, unless they are forced to do so, plenty will carry on in the old way for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, the topic has acquired an annoying tone of strident fanaticism. The way things are going, we will soon be advised to live in huts constructed from twigs that have died a natural death, and feed ourselves on fruit that fell off the tree of its own accord, a concept perhaps possible in a banana grove in Zanzibar, but not so much in Montana in the winter.
Else we’ll have to move back into the caves where, unless we happen to have a steady supply of the twigs as per above description, we will cower swathed in layers of vintage, recycled and unwashed sweaters, stinking to high heaven, and chewing on insects and fruit (see the bit about them having died a natural death). Oh, and should we have the good fortune to have a pond nearby, we could supplement our diet with a bit of pond scum, rich in protein and nutritious bacteria.
Our cats will have to be slaughtered because they eat songbirds, we will not be allowed to ride horses because it is cruel (notwithstanding that human civilization was borne upon the back of a horse), but unfortunately all horses will have to be slaughtered, too, because grazing animals harm the planet.
The same of course goes for cattle and their toxic farts, while cheese, one of the oldest and most natural foodstuffs of mankind, has somehow become poisonous, as well as milking being bad for the animals’ psychological welfare.
We will also have to stay put, because every means of transport uses some form of energy. Unless we walk, bicycle or row. Greta Thunberg managed to cross the ocean without impacting the environment, albeit on a state-of-the-art yacht costing a few million and provided and/or skippered by Pierre Casiraghi who obviously has no need to hold down a job and can afford to go gallivanting about the world at will. Not an option for the rest of us, I suspect. Plus the construction of said yacht probably made a footprint as big as a Yeti’s.
Meanwhile, there is a ski slope in Dubai! Which merrily consumes, in a single day no doubt, the fuel that would keep you, dear readers, collectively going for the rest of your lives.
We would be roundly criticized if we dared to wear our granny’s old mink coat (which is dead already), but isn’t faux fur made of plastic?
We are lectured about all the harm we are doing via Environmental Conferences that are attended by people arriving by helicopter, private jet or super yacht.
Everything has a cost, and a fallout. Cows fart, but almond milk production consumes tons of water.
I think it’s a good thing awareness is being raised on all such matters, because there is no doubt the world is seriously overpopulated and in full consumption mode. But let’s keep the tone less strident and let’s not forget what Milton Friedman, amongst others, said: There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
Photos from the inimitable collection of New Yorker cartoons
Letters from Athens 
In my most conspiracy-theorist moments, I’m inclined to think that guilting everyone into small perfections is a way of keeping the pressure off corporations and governments, who could do large and useful things. And I say that without trying to give us–including myself–a free pass on our habits.
LikeLike
I agree with you. We all must try but lighten up on attacking others. The fact of the matter is the earth cannot sustain our current level of population indefinitely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
No, and we’ve known that for years. In fact, the population of Europe is shrinking fast, but in other places it is exploding.
LikeLike
Well said, Marina. The irony of the ‘environmental reporters’ travelling thousands of miles by air with film crews and producers, just to tell us about pollution in the South Seas, is not lost on me.
I will believe it if they show locally-shot footage, sent by email. The BBC does not need to send a ‘team’.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The latest here in north Australia is that we are being asked not to wear sunscreen if we visit the Great Barrier Reef. Apparently the means we use to protect ourselves from skin cancer is harming the coral… If tomorrow every single person on this planet just refused to buy plastic bottled drinks ever again, it would make an enormous difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read about the sunscreen, and I totally agree about the bottles. They’re everywhere. But wouldn’t it be more effective to forbid production than try to persuade people not to buy them?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there are people frequenting my local supermarket who were pioneers in the ‘no deodorant’ movement who might willingly adopt the ‘no washing’ policy and then, if it catches on, we’ll all have to go out wearing face masks against the smell and would the masks be ethically produced? It’s all such a worry.
Referring to what Kate says about plastic bottles – the French are champion bottled water drinkers and I shudder when I see all those multipacks in the supermarket trollies. I must be old as I remember a time when, if you were thirsty when out and about, or thought you might be, you took a flask out with you, popped into a café or waited until you got home to get a drink of water and, if you didn’t live in a third world country, could turn on the tap for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and as I said to Kate, if would be more efficient to forbid production and make companies find a viable alternative, than to persuade people not to buy them. They’re sold everywhere, and sometimes they’re the only alternative, ie. in an airport.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most thought provoking, Marina. I guess that in our quest for more and better we have lost all sense of balance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel your pain. Our planet is in crisis but the last thing it needs is another guilt based religion to keep the little people down while others grow fat. We need commonsense, caring and a good dose of smart thinking.
LikeLike
Hummm, yes. However, I think it ‘s particular sunscreens that contain the nasties. I’m glad so many supermarkets have stopped a great percentage of plastic bags. In our waters too many turtles die because of them, preventing them from diving into the depths
LikeLike
Our circle of life, which probably started from the caves, may takes it full orbit and land us back right there.
Or we could all just get our favorite drink and enjoy this ride towards our demise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, noooo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh the irony of the truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙄
LikeLike