Sustainability:
Humans, and we Americans in particular, are rapidly destroying the Earth. People have three main reactions when
confronted with this distressing fact:
1)
Denial. Ignorance is bliss. Out of sight, out of mind. This is an age-old -- and perfectly
understandable -- human survival strategy that has outlived its usefulness.
2)
Bring it on! 59% of Americans
believe that the events foretold in the Book of Revelation will literally come
true. Thus, any problems we are
encountering and will encounter -- war, drought, pestilence, etc. -- confirm
the correctness of scriptural prophecy, and are to be welcomed.
3)
Maybe we should do something about it.
This can be called the “rational approach.” Americans are, after all, supposedly a can-do
people. We supposedly can do anything we
set our minds to, including saving the Earth.
But only a minority of Americans are
rational.
Despite
polls indicating that most Americans support the environment, these numbers are
deceptive. Saying they support the
environment allows people to feel good about themselves
without having to actually do anything.
Their behavior indicates that they don’t respect the environment nearly
as much as they say they do. When push comes
to shove, Americans will almost always treat themselves to that new SUV, fancy
new home, global vacation, or other high-impact consumer choice rather than
living in a less destructive manner.
Being
an American is about getting ahead in life.
Nothing -- not even the planet -- is more important. Denial about the true cost of the American
way of life is always the convenient and culturally-sanctioned choice.
Only
a minority of Americans are attempting to live in a manner that doesn’t destroy
the planet. Some people use the term
“sustainable” when referring to this kind of lifestyle. “Sustain,” as with a musical note, means to
go on and on. When a musical note (or a
civilization) doesn’t sustain, it dies out.
Dozens of civilizations have already died out over the millennia, and
ours is next in line.
For
the minority of Americans who believe that maybe we should actually do
something about the ongoing environmental crisis, there are three main options
to choose from. The first two are
personal lifestyle choices, and the third is a culture-wide shift:
1) The
“conscious urban consumer” option. These
people tend to recycle, bicycle or use mass transit, drive fuel-efficient cars,
utilize alternative healing modalities, shop at smaller stores such as co-ops,
or shop at farmer’s markets. They donate
to environmental and progressive groups.
They tend not to shop at mega-stores such as Wal-Mart.
There are two main disadvantages to this
option: a) Too few people practice it to
make much difference, and b) they are still dependent on -- and therefore still
enabling -- the existing exploitative and destructive economic infrastructure.
2) The “I
want out” option. Popular during the 60s
and 70s, this option typically involves buying a piece of land, building a
passive solar home, growing a garden, and utilizing off-the-grid electricity
(solar, wind, or hydro). This option
will become more popular once again as baby boomers reach retirement age,
assuming they have any retirement funds left.
Disadvantages to this option include: a) Too few people practice it to make much
difference; b)
expense and effort buying land, building a house, drilling a well, purchasing
an expensive off-the-grid electrical system, etc.; c) long commuting distance which means that
country people tend to do a lot of driving;
d) except in rare instances, most people practicing this option are
still dependent on the existing economic system.
Both
of these options offer a measure of personal integrity and
self-satisfaction. At least such people
are doing something, and hopefully their lifestyles will become more
sustainable as time goes on. But the
fact remains that only a few people are going to live this
way -- not enough to make the difference that is required.
This
brings us to the third option:
3)
The only option that can make a significant difference would be a
culture-wide change of behavior, starting with the rot at the top. How does this sound:
Americans are hungry for a positive vision. We want to leave a habitable planet for our children and grandchildren. We want renewable energy and fuel-efficient vehicles now, so that we can finally be free from the curse of oil. We want to have fair and honest elections for a change. We want a country with a level playing field for rich and poor alike. We want a country with excellent medical care for all. A country with a strong educational system. A country where all points of view are listened to and respected. A country where we aren’t manipulated to hate and fear each other. A country that heals the planet rather than destroys it. A country that practices peace instead of war.
It’s
a compelling vision, but at the present time we lack the political power to
make it happen. The unholy trinity of the Neocon Republican Party, Corporate Elite, and
Religious Right have a lock on our corrupt political system and the
government’s propaganda arm, the corporate media. The masses are hypnotized into complacent
acceptance, and we have limited opportunities to reach them. To save the Earth from destruction means
taking over the government, and this effectively means
revolution -- a peaceful revolution to be sure, but a revolution
nonetheless. I honestly don’t know if we
have the clout to do this. But we have
no choice but to try.
A
well-known sustainability advocate recently said that it’s a real balancing act
getting his message across. He’s
constantly walking the razor’s edge. If
he comes across too alarmist, he takes people out of their comfort zone and
they tune out. If he comes across too
moderate, people stay in their comfort zone and don’t do anything. Getting people to actually change their
behavior without freaking into paralysis takes considerable finesse, and he
finds it challenging to present his message in just the right way to
successfully inspire people to change.
So
it won’t be easy. Earth remains in the
balance, and what we do during the next few years will permanently tip the
scales one way or the other. While we’re
busy tipping the scales, let’s remember to have as much fun as possible. What could be more joyful than saving the
Earth?
(Gordon Solberg keeps bees
and grubs in the dirt near Radium Springs, NM. His email address is earth@zianet.com.)