This past week, we celebrated Earth Day at the school. So, I was trying to bring up awareness about environmental issues with my students. We talked about how we can reduce consumption in our own lives and what the future will be like when they are older- both positive and negative possibilities. Many of the students gave the standard answers: recycle, reuse, don’t throw away food. Some gave more erroneous answers: use less paper and use computers (which was a nice thought, but probably not helping much with energy reduction). However, one of my students gave an answer that really made me stop and think. She stated that people will not change their lack of concern about the environment until something very destructive happens environmentally. Of course, by then great damage will have been done.
I have to agree with her assessment. On the whole, we are a people of reaction, not action and preparation. We wait for the problem to happen, before it becomes urgent enough to act on. I think there are two groups that this should speak to. One is the group which realizes that over consumption and climate change is a major issue but are not as active in their lives as they should be. I think I find myself in this category. I often let over consumption in my own life simply pass by without a thought. I have to think if you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. If this group can learn to consume less and teach others to as well, then they can really confront this problem head on.
The second group are those who don’t think these issues are that big a deal. It is like a video for the Tea Party I saw. When the speaker asked, “What is Global Warming?” The crowd responded in unison, “Bull***t”. Sadly, this is what happens when people get their scientific information from FOX NEWS, who like many conservatives have a very strong political motivation to deny climate change and downplay environmental issues, instead of listening to the overwhelming majority of scientists and climatologists. However, we willfully deny this at our own demise. Even if you have doubts about climate change, isn’t it better to be on the safe side, even if that might mean some changes in consumption habits and more environmental regulations?
We have to learn to take personal responsibility to reduce consumption, but I do not believe that is sufficient. We need to take political and social action to help deal with these issues as well. You can live like a “environmental” monk, but when the largest countries and corporations continue to act without regard for the environment, it is not going to be sufficient to deal with the bigger issues. Perhaps, the best thing I learned is that “out of the mouth of babes” we can learn a whole lot about ourselves and our world. Sometimes they reveal things that adults have grown callous to. Let’s pray that the next generation stays aware and sensitive to this very vital and important issue.
