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Index of Subjects On Wed, 28 Apr 1999, Brian C. Bradley wrote: [. . .] > Although much of what you mentioned is of good value, there are some of us > on this earth that require a car to remain employed. Many other > salespersons, like myself at times, may exceed an average of over 1,000 > km/week in traveling. This is a pre-requisite to our feeding our children > and family members. Brian, you give new meaning to the term "defensive driver" :) I think on sust-mar we've been down this road before (no pun intended) Seriously tho, it mystifies me to hear environmentalists stick up for cars -- one of the biggest environmental problems on the planet. I mean, using them is one thing ... but why go to lengths to defend them? More to the point, why does encouragement of environmentally-responsible transport meet with resistance? Would the suggestion of using recycled paper or "green" building materials meet with opposition? Would advice on composting or recycling be criticised as an invasion of personal freedom? Actually, I think Brian has identified the crux of the issue: behind every environmental problem are good people trying to make an honest buck. But somehow, we as a society are going wrong. And our environment is paying the price for our lavish North American lifestyle. In Ontario alone, almost 2000 die annually from air pollution caused in no small part by cars. I don't know the Maritime statistics ... but I think I have a right to speak up before I become one. My quality of life is damaged by the actions of others, and I'm not happy about it. >:-( Moreover, i think i have a moral obligation to speak up for all that is defenceless and voiceless ... the critters that lose their homes to habitat destruction for road-building, and the irreplaceable ecosystems that are destroyed for the sake of gas production ... the list goes on. So i stand by my original suggestion urging people to try and go without using gas one day per year. Maybe even make a habit of it ... walk, bike, public transit ... even carpool if you must. It's not all or nothing. Reduction counts. And if you feel you absolutely MUST drive your car, keep it tuned up ... use one of those vacuum doohickey's that Brian has ... and use it as little as possible. I know lots of people who "need" their car for work, or "for their kids" ... yet they also use the car to return movies, buy bread, recreation, etc. I know how easy it is to fall into the habit of using the car for everything, b/c i used to have one. Finally, before you get mad at me, do keep in mind that my suggestion is just that. It's not a judgement nor an attack on any individual. But it is an attack on pollution, and a suggestion for *everyone*. Will technology save us? I don't know. But i do know that we all make our own choices, set our own priorities. Only you can decide whether to drive a car ... whether it is a "need" or a "want" ... and when to use it. I'll leave with a quote from Jason Blanch, a CIDA intern in El Salvador: "Our world is warming and yet we burn fuel to fight the wind. Today i realize the impact i make. Teaching kids every day makes me realize the size of my own ecological footprint. I think everyone who thinks they are environmental should try to justify their lives to a class of elementary students every week or two. Talk is our weakness and action our salvation." Jason wasn't talking about cars btw, but i think it's an appropriate comparison. This quote was taken from "The Gaia Newsletter" of the Sierra Club's British Columbia Chapter. take care ... and take action "for your kids" ~paul :) __________________________________________________________________________ Paul A. Falvo, LL.B. * chebucto.ns.ca/~pfalvo/Profile.html * (416)694-1513 Communications Chair, Sierra Club, Eastern Canada Chapter -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- You received this because you are subscribed to "sust-mar", the Sustainable Maritimes mailing list. To unsubscribe, send email to <majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> with "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes) as the body of your message. To post a message to sust-mar subscribers, send it to <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca> Posts that are off-topic or excessive length (10K) will be rejected. For help contact <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
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