Lindsey Boerma
Perspectives Editor
As police drag UC Berkeley students away in handcuffs for coordinating a 21-month campus oak grove sit-off and avid environmentalists write letters to the Alaska Governor’s office denouncing Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin for her support of wildlife air raids, I can rest assured that by sporting my green “Hug a Tree” t-shirt, I am doing my part to preserve the ecosystem.
Make no mistake — this assertion is meant to be facetious.
Sure, I break out my reusable grocery bag when posed with the question, “Paper or plastic?” I pick up the occasional piece of litter. I even set off on tirades about carbon emissions and petroleum exploitation when I see Hummers careening down Pacific Coast Highway.
I like the abstract, intangible idea of being an environmentalist. There’s something so irresistibly “Hippie-like” about instigating sit-ins at corporations that partake in animal testing and mass paper production. Yet, I am not equipped to handle the responsibility of actually executing the actions implied by such a title. The problem is, neither are most Americans.
The current state of environmentalism relies too heavily on the false pretense that individuals and the private sector can implement interminable solutions to the ever-degenerating environmental concerns that have accumulated so much publicity in our country’s recent efforts to “go green.”
While some altruists engage in such efforts with sincere and commendable motives, America as a whole has become all too enraptured in using the movement as a means of rectifying its currently substandard global image.
This reasoning is not entirely unjustified, considering the United States has contributed over 5,000 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the accretion of greenhouse gases in the midst of the crusade against global warming, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site.
However, the fact is that even the most motivated individuals cannot eradicate the problem with a few short-term solutions. And, frankly, it’s not their job to do so.
Much to the dismay of Ron Paul revolutionaries, America is not a libertarian society. The U.S. government operates largely under its capacity to dominate states and individuals, and thus must spearhead concrete, durable environmental policies. Yet, so far, Americans are skeptical.
Epitomizing national criticism of this environmental government activism — or lack thereof — is “The Simpsons Movie.” In the movie, the EPA entraps the entire town of Springfield in a glass dome, with hopes of isolating its incomparable pollutant contamination from the rest of the world. Russ Cargill, head of the EPA, then announces his intent to take the town off the map, in order to minimize suspicion.
Although I am in no way implying that a 90-minute cartoon could properly encapsulate the intricacies of our world’s environmental crisis, it makes a valid point, nonetheless.
With the Democrats controlling Congress, it would be expected that, considering their traditionally more active platforms on environmental reform, some sort of clear-cut policy modifications would emerge.
Of course, there are bills that have been tossed around capping greenhouse gas emissions, wildlife protection and the like. Yet, a recent incident in the House proves Congress’ ostensible nonchalance regarding the need for immediate environmental improvements.
On Aug. 1, the Republican House minority called for a vote to compromise off-shore drilling measures to reduce foreign oil dependency and the proliferation of petroleum-based resources. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi responded by demonstrating her own concept for energy efficiency — turning off the lights and walking out.
Such a juvenile maneuver from the leader of one of the houses that governs our country is disheartening — and it sets the standard for a less-than-proactive government, when it comes to environmental issues.
Enthusiastic citizens are engaging nationally in the movement to “go green” with water conservation, fuel efficiency and natural resource preservation. Yet, truly lessening our country’s carbon footprint on the globe requires cooperation and action from a currently apathetic government.
Submitted 09-18-2008
