RACHEL JOHNSON
Assistant Perspectives Editor
Disclaimer: Be aware that I am not trying to tell you whether or not to believe in global warming. Most days I don’t even know what I believe about global warming. There are excellent points to both sides of the argument and I am not trying to convince you one way or another.
That being said, I think we can agree that the global warming issue raises awareness about the state of the environment in our country.
Campaigns sprang up all throughout the United States regarding different environmental issues including recycling, water conservation and cleaner air.
Here’s what gets me about the global warming debate: People still haven’t seemed to change many of their habits.
According to a Global Strategy Group poll, only 11 percent of Americans think the quality of the environment in the States is improving, while 62 percent of Americans think it is getting worse.
Whether people believe in the issues or not, there is no harm in helping protect our environment. It’s not harder to throw a plastic bottle into a recycling bin than in the trash.
However, for many, the issue is also about convenience. According to The Battalion, Texas A&M’s newspaper, increasing the number of recycling bins on campus caused students to be much more apt to recycle their garbage. In 2000, the school’s recycling center handled 630 tons of recyclable material. By 2005, after additional recycling receptacles were installed, the center was handling 990 tons of material.
Assuming we could make it easier for people to make positive changes for the environment, would the situation improve? Hopefully, but it seems that still many people who don’t believe in or support environmental issues don’t necessarily think it is their job to take small steps to preserve our country’s natural resources.
You don’t have to be an environmentalist to do good things for the environment: Try thinking about it from an economic standpoint.
Consumers can save hundreds of dollars in electric bills by doing loads of laundry with cold water or simply by turning off the lights when they leave the room. Energystar.gov states that by using a U.S. Department of energy approved light bulb, an individual can save $30.00 or more in electricity costs over every bulb’s lifetime. Monitoring central heating systems saves money, too, as does noting how far you drive and how much gas you use.
Large brand name corporations are working to encourage consumers to protect the environment. The Proctor & Gamble company, for example, created the ColdWater Challenge for Tide (www.coldwaterchallenge.com) to inspire customers to wash clothing in cold water to save money and energy. The company will benefit from the purchase of their new product, of course, but the consumer ends up saving, too.
The point is that it seems to benefit all of society if everyone does his or her part. The environmentalist will be happy because championing preservation causes is something he or she is thrilled to pursue.
For everyone else, especially those oblivious or indifferent to environmental causes, helping the environment will allow the capitalist to make and save more money.
In the end, the reasons for taking action pale in comparison to the final outcome, which is hopefully a cleaner, safer environment.
09-06-2007