EDuh

So Ed Stelmach has once again indicated that we are on our own if we want our species to survive. Our premier has not shown any leadership toward initiating any legislation addressing overall carbon emissions and continues to ignore all the empirical evidence that shows our planet is heating up. Mr. Stelmach’s strategy of emission intensity reduction while allowing production to increase is the equivalent of a smoker switching to a ‘light’ cigarette but increasing the amount they smoke from one pack to two packs a day. Duh.

Now Alberta finds itself in a situation where our oil is being labeled as environmentally toxic and it may even be banned for sale in the United States. Our premier’s proposed technology solution? Let’s pump all those toxic emissions underground! Is there no end to our ability to damage and disrupt nature’s balance?

Moving the problem from the atmosphere to the soil, which by the way is responsible for producing the atmosphere, is irresponsible. Carbon sequestering will have a major impact on the life of the soil and therefore the life of the planet. Even if we ignore such an obvious point, how does Ed figure the carbon dioxide will not escape back into the atmosphere? Counting on technology to solve a cultural problem is a recipe for extinction.

I suggest we all adopt a carbon neutral approach. Rather than explain it myself, check out this link to the David Suzuki Foundation’s take on the subject: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_neutral.asp

Why I think this is the best solution at this time is because it takes into account my theory of the three steps to empowerment, and therefore change - Enlightenment, Empathy, and Accountability. The big one of course is accountability. Make each of us accountable for neutralizing our own personal carbon emissions and we will solve this problem as a culture.

The time has come to reevaluate what is important to us. If we take a moment to educate ourselves, our values will shift our focus from the economy to the environment. No worries, our culture is so engrossed in making money that our economy will adjust to support our new values and introduce environmentally sound products and practices while continuing to generate a decent income for all. However if we don’t all act now, and I do mean now, everything will be lost.

"Storing carbon in trees or soil reservoirs for several decades may help delay climate change, but if releases from these reservoirs are not matched by deeper emission reductions, climate change could be faster and more damaging in the future."
- David Suzuki Foundation