Environmental apocalypse
To the Swarthmorean,
The United Nations report on the failure of advanced nations to enact meaningful reforms to “ameliorate” (forget about “arrest”—it’s too late for that) climate change, comes amidst news of catastrophic flooding in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sicily. These foreign events are generally ignored in our parochial U.S. news outlets. It’s bad out there!
There are few things that individuals can do that make much impact. I will list what I think is do-able without one having to become a Greta Thunberg. Maybe you’ll adopt one of them.
Get rid of enormously polluting gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers—get electric or battery powered ones. Consider changing who cuts your grass.
Drive less. Prenez le train, ou le bus, ou le bicyclette.
Fly less.
Support bottle bills whereby you pay for a deposit when you buy plastic bottles, and get refunded when you return them. Such legislation exists in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Vermont. A total of nine states. In Pennsylvania, Wendy Ullman from Bucks Cty introduced legislation in 2019, which promptly died in the finance committee. Her opponent in the 2020 election easily unseated her with a pro-business platform. The soft drink manufacturers lobby in Pennsylvania has successfully resisted recycling efforts and legislation for decades.
Don’t buy 6-packs (or cases) of little bottles of water and soft drinks. For water, use the aluminum bottle that most people already have, but are too indolent or mindless to use.
Spread the word, especially to your children and to your elected officials. Remember how Philadelphia, with Mayor Jim Kenney’s leadership, was able to pass a ferociously contested law to tax soda pop?
Give yourself credit for stretching to make even a small stretch that helps the common good and raises consciousness.
Rob Dreyfus, MD (Greta Thunberg wannabe)
Swarthmore
