Yes, In My Backyard


I was reading somewhere, that one of the challenges we face is that the consequences of a changing climate are not always felt locally. That the consequences of unleashing ancient hydrocarbons buried for millions of years do not necessarily hit the average person over the head in order to get more action on these issues. It is well documented that the naysayers, though unbacked by science and reason, hold a disproportionate control over the media who timidly have been unwilling to present climate change as the biggest challenge ever to face humanity.

Here in Vermont, we have little in the way of energy resources and are dependent mostly on importing our energy. James Hanson, the NASA scientist who blew the whistle years ago is not sleeping very well these days as he wonders if we have reached the tipping point where nothing we do may mitigate the disaster that we are experiencing in the natural world and for what is in store for us.

All things local make more sense when it comes to getting us to wake up out of our slumber. It behoves communities to start measuring our carbon footprint as a first step and look at the contributions that we all make in this regard.

Mike




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