INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COLUMN

For many years I have been trying to find a way to address the concerns I have for the environment. This project started about 10 or 12 years ago. Computers and e-mail were not of my world at that time. I started my investigation by reading as many environmental authors as I could find in the Cambridge and Kitchener libraries. I physically cut and pasted my findings and conclusions onto charts trying to find the clues that would suggest a way of addressing the pollution problems.

My first feeling was that the situation was utterly hopeless.

Firstly, it was obvious that the corporate world was not going to police themselves. Why should they give up a share of their particular market? There would always be someone else who was more than willing to take their market share the minute they lost the competitive edge. It was obvious that executives of corporations act for shareholders and owners and not for society as a whole. Executives are compensated by profits, not conscience. Executives work hard at trying to project the good corporate image and will deny all responsibility when accused of being less than upright and proper; they paint themselves green and hope that you cannot see through the obvious camouflage; they financially support and then lobby politicians relentlessly. Hey, I retired as an executive.

Secondly, it was obvious that the present political system was not going to help much. The general platforms are preoccupied with state, economy, technology and jobs. Their platforms are mostly dedicated to the fallacy of infinite and sustained growth. This is contrary to the very founding principals of our country and our world. The environment is an annoying fringe issue. It deserves limited attention, at best, and only then when a strong and vocal environmental group hits a nerve.

My third conclusion was that the people who were already concerned and organized were the answer. They had already identified the problems and had suggestions as to the remedies. We would have to find a way of bringing all of the environmentalist under one umbrella. This way they could have a strong voice. This voice would then be heard by the politicians and the public alike. Eventually it became apparent that the groups had such varied agendas, and were not willing to dilute their particular agenda, or coffers, by sharing the spotlight with others; I realized that this was, unfortunately, not the answer.

Maybe the fledgling Green Party was the answer. Good gracious, they are dismissed as Socialists, radical, anti-establishment, romantics. They get great coverage in the press, but only when someone smokes pot (and actually inhales, or refuses to exhale), or they say something controversial. Well, maybe they have the answers; We'll see.

Where will this environmental column that the Reporter has actually accepted take us? Good question! I see the environment question taking many avenues that most are cautious about traveling. (Heck, I will probably get trashed now and then, but I'll survive.)

Are you and I ready to address such items as theology and politics, population, women's rights, environmentalists as people and not subversives, your personal contribution to the degradation of this beautiful planet, propaganda, indoctrination, vanity pollution, corrupted food, squandered energy, genetic interference, unemployment and immigration, our obsession with power, speed, wealth, commercialism, shiny stones and shiny metal, and who knows what else?

As Albert Einstein said, "The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation." We need creative thinking and creative solutions.

Stick with me. I can assure you that you won't enjoy it.

Have a nice day.