marmalade.ca

Im angry today, internet. Im angry at the billions of people driving around in cars not really understanding or caring where the fuel comes from. Im mad at the massive mounds of useless CRAP filling up our landfills. Im tired of people looking at me with some sort of bemused tolerance when I talk about wanting to make ethical choices for my new home (which I still havent moved in to), because I want to have less of an impact on the planet. I hate it when eyebrows are raised when I proudly declare how happy meat makes me, well, happy (fyi: “happy meat” = organic or at the very least, locally raised without the use of antibiotics or preservatives and fed with a grain diet — and absolutely no animal by-products).

The photos coming out of Louisiana break my heart. The size of the “spill” is staggering, and its effects just astounding. I found a website last week that using the Google Maps API, superimposed the size of the leak over whatever city you wanted. When I placed it over Toronto, it spread from Bracebridge to Peterborough, to Buffalo New York, to Port Hope Michigan. This is not a trivial matter, yet for the most part, this just seems to be happening to someone else. Not to us. I feel as though there really is nothing that can happen to our planet that will ever truly unite us, to make us see that what happens to one country happens to us all. Its a very depressing thought.

The Deepwater Horizon oil leak, superimposed over my hometown

I read today that attempts to stop the leak continue to fail (perhaps giving new meaning to the term “epic fail”), and that a new possible solution would be to DRILL ANOTHER WELL in hopes of being able to control the flow of oil. While that boggles my mind (and admittedly, I am not exactly an engineer so these things go far beyond my mortal mind), this solution wont even be viable for another 2 months, as that is how long it will take to make the new well.

It’s a hard thing, trying to reconcile self-anger at your own dependance on the petroleum industry with the life that you want to lead. My biggest hurdle is how to travel. Now that I have a healthy dose of wanderlust that isn’t going anywhere, how do I get from Point A to Point B as greenly and simply as possible? Carbon offsetting seems like it could be a good thing, but to be perfectly honest Ive not looked into it yet. I will though, as I am planning to fly to British Columbia this autumn and I want to make sure I do it right. Being wise about who I travel with (which has a better environmental track record: Air Canada or West Jet?), taking the train instead of renting a car and driving around Vancouver Island, and who knows what other green possibilities has to happen otherwise Im just as guilty as the people who have me in a cranky mood today. I came across as website that claims to help “climate conscious travellers” find low fares online and provide free carbon offsets. Seems promising, but Im wary of being greenwashed – will let you know how they stack up.

Closer to home, I need to look at what I can do as well. Already, I dont own a car and use my bike as my primary means of transportation. I rent my home (or will be, once I move in a little under two weeks) so it isnt as though I can do renovations. There are things I can control though, like using fans instead of air conditioning (which also keeps my bills down), using petroleum-free products and shopping as locally as possible (locavore? who me?).

I wish I knew what else I could do. Im not an activist. Marching on Queens Park with placards and bullhorns just isnt my style (plus Id rather not be blasted with a sound cannon any time soon), but there has got to be something the average, everyday citizen can do to force our governments to sharpen the fuck up. I just wish I knew what that was.

Anyone have any suggestions?

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