Thirty-three years after the first Earth Day, a professor from Antioch University wonders where is the outrage? A choice quote:
Some would argue that although many people are more aware of environmental issues today than in 1970, little has been done to stem the tide of environmental destruction in a world where economic growth outweighs planetary health.
If anything, the destruction is happening at a greater level than ever. It is often less visible because industry leaders and politicians know how to keep things quieter with the help of public relations firms.
True, that. I mean, the Environment just isn’t chic right now. Haven’t you heard that there are terrorists at the door? Who has time for worrying about this kind of thing when the government would rather you cower in fear of What Might Happen At Any Moment?
A personal note: I have lived in Raleigh, North Carolina for almost twelve years. In 1991, we didn’t have “ozone action days” all summer long as we have had in recent years. What happened? Supposedly, cars produce less emissions today than they did back then, right? However:
- More people moved to the Triangle area. More cars = more pollution.
- Automobile preference in 1991 has shifted from smaller cars to larger trucks and SUVs, which produce more emissions
All this, and no one seems to give a damn.
Car manufacturers don’t care; Detroit remains fairly reluctant to produce cleaner automobiles in quantity. Their industry has been sucessful at lobbying Congress to keep CAFE standards perpetually low. They love selling SUVs and trucks because of the great profit margin. The public shows its increasing deference to the environment by continuing to consume at a ridiculous rate, citing that it’s their God-Given Right to do so (after all, it’s America, dammit). Finally, our government doesn’t care. While government spending on the environment is down, lip service from our illegitimate “president” is on the rise.
The forecast for this summer? More of the same: hazy skies, choking air, and ozone alerts. It’s best that you stay inside, buy stuff off of the Internet, and watch reality on television.