December 17, 2008
By Gigi M. Campos
It is easy to point an accusatory finger at a smoking pile of garbage next door or a corporate polluter as the source of environmental problems. And it is true that industries put out millions of pounds of toxic substances into our world every year. It is harder, however, to flush out the destructive indifference that many people practice on a daily basis in our disconnected world. It can be terribly disconcerting to realize how many people continue to remain indifferent and unconcerned about what is happening in our world in terms of environmental problems. Segregation and proper waste management is one glaring example. How many are actually practising waste segregation to be able to reduce, recycle or re-use what would normally be discarded as trash? How many actually refuse extra packaging or that plastic bag? Sad to say, we have become so uncaring about this beautiful world God created for us to live in. Unless we somehow find the way - and the will - to end this indifference and challenge the assumptions we all hold dear, the environmental onslaught will continue until there are no functioning ecosystems left on our planet. We will reap what we sow.
“The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” — Albert Einstein
That is why it is vitally important that we all periodically examine our lifestyle choices and see what level of responsibility we each bear for the environmental crisis we are facing. It is no secret that few polluting industries would exist if there were no customers for their products. The amount of goods we consume and eventually end up polluting our environment is staggering.
Since the industrial revolution, we have been radically changing the natural environment, through our actions and our consumptive, materialistic lifestyles. Environmentally, the toxins and pollutants that we produce impact not only on ourselves, but on every other living organism with which we share this planet. Plastics top the list as mentioned in some of my previous columns.
There is now irrefutable evidence of the destructive effects of our actions on the viability of life on earth. If we are to survive, we need to understand our place within the web of life that sustains us. Because, with development comes unbridled consumerism.
We are so afraid of fully accepting the consequences of our purchases, for to do so would mean that we might have to make another choice, maybe even decide not to buy.
There is always the temptation to get the newest flat screen LCD tv or the sleekest laptop even when what we already have is still functioning.
Billions are spent on electronics every year, especially on computers, ipods, cellphones and all the latest gadgets because people are constantly upgrading.
Our indifference translates into a profound disconnection with the natural world and a loss of our roots and our home. Abusing our environment and ignoring the cries of pain of our neighbors is easy if we don’t feel a connection to the world. We need to shed our layers of intentional or unintentional indifference.
We must look below the surface of every issue in our life. And not just wonder, but find out. We must not shy away from knowing and never fear the truth. Knowing the consequences of our choices cannot hurt us as much as ignoring them will.*
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