To Err is Human, But I’m Doing My Best!

Despite currently reading “The Skeptical Environmentalist” by author Bjørn Lomborg, I would consider myself an environmentalist, I also happen to be reading “Resolving Environmental Conflict; Towards Sustainable Community Development”, by Chris Maser. These activities help me keep an open mind.

Thus, the Simply Green March 13, 2010, article “How to Help the Environment” was an interesting article which included data about American Actions to Conserve Energy, Reduce Waste, and limit Global Warming. The study was undertaken by George Mason University and Yale University Project on Climate Change and the article mainly describes the percentage of people who believe action is important, but do not currently engage in it.

I love nature which is one reason I live out of town next to 30 acres of forest and can watch real white- tailed deer and skunks (instead of animated ones on Disney TV) while I eat my breakfast.. However, I’m sure I’m not alone in falling into the category described in the American Actions study above. If I take each item listed and apply it to my own situation, which in part might mirror your own, it is helpful to look at why some options may not be available to those of us who wish to help the environment. The good news is that, alternatives are actually available.

At the top of the survey list is public transport (the concern here being carbon dioxide emissions and global warming). Do bear in mind that the reason the US Election Day is a Tuesday is that when the Union was formed, most of the USA was rural so this allowed farmers to travel on a Monday to vote on a Tuesday. Public transport isn’t available where I live and my child is too young to take the school bus. I work near my house and we don’t have sidewalks (so walking isn’t an option unless one is hiking on a trail). Sure, I’ve thought about doing a little bundu bashing to get to the main borough, but then there is the time factor. For example, while summer camp takes place less than a mile away, walking would mean leaving home an hour before pick-up time. Seeing as in the summer, camp runs from 9 am to noon, that would mean leaving home at 8 am and arriving back home at 10 am, in order to leave at 11 am to get back home at 1 pm (having contravened the skin cancer guidelines and been in the blazing sun at midday)! As it currently stands, when I drive, the summer round trip takes me six minutes! The winter school day is longer (8.40 am to 2.40 pm) and then the round trip takes much the same time s in the summer, assuming I don’t have to spend 3 hours digging out of 3 feet of snow, by which time I’d have no energy left to walk two miles. Here one can directly see the American “Time is Money” view. Driving at this time of the year leaves me six hours to use to work and I also have enough energy left to write my blog for you!

So while carpooling and public transport aren’t options available to me (and a hybrid isn’t currently within my budget), I do try and run all my errands in one fell swoop, not to double-up on routes, and to turn the ignition off when I’m waiting in a parking lot. In addition, when I travel to see my family in SA (and Australia), I try to plant a tree or shrub in our garden to off-set air- travel emissions. Last year we caught the train across the USA to reduce impact the of driving Although, due to space and time considerations, train travel doesn’t suit everyone. Of course, the environmental impact of tourism opens up another topic for discussion. Hmm, interestingly, tourism isn’t on the American Actions list.

In the coming weeks I’ll ruminate about the subsequent categories in the study, such as carrying one’s own beverage container, conserving water and lowering the thermostat. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you and think we’ll find that most of us in the technological-based world face similar challenges, regardless where we are based on the globe.

Debbie Early, PhD graduated with a life sciences degree from ‘Maritzburg ‘Varsity in the ‘90s. She has a PhD in toxicology obtained in the UK. She is Principal of Waratah Communications LLC and writes from her certified wildlife habitat in Chester County, PA, USA. You can contact her on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it