Here's a letter I wrote and e-mailed to Prime minister Harper. If it inspires you to write your own, you can send it to pm@pm.gc.ca. If it inspires you to copy and paste this one, that's fine too. Sometimes sheer volume makes a difference. Dear Mr. Harper, I appreciate the amount of courage and back-bone it must take to perform your job day-to-day. I also appreciate the economic emphasis you and your cabinet have concentrated on. A strong economy is a very important part of maintaining a strong and happy society; and one that I'm afraid we all take for granted when it’s well maintained for us by a government such as ours. Another very important part of maintaining a strong and happy people, is maintaining and securing the space they occupy, the very land they live and walk on, the very air they breathe, the very trees that make it possible for them to breathe. If the dire predictions of climate sciences are right, we can't be sure that people will continue to enjoy clean air, healthy foods, clean water and no increase in natural disaster occurrences without putting some serious thought and planning into it. To speak plainly, overlooking the importance of maintaining the health of the natural ecosystems that make life possible on earth can't be good for the future of your job or your political allies’ jobs. But really, politics should have nothing to do with determining whether or not we take care of the environment that takes care of us and yet somehow it does. That’s because the level of education about sustainable choices not only in lifestyle and diet choices but also in choosing sustainable building practices and the use of alternative energy sources that should be common practice to all, are unfortunately low. The general population has become entrenched in; debt, over-spending and dependence on fossil fuels, and many have become blind to the possibilities for a sustainable economy. Furthermore most people expect the government to assume the majority of the responsibility and work load to strengthen our ecosystems and save us from catastrophe. Not only do I think that isn’t possible but I wouldn’t want something as crucial to my personal survival as the health of my personal environment to be controlled and policed by our government. There is a solution to the rampant over-consumerism, over-dependence on oil and over-exploitation of raw materials from the earth that seems to be all but unstoppable. I don't know exactly what the solution looks like yet but in many places we look; it’s already starting to take shape. One thing I know is the solution involves and in fact requires a sustainable economy. I mean sustainable in a very literal way. Sustainable meaning that the things and services that are bought and sold that make up the numbers of our economy have to be made and distributed in a way that doesn't take more from the earth and environment than the earth and environment can replenish in any given amount of time. We can't borrow natural-resources in the form of dept. from our future, and promise to pay it back. We're taking too much from our ecosystems as it is and if we don't stop, the structure of those ecosystems might stop supporting them. I also know that continuing to support and stimulate a crumbling, dirty economy that relies and thrives on the burning of fossil-fuels and the over-exploitation of our resources (over-consumerism) cannot lead us to ensuring a happy future if the scientist direst guesses are right. We need to give more to stimulate small, grass-roots sustainable businesses and big clean-energy projects alike. The power for the resolution of a climate crisis lies in the hearts and minds of the ingenious people who make up this world at every level of the socio-economic pyramid. I would caution you not to neglect the bottom of the pyramid where most of the people are, and where brilliant ideas are popping up. I believe the answer lies partly in more money and/or tax cuts to stimulate and support the starting and operating of sustainable businesses that: 1. Are conscious of the their energy consumption 2. That develop or support recycling techniques to manufacture their products by reusing others 3. That sell products or services that make a sustainable lifestyle possible for their clients 4. That take responsibility for any waste produced by their manufacturing and distribution processes. This stimulation will breathe more life into a budding green economy that has already been pioneered by passionate, visionary Canadians. With a new momentum, this Canadian green economy will join those of other countries to create the global sustainable economy of the future. I also believe that the answer lies not in negative incentives like more taxes or levies to punish polluters and general ignorance, but rather that positive incentive is the answer. These positive incentives be them social or economical (subsidies, tax credits) will inspire people to be creative, resourceful and innovative and take an interest in their well-being which is always good for taking stress off of government-run programs like health-care, employment insurance and welfare which presents a win-win. I hope you and can find the courage to, first of all, attend the Copenhagen Climate Change summit and when you’re there to take a leadership role in ensuring that things don’t remain status quo and that steps are taken to better ensure the survival of the human race. Serge Charlebois Citizen of Ontario, Canada, Earth |