Is Moving to Another Planet the Answer?

Print

There are some people who believe that after we’ve exhausted all of Earth’s natural resources and rendered the planet uninhabitable, we’ll simply be able to move to another one. I doubt it.  After all, if we can not solve the ongoing health care crisis in America, how are we ever going to gather the scientific means and financial resources to support and execute such an unprecedented move?

Throughout our lives, we encounter others whose points of view are different than ours; it is inevitable.  Attitudes and perspectives toward protecting the environment are no different.

While some people are very proactive on this front, minimizing their carbon footprint wherever possible; it is not on the radar screen for many others. 

For over 30 years, I have been weaving my way through the former camp and learning, through experience, what doesn’t work to change other people’s opinions: nagging and/or judging. These actions will only distance you from others and render your efforts to effect positive change less effective. On the other hand, becoming knowledgeable on a subject and building bridges and consensus by finding common ground is very effective.

Who, at your library, is concerned for Mother Earth’s well-being and interested in learning more about the environmental challenges we all face? Who views the Earth as an inexhaustible self-cleaning oven able to care for itself?

We have a lot of work to do.  Future generations are counting on us.  Let the bridge building begin.