April 22, Earth Day–it’s been 50 years, and the earth, the environment is still a cause worth fighting for. In the midst of a pandemic, some things are very clear—
vulnerable people are most affected
fossil fuels are not the future
the way we have been living has contributed to income inequality, deforestation, mountains of plastic, wildfires, endangered species, and viral pandemics.
This can’t go on.
May futures for a barrel of crude oil have fallen below zero, due to reduced demand from the pandemic lockdown. There is not so much air travel, or car traffic on the highways. The sky is blue over Los Angeles. The Milky Way is visible from some big cities, now.
This is an opportunity to think about what matters, going forward. Yes, it’s good to have a sense of community. Yes, it’s good to be resourceful and generous. No, greed is not good. Massive unemployment is not a good thing.
Maybe it’s time to think about a Green New Deal–a new sustainable way of living and working–inclusive and resilient, innovative and future-oriented.
We can do this! We are doing this already. People are using what they have. People are making masks for front-line workers and fighting to save the Postal Service. They are looking to the future, and even if it means virtual museums for awhile, there will still be museums and concerts, sports and music and poetry. There will be conversations and closeness. Lying will be wrong again.
I think people are beginning to realize how much these things matter–now and in the future.
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Filed under:
climate change, history, nature, seasons, weather
Tags:
Earth Day, Green New Deal
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