46 mpg

The G8 clowns postured about global warming. Some nations like Sweden and Iceland are acting seriously and are hoping to be carbon neutral within the next 20 years. Some states in the US are pushing standards.

However, the thing is every individual can act, not wait for his government. I am amazed at how many people don't believe each of us is responsible for our planet.

I am not claiming I have answers. Nor am I claiming I am innocent of killing the planet. Yesterday I took an unnecessary drive with friends to a spot not accessible by public transportation. That they would have gone anyway, doesn’t mean that by taking that drive I didn’t help kill the planet. I felt slightly better that the car got 46 miles to the gallon.

To assuage my guilt I am noting mileage I rack up in cars and at the end of the year I will buy trees to counter those miles. There won’t be that many because between what I drive and friends who drive me it won’t be 500 Kms a year. However I weigh each offer of a ride. There is no way I would let someone drive me across Geneva when there is public transportation most of the time. But I don’t qualify for a conservation halo. Make it 10:30 at night when buses are rare—let me open the car door for you and hand you the keys. If I see a bus on the way, then I stop, get out of the car and onto the bus, so less fuel will be burned but that’s the best I will do.

Supposing everyone owned a car that got 46 mph. (my friend’s car is not a hybrid—I think it is a Rover, but one car looks like another to me). Supposing everyone made sure 95% of their driving was necessary and instead of making two or three trips to accomplish tasks mapped out the distance to use the absolute minimum gas? Supposing people made good mileage the first criteria for owning a car?

Supposing everyone stopped using ready-on appliances, or shut them off when not in use. What if everyone turned off lights—I do have friends who leave lights on 24 hours a day—and used energy efficient light bulbs?

What if people gave up dryers and turned their air conditioners up one or two degrees?

Imagine the impact if no one ever brought their own bags to the supermarket?

If everyone did it all it would make a difference. Most people wait for their neighbours or someone else to do it first.

There was a song once about bringing peace into the world and let it begin with me. I say lets bring conservation into the world and let it begin with me.