You, too, can take climate change action
Manning 350 Roaring Fork’s booth at Carbondale’s Strike for Climate Action, Farmers Market and Potato Day, we engaged in many cogent conversations about climate change. That’s why we were there: to inspire dialogue, propose solutions and encourage action.
Yes, there were deniers who approached our table. Some suggested we allow market conditions to control the flow of fossil fuels.
“That’s how we got into this mess to begin with,“ I replied, “Exxon Mobil scientists reported the adverse climatological effects of burning fossil fuels to the board of directors in the 1970s. Did the businessmen on the board tell the world? No. They kept it a secret. That may have been the free market thing to do, but it sure didn’t do much for the common good.”
We had a thought-provoking discussion with a gentleman who had an observation about 350.org we couldn’t argue with. He said it was his perception 350 substantially focused on constraining fossil fuel supply, i.e., leave it in the ground, ban fracking, no new permits, divest from fossil fuels.
The interlocutor compared that to the failed War on Drugs. El Chapo is in jail, so El Mayo takes his place. Pablo Escobar is dead, but the flow of drugs from Columbia continues. And, of course, nobody even tries to stop the biggest drug dealer of them all, Big Pharma. The point is, as long as there is the demand, somebody will provide the supply.
What we need to focus on is the demand. We don’t need to worry about being dependent on foreign oil if there is no demand for oil. Walk, bike, take public transportation. Get the internal combustion engines off the road.
Have the power companies accelerate their efforts to go all renewable. Keep all those private planes at Sardy Field on the ground. Make the huge Aspen mansions more energy efficient. Attend CLEER and CORE’s Climate Forum at 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Third Street Center for more ideas on what you can do about climate change.
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
