An Environmental Nobel Prize

trashdump
Originally uploaded by Phalanx.

So Al Gore won the Noble Peace Prize a few days ago for his work to educate the global public on the dangers of unbridled human activity (all in the name of greed?), and yet I have to believe what ever he's saying as a persuasive message to get people to change their behavior is falling on deaf ears.

In every house I've been in since his documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH came out last year, I haven't seen anybody use compact fluorescent light bulbs to at least cut down on electrical energy consumption, which would have a trickle up effect. And the number of gas guzzling SUVs - those rude rebukes to anyone claiming "green" status -- hasn't seemed to decrease on the roads of Los Angeles -- where regular gas is now $3.19/gallon!

I work really hard to recycle all the plastic bottles and aluminum cans that I can, and any kind of paper product - because

Although the public is more concerned that Britney lost her children (and doesn't want them back!) or that Jennifer Aniston FINALLY told Brad, "I hate you" (I would have thought knowing he was dicking down Angelina when they were married would have prompted that response! Shows what I know) than paying more than water cooler talk about the environment.

Some how talking about environmental issues falls into the category of politics and religion -- taboo public subjects... and I have to ask myself, what the FUCK is that about? We need to have the most open dialog possible about environment impact issues. But I guess like every other social issue of the day, Americans refuse to have an open public discourse about the environment -- and we do all we can to ignore how bad we're pissing on it with Syphilis-infected urine!

I was taking one of those online quizzes about my carbon footprint, and I have to say it wasn't that good, and I make an effort to reduce wasteful consumption of all sorts of shit. The move is to actively find ways to conserve, not just cut back and then foist those views and behavior modifications on those closest to you, who will listen and won't think you're a quack.