One could say that we’re living in a fascinating moment in history. I would also say that it is overwhelming. In the past two years, spurred by a horrible natural disaster in Hurricane Katrina and the release of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, U.S. media headlines have begun to swim with mention of global climate change. Thank goodness, the national debate has shifted from the question, “Is global warming a myth?” to “Exactly how bad is it?”. In the days when many argued that climate change scientists were overreacting, my take on the issue was that global warming was happening. Ironically, I also managed to avoid reading about much of the evidence that would support my view. Maybe not ironically… maybe intentionally. It’s scary stuff.
The national debate has changed, and I am now sitting neck-deep in overwhelming quantities of complicated, contradicting information about environmental activism and climate change. Because conservation is now “in”, a “light green” movement has emerged, asserting that we can help the planet without changing our lives in drastic ways– how about just cutting your shower a minute or two short? Buying recycled toilet paper? Trading that Lexus SUV in for a Lexus hybrid SUV? It is exciting to see a shift in national consciousness toward concern and conservation, but once everyone (read: corporate America) jumps on the bandwagon, the message is bound to get watered down.