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It would be nice to think green this Christmas
© by Mike Keenan 
My letter to Santa is short. When you are a senior citizen, there's not a lot left to ask for, provided you have acquired a home, food on the table and heat for the home despite the fact that we accumulated no snow this November, a meteorological first for quite some time, and still, some cannot accept the fact that our world is in the midst of great climate change, a reality that Inuit elders tried to make apparent to the intelligentsia gathered in Copenhagen.
I suppose, like bankers, we all could use an extra $200,000 this Christmas. It could be paid to Sir Richard Branson for a ticket to his new spacecraft, allowing us five minutes to view the earth as a whole and suddenly realize that we are cruising through space together on the same vehicle and that what happens in Niagara affects what happens in Beijing and vice versa. The air that circulates is the same air; it just takes a time for the radioactive elements from disasters such as Chernobyl and countless nuclear tests by the U.S., China, France, Israel, Russia, the United Kingdom and big league aspirants, North Korea and Iran, to circulate amongst us, eventually causing genetic mutations, adding to the cumulative pollution we create, fouling our own nest through burning leaves or extracting oil from tar sands. Branson's aircraft, appeals primarily to the over-indulged rich, just as Canadian founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberte, was able to achieve Andy Warhol 15 minutes of fame via a Russian spacecraft, compliments of his multi-million dollar empire. Perhaps what Branson is doing at $200,000 a pop is a good idea if enough rich people embrace the concept of the world as an inter-connected, delicate eco-system. Recently, Miriam and I were awarded large gift-wrapped items we had won in draws. When we opened these baskets, we discovered that in both cases, the packaging was responsible for two-thirds of the bulk. Excess paper, wrapping and stuffing provided the steroid-like huge size. How ridiculous. We have three composters on the go in our yard. They create wonderful soil for the garden. Seldom do we place a full bag of garbage out for collection. Yet, when I observe other homes in the neighbourhood, it appears that many people have won draws similar to us. I suppose I could ask Santa for less pollution, but it all starts with the individual, not Santa, and here, I must compliment the Standard for its comprehensive, informative and well-written "green" series of articles. Part of the pollution in the air involves cell phones. I cannot imagine why anyone in their right mind would wear one of those stupid gizmos attached to their ear like a character on Star Trek. I was in a bookstore and some guy was having a conversation on such a device. Now, I realize that with a phone located way up there attached to one's ear, it might give someone cause to speak a little louder, but this guy was ridiculous. The entire store was privy to each of his miniscule thoughts, observations and judgments. Usually, when I encounter someone like this who is content to pollute the communal airwaves, I begin my own loud conversation, pretending that I have a phone attached to my ear. I usually shout, "What's that Sam? Sorry, please repeat, I CAN'T HEAR YOU; SOME IDIOT BESIDE ME HAS A CELL PHONE AND HE IS SHOUTING SO LOUD...SAM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? SAM, ARE YOU THERE?" Normally, when we encounter people who talk to themselves, we steer a wide course. Now, with these devices, you don't know if someone is unbalanced or is using a cell phone. So Santa, please do not deliver any of these dumb devices to anyone here in Niagara. As for me, I expect the usual, a few good books and magazines, all of which can be recycled at the library. |
