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Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor
The "pro environmental" as they were called tend to belch out their propaganda and expect big business and government to pay for the cost yet we see the urban sprawl of most Canadian cities while everyones driving around in their SUV. More would be done if the average Joe and Mary six pack decided to make some personal changes.
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Exactly, that was what the one tonne challenge was all about. Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't a big fan of the Liberals, but at least the one tonne challenge got people talking about the effects of pollution.
The problem with making the evil "pro-environmentalists" look bad, especially compared to big businesses, is that the environmentalists have absolutely, positively, nothing to gain from cutting down emissions or ratifying Kyoto - either than making the planet healthier and cleaner. It is probably one of the most unselfish social movements in history. These people, myself included, want a healthy environment for everybody, not just stockholders. And I know this sounds cheese, but I would hate my children and grandchildren to be brought up in a world without polar bears or clean air - but that's just me.
On the other hand, you have big business which have A LOT more money to counteract, a lot more influence of policy, and A LOT more money at stake by environmental movements. They have a selfish agenda where Kyoto will directly affect their profits. It isn't like environmentalists inheritantly hate cars or want people to lose their jobs in the oil industry and the economy to plummit just because we have nothing else to do.
It isn't an all or nothing deal. We aren't asking people to go back to the stone-age... well, maybe some tree-huggers are... I understand there has to be a balance between resources, industry, the environment and the economy. This is the base of Kyoto, cutting down, not cutting out.
Big business is starting to realize how efficient alternative sources of energy is. Wal Mart, for example, is starting to put solar panels on their stores and using a unique way of heating their stores by restructuring the heat that radiates from the back of those huge refrigeration units. Big business is starting to understand the economic benefits of a more sustainable lifestyle. A strong economy and a cleaner planet do not have to be opposites.