In her Aug. 2 column, “US must be leader on climate change solution,” Deena Rubin made clear the dangers facing the world, not just in far-flung places like Antarctica, or in some far-off future, but right here and right now.
Her column was painful to read. So I wonder, how many readers chose to avert their eyes? We can’t afford to do that. Imagine that, instead of Mother Earth, this was your own mother in trouble. You wouldn’t look away, assuming someone else would help her.
People have been trying to help. In her Aug. 2 column “Time for everyone to reclaim our planet,” Reenie Grybko Clancy spelled out things the average person can do, such as buying less plastic and using the sun to dry the laundry. But while it’s true that small individual sacrifices will benefit the planet, they aren’t enough.
To counter the environmental damage we’ve done, and to avoid the worst consequences of our abuse and neglect, bigger changes have to happen. Those will take government action at state and national levels, which will not happen until enough of us demand it. Let’s not wait for our state legislators or Congress to devise a solution. A good solution is already on the table: Putting a price on carbon.
The Citizens’ Climate Lobby has a straightforward, nonpartisan carbon fee and dividend proposal, one that’s backed by both climate scientists and economists. The Climate Leadership Council has a similar one. So what can you do to help? Contact the governor, your state legislators, and your member of Congress and tell them, “It’s time we put a price on carbon.” Or get together with a group to press for action in a concerted way.
You can go online to find the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Action NOW, or Mothers Out Front, to name just a few. Private virtue — giving up plastic bags, saving energy at home — that’s great, and we need more of it, but it’s just not enough. Please think bigger, and please get involved.
Linda Butler
Leeds