Faith Meets Life: Our earth needs some lovin'

After the UN declaration on climate change, I have a renewed awareness that the planet needs my love. I need to help resolve, or at least ease, the problem of global warming, but what should I do? It is all too easy for me to give in to the daily temptations to cheat — to satisfy my desires for convenience, speed, an ultra-diverse supply of food, and cheap consumer goods. The environment needs my love, but I find myself playing the field.

What with everyone thinking about Valentine's Day and how to please that special someone, I'm thinking about pleasing the special someone who is home to us all. Goodness knows she (I'm aware of a gender bias in my terms here, but feel free to read your own gender preferences into this article) needs all the loving she can get after a century of killing on the high seas, and the low seas too I guess, though I don't know what the “low seas” are. After a century of filling her atmosphere with toxic gasses and forcing poisonous liquids into her soil; after a century of destroying her forests as if there is an infinite supply of them.

I doubt that by myself I can give her all the respect and comfort she deserves. But perhaps I can offer a few caresses, a few soft strokes. Here are some of the things that sensitive types can offer a partner who deserves better than she's been getting.

For one thing, we could be a little more patient when travelling. I remember from physics class that it takes more energy than you might think to transport a particular item the same distance, but at higher speed. In other words, if we are willing to drive more slowly, we'll use less fuel to get where we are going. So, leave a little earlier.

Secondly, we can rework how we acquire food and eat it. Support local farms and farm markets. When we do, we are less likely to buy food that's been trucked in from the southwest extremities of the United States. Also, more of us could learn how to cook. Many find that cooking food is a great alternative to eating out. There is a lot of enjoyment in doing the slicing and dicing, baking and frying on your own. Cooking your own food gets you not only more interested in local, fresh food supplies. It is also likely to make you a healthier eater.

If possible, grow some of your own food. This is the best way to cut dependence on fossil-fuelled food delivery systems. And, if the economy ever collapses, which it has a tendency to do now and then, your expertise will be sought after.

A third thing to try is to live near your family. At the moment, students in Atlantic Canada are eyeing Alberta for its promises of bigger money. But living away from friends and family increases our dependence on fuel guzzling planes to travel back and forth. Related to the high-environmental impact of plane travel, or any kind of travel, consider vacationing locally. That probably doesn't need much explanation.

When buying a house consider a design that's smaller but more artful. Well-designed spaces can result in homes that are loved without being big. One of my favourite places to visit is a home belonging to a couple and their children. The house is not large, but with attention paid to room layouts, windows and paint colours, it's become the favourite place for a whole cluster of friends.

Finally, it's good to review if we really need all the stuff we want. The thing about things is that they start to own you after a while. They demand to be paid for. If they're mechanical, they want regular oil changes, tune-ups or other maintenance. They often take up space, or require more attention than you want to give them, or collect dust.

Well, that's a start to giving planet earth the Valentine's Day she deserves. A century's worth of strokes like that, along with accumulating health problems, could really improve our relationship with her.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
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