HOW MUCH of today's environmental crisis can be attributed to
lifestyle? Reader Liz Castleden sends in something for the attention
of delegates to COP 17.
Checking out at a store, the young cashier suggests to an older woman
that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags aren't
good for the environment.
The woman apologises and explains: "We didn't have this green thing
back in my earlier days."
The cashier responds: "That's our problem today. Your generation
didn't care enough to save our environment for future generations."
The older woman reflects: "She's right -- our generation didn't have
the green thing in its day.
"Back then we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to
the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and
sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and
over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green
thing.
"We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every
store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't
climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two
blocks. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
"Back then we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the
throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling
machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry our
clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from
their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new. But that young lady
is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
"Back then, we had one TV or radio in the house -- not a TV in every
room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a
screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen we blended and
stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do
everything for us.
"When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded
up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the
lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.
"We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to
run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We
didn't have the green thing back then.
"We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty, instead of using a cup
or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled
writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the
razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just
because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing.
"Back then, people took the tram or a bus, and kids rode their bikes
to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi
service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of
sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised
gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2 000 miles out in
space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
"Isn't it sad how the current generation laments how wasteful we old
folks were, just because we didn't have the green thing back then?"
It makes ya think!
Righteous vandals?
VANDALS in the Sussex market town of Lewes, in England, have blown up
14 parking meters since September, causing damage of £20 000.
According to a police spokesman: "This is a serious spree of costly
vandalism and we are determined to find out who is responsible".
Yes. But is "vandals" quite the right word?
Tailpiece
A FRESHETTE takes her seat for her first class. She's wearing the
university rugby jersey. The boy behind taps her on the shoulder.
"Why are you wearing the rugby jersey?"
" I bought it and I own it, why shouldn't I wear it?"
"You're not supposed to wear it unless you've made the team."
"Oh, who did I miss?"
Last word
When a thing has been said and well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.
Anatole France
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