Greening of America
by Obviously, problems such as global warming, ozone depletion, and use of non-replaceable resources are issues that can not easily nor quickly be solved, but are issues that companies such as BP, Toyota, and Wal-Mart can address.
“There is a revolution coming. It will not be like revolutions of the past. It will originate with the individual and with culture, and it will change the political structure only as its final act. It will not require violence to succeed, and it cannot be successfully resisted by violence. It is now spreading with amazing rapidity, and already our laws, institutions and social structure are changing in consequence. It promises a higher reason, a more human community, and a new and liberated individual. Its ultimate creation will be a new and enduring wholeness and beauty — a renewed relationship of man to himself, to other men, to society, to nature, and to the land.”
– Reich
To some, being invincible appears to be an understatement. Never does it cross our minds that it isn’t impossible for the world to end at any point in time, whether that be in seconds away from this very moment or generations down the line. It is not due to the lack of a negative attitude, but rather their naivety, that causes humans to see themselves as indestructible. It is rather disappointing to say that it is only in light of recent events that people have begun to take a step back and focus less on themselves in their environment and more on the environment themselves. Although the impact on society from these events has been somewhat catastrophic, it is through them that we have gained a better understanding of our surroundings. Now, a conscience effort is being made to “green America”.
Probably the most widely recognized natural disaster that now shapes the way people live has been hurricane Katrina. “All over America, a post-Katrina future is taking shape under the banner of “sustainability”” (Alder). Hurricane Katrina was one of the most influential events for the United States, and since has been one of the most influential factors in explaining what has brought about such public awareness to why the greening of America is becoming so increasingly important, and even necessary, to life. One of the most wide spread concerns that has resulted from the hurricane has been the steadily increasing gas prices. One of the results of the hurricane was global warming and ozone depletion, largely caused by environmentally unsafe cars and gasoline. The depletion of the ozone alone has caused a hole in the Earth’s ozone layer over the South Pole the size of the United States. The effects of global warming have proven to be insurmountable as to all the impacts it has had on the globe.
Liked it
