Saturday, August 18, 2012

Being Wrong


There is little that triggers my derision and instant dismissal quicker than a climate change denier. How much evidence do you need? How long can you possibly spend burying your head in the sand in the face of the obvious human effect on our environment? We consume and pollute and waste and impact and pretend that it has no effect on us. And if you are not stupid and you are still denying our impact on the environment then you are, at the very least, selfish.

Writing these lines, I can feel the self righteous rage rise in me. I not only recognize that we need to act now to attempt to stop what looks like almost inevitable and disastrous environmental and social upheaval, but I am also a member of the Israeli Green Movement, I take an active part in trying to promote a sustainable future for humanity and the rest of the planet. And these idiots deny anything is wrong or pretend there is nothing wrong just to make a quick buck.

And I am no better then they.

I think that Naomi Klein is right when she describes the motivation behind a lot of institutional climate change denial as having its roots in an understanding of what it will take to stop climate change. When you begin to realize the drastic changes needed to the way we live, and procreate, travel, consume and eat in order to stop climate change, is it any wonder that people have little appetite for a green agenda? Herein lies part of the explanation, but when you slap your forehead at the stupidity of this suicidal, chauvinistic destruction of everyone’s future, realize that they act this way for the same reason that you are not a vegan.

Now, for all you vegans out there feeling very good about yourselves, consider this. Too many of you are  busy being preachy, self satisfied, unbearable kill-joys and too few of you are being quiet, inspirational examples that we can aim to emulate.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year thinking about the connection between pursuing a sustainable future and what I eat. I’m on the verge of becoming a vegetarian, rather than just drastically reducing my meat intake but the idea of being a vegan still feels hopelessly radical to me. The idea of having to give up dairy and eggs is simply beyond me. I know that what that what will allow us to feed the planet is for all of us to give up animal based food. I know that what will make a real impact on climate change is for all of us to stop eating animal based food. I know that in the end necessity will force us to stop eating animal based food but for now, at the very least, I want my cheese and I want my eggs.

So, the next time you feel perplexed by those numbskulls who won’t give up their SUVs, realize that they are just like you because you can’t give up your ice-cream. Empathy will always get you farther in changing someone’s mind than being right will.