Dear Editor,
I am extremely encouraged to see young people rallying to express their concerns about global warming.
I agree that societies around the world have become producers of needless waste that is polluting the planet and this must change.
Listening to the conversations during the rally, however, makes me wonder if too much of the blame is being put on the past generation.
My generation, for example, repaired things that were not working properly and it was not uncommon to have old but very well working appliances, TVs and cars that we were proud of.
Now, it seems the younger generations tends to put a high value on new things and they “recycle” old things. Things such as TVs, cell phones, laptops and a vast array of electronics that are often in working order are discarded after only few years. Many of these items are produced and recycled in Asia where carbon emissions from factories are not well regulated and new products and products destined for recycling are transported around the globe by large container ships that are also some of the worst carbon emitters.
In my generation, when we were hungry we made ourselves a sandwich for lunch and cooked most of our meals at home.
Now the younger generations seems to think it’s acceptable to sign on to a food delivery app and order someone to drive across town and pick up from a restaurant that will use an excessive amount of packaging material in order to deliver a single meal to their doorstep.
In my generation, we walked to school. Yes, even in the rain and snow. It took about half an hour if I remember correctly and sometimes it was the best exercise we got all day. Now it seems the younger generations think it’s a parent’s duty to drive them to school. I cringe every time I see these long lineups of idling cars in front of schools each morning and afternoon.
Then in the evenings, kids are often driven again back and forth to a sports facility so they can get their exercise.
So I guess what I’m saying is that while I’m happy to see the younger generation mobilizing and demanding change, I am disappointed with where they seem to be placing all the blame.
I would ask that they recognize that some of the things the older generation did were saving a great deal of carbon emissions way back then. Change begins with the things you can control and making tough choices.
Mike Friesen
RICHMOND
