Going Green? Think again.

Save the Earth
Save the Animals
Save the Environment
Save the Future

You should have heard, read, seen these phrases almost everyday now. Last time they were non-existent on your televisions or dailies, and it was just a few years back?

Dr Jane Goodall came to our school today, giving an inspirational speech on her life, her work, her dedication to saving the world, particularly our closest relative - the chimpanzees.
She described her adventures with nice detail, adding some sound effects here and there , including mimicking - you guessed it - monkey calls.
Then she went on to talk about how youths around the world help others, even in the most remote areas.
It was really good, uplifting, inspirational and motivational.

However, I have recently watched a documentary called "God is Green" (you may find it as "Is God Green?"). And something in there really sparked a good debate that has been battling my mind ever since I entered the auditorium for Dr Jane's presentation.

Just how much can EACH person change? You can recycle every day, you can walk to school daily, you can cut down on wastage you can this you can that. But think about it, how much of an impact can it make? Look at those pollutant-spewing factories, look at the thick cloud hovering over the developing countries.

You can save your food, but still overfishing will occur.
You can try and recycle plastic bags, but still companies will continue making plastic bags.
You can save on electricity, but there will always be the flashy lights that illuminate the skies at night.

I mean, even if a group, a city decides to go green, I doubt it has much impact.
We need a global effort. But in this globalised world, is the national interests of every country "Going green"? I doubt.

Every country wants economic development.

Let's just take an example of carbon emissions:

India is a fast developing country, China is another too. Even though they rank 3rd and 2nd in terms of total carbon output, their carbon output per person is one of the lowest!
Furthermore, India has just started the run to industralised nations, have started their journey that their Western counterparts have long gone in front. Think about this quote: "Why do we have to reduce our development rates and lose our 'right' to develop when the Westerners can do it? Furthermore the Westerners are the one that produces the most carbon, why bother us?"
What do we do with it?

You can ask them to develop the "green method". But 良药苦口, good medicine always tastes bitter, the green methods to really cut down the carbon emissions requires more revenue, more expenditure. What the government want is fast, quick, good bucks to make. Furthermore, the land is so big, how can the government really enforce? You think the money hungry people do not want a nice house, big cars and so forth, and they can only get that if they get alot of money, and if they can reduce production costs, and therefore the environment get cast aside.

Think about it.
How powerful are the green activists compared to the power-wielding politicians. After each campaign, you spend so much on posters, banners, flyers, you guess how many resources have to be used? You can use recycled materials, but that will cost more.

Think about it.
You want tobacco companies to shut down because of their poisonous, intoxicated sticks of supposed charred leaves? Oh yes you can. But that will mean laying off thousands of people.
You want poachers to stop their erratic behaviors before some animal will only appear in books and pictures? But that will mean causing the really desperate, those living in poverty and making ends meet through this means.
Oh yes I asked her, and she replied, "They can go find other jobs? Why should they risk other people's lives "
But I shall reply. I did not have the chance, but I shall reply here. Most of these people are poorly educated, where do you want them to go? You bring them to factories, that will mean increased usage of resources. You cannot have thousands of plumbers, road sweepers, construction workers, hawkers, trishaw riders etc.

So what do you think? I am not against or criticizing the efforts to go green, in fact I support and I am in full agreement. But on the hindsight, are our efforts just a tiny drop in the whole ocean? Do not give the crap that it stacks or something. The world has been made like this, you want to save something, you will hurt another.

How? What can we do? What can we REALLY do? Before you shout, "Let's stop Animal Testing", do you want you yourself to be a test subject?

Sorry, but all this work and effort, is seriously ... worth it?