BRATTLEBORO — As we take in (or avoid) the news, a feeling that it is all quite hopeless is almost inevitable. In a way, many likely find this feeling reassuring, though we may not want to admit it. It gets us of the hook.
Obviously, we as individuals can't solve any, let alone several, of the world's biggest problems by ourselves. OK, so we are done with this conversation, right? I can go back to whatever distraction or urgent personal need I was in the middle of (on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitch depending on how young and hip I am)?
If you are willing to consider a future where your children and grandchildren can actually live, we might want to at least try to find a way.
(What level of denial is required for anyone to be willing to act as though nothing is wrong, while at the same time intellectually knowing even the basics of how we are putting the world in peril?)
Of course, we all know that no one person ever changes enough. It is always many working toward a common goal. No leader of any movement got anywhere without the masses; no single raindrop flooded New Orleans.
In this case, I suggest a couple of things that, if enough of us do them, will certainly make a positive difference on several fronts. You can do any of them without risking getting beaten, tear-gassed, or put in jail for uttering the word “war,” for the moment:
• If you are concerned about Ukraine and those who are suffering due to food shortages caused by the war, look for ways to reduce your consumption of wheat and petroleum.
• Since we tend to eat too much, especially things like donuts, and we don't tend to get enough exercise, the side effects of changing our eating habits might not be the worst thing.
I have a few suggestions of things to try. If you do any one of them to any degree, you will create those proverbial raindrops that make up the flood.
• Eating less, and local, or even planting a garden, is not only likely to make us healthier, but doing so reduces the amount of fuel used to produce and transport food.
• Drive less.
• Walk and bike more.
• Carpool.
• Drive electric vehicles.
• Weatherize your home.
• Turn up your air conditioner this summer, and turn down your heat come winter.
Once you get into looking critically at your consumption, you will find many creative ways to be a healthier and better global citizen.
Given the increases in prices of food and fuel, the financial benefits of reducing consumption cannot be understated.
I don't pretend to have it all together. I have written this to myself as well - and I hope to create more of a community of support for the sort of lifestyle changes that can really make an impact.