by Patricia Stewart

Created on: March 06, 2009

The world has patiently waited for Americans to realize that the world's climate is changing, and we've been much more concerned with the wallets of bureaucrats and billionaires than with the health of human kind. The time is now for the government to make us wake up and take on our responsiblity as members of the human race.

For those who say that the world isn't warming, because of cold winters, consider that is truly a climate shift, not just a simple warming effect. Since there is no easy way to track the history of ocean currents and tradewinds, it's hard to know exactly where that shift may warm the planet, and where it may cool it off. Mother Nature is complex, and it's no easy thing to guess what she'll do next. One thing is for sure, the climate is changing, and we need to adapt and remedy it as fast as we can.

In our lifetimes, the positive changes that we make may not show to the average person. But just as putting money aside for our children is a gift we may not live long enough to enjoy, we take comfort in the knowledge that we've done it. Cleaning up the environment is a gift for all of our children, their children, and the descendants beyond them.

I would rather that the regulations be placed on the polluters, and incentives given to individuals to make their own changes. Both will make a difference, but thankfully, on an individual basis environmental conservation is also fiscally conservative. We get paid back in savings when we control our electrical use. And if we walk, garden or do other things to heal the planet, we save on the food and medical budgets.

With the economy as it is, many of us are looking for ways to make our lives better. Shifting our purchasing power from the mall to the local stores, supporting small farms instead of industrial agriculture, and building our own communities to be self-supportive does wonders for lessening our "carbon footprint," and helping ourselves. We need to feel empowered and it's easy to be overwhelmed in these times. But taking care of ourselves, and voting for officials who see "the big picture," will help heal the planet, and make the future better for everyone.

This is a unique time in history. We finally are witnessing the power of humans. Until now that impact has been overwhelmingly negative, as each of us doubted our own little footprint on this massive planet. But our collective footprint has been tremendous, and it is crucial that all steps be taken, both enforceable and educational, to lighten our foot trail, and put all our collective energies toward healing our home. It will help our neighbors, our children and ourselves. If it takes regulations, so be it. We don't have to wait for that however. We can make many changes on our own, through our actions, or by supporting those who are taking positive steps and not supporting those who are continuing to damage our world.

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