Is ABC News Owned By An Oil Company?

Last night, I watched World News Tonight with Charles Gibson (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/). There was a report on the price of gasoline possibly falling as demand from the United States has been reduced. The reporter said it was good news as people who’ve stopped driving as much—and taking the bus or riding their bikes—can start driving again.

Say what?

I agree that it’s good news for our wallets, but it’s absolutely terrible news for Mother Nature if everyone goes back to mindless use of a polluting (and limited) resource.

There’s a lesson here. A big lesson. We literally can’t go on the way we’ve been living for decades. If we celebrate a 10 cent gas price reduction by trading in our bus pass for our driver’s license, we’ve missed the point of that lesson.

And we all know what happens when we ignore Mother Nature. She will, ultimately, win. Just look at the flooding, the hurricanes, and tornados, the heat waves, the tsunamis, the earthquakes, and the water shortages (to name just a few things) and you’ll be reminded that she has all the power.

We just use our power mindlessly.

World News Tonight with Charles Gibson then had Al Gore (http://www.algore.com/) on the broadcast, talking about the challenge he issued yesterday. Gore is seeking to shed some reason on the energy debate by showing the ridiculousness of off-shore drilling and he’s challenged the US to shift its entire electricity sector to solar, geothermal, and wind power within 10 years and to use that green power to “fuel” a fleet of hybrid vehicles.

When the reporter asked him why off-shore drilling isn’t an option, he said something along the lines of (and I’m paraphrasing here), “We’ve had an oil crisis for 35 years. Thinking the same approaches that haven’t worked for three decades are going to work now is foolish. It’s trying to boost confidence with something that isn’t going to work.”

And then the camera went back to Gibson. His comment? That if we rose to Gore’s challenge, the country would spend oodles of money (okay, I’m paraphrasing again). And that was it.

[Sigh.]

I’m thinking of the time when Oprah pointed out the cons of eating meat and was sued by the meat industry. Is network news afraid of being sued by the oil industry? Gibson’s only comment was that Gore’s idea will cost money! I’m outraged that Gibson and his team—and the US government—can’t see that not following Gore’s idea is already costing oodles of money and human life.

Question of the blog: If gas prices fall, will you abandon any green steps you’d taken?

How Do We Keep Green From Becoming a Fad?

I was talking with an acquaintance recently—someone who is, himself, quite green—and I was sharing the idea of opening up an eco department store in town. His reaction totally shocked me: “I think folks will tire of the green idea soon,” he said.

For me, green is a way of life, not an idea or a trend or a fad or something I could ever tire of. What’s the point of recycling today if you’re going to toss your cans and bottles and paper into the landfills tomorrow?

I can see how it’s confusing for people. Take Oprah (http://www.oprah.com/) for example. I saw her green show earlier this year and loved that the green message was getting out to so many people. But a show a day or two later talked about fashion, and none of it was green. I remember, in particular, Oprah fawning over a wrinkle-free white button-down shirt. The amount of chemicals needed to make a shirt wrinkle-free is astounding, making it anything but green.

So here's one way that green becomes a fad. Talk the talk today, and walk a different walk tomorrow and it's easy to forget that green steps have to always be taken. It’s up to those of us who truly care—down to our very cores—to lead by example. They say children learn more by what they see than by what they’re told . . . and I think the same is true of adults. If your company doesn’t recycle, you should recycle what you can from your office. If your best friend doesn’t bring a cloth bag when you shop together, bring one for her. If your parents insist on a green lawn, buy them natural weed killers and fertilizers.

I have a feeling it’s the big messages and the subtle reminders that will keep green from becoming a fad. After all, it’s something we do for life—literally.

By the way, I don’t mean to harp on Oprah—I obviously watch her show on occasion—but I caught her Earth Day show this week and was absolutely flabbergasted (in all the wrong ways) that the show opened with Julia Roberts and then continued with Sandra Bullock and then ended with a quick chat with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Al Gore. Two actors giggling their way through green segments before the real environmental champion is introduced? I’m still trying to figure that one out.

In the meantime, I'm just glad the green show aired at all. Now let's hope Oprah doesn't promote wrinkle-free shirts during today's show.

Question of the blog: What are some specific ways we can keep green top-of-mind every day for everyone?

Will Gore Turn That White House Green?

I don’t want to get political but—I’m feeling reckless—let’s get go there. As someone who runs a green business and writes a green blog, it’s probably fairly obvious that the environment is one of my top concerns . . . and during an election year, “top concerns” become more important than ever as the candidates we choose to lead us need to have clear visions on the ways they can tackle the issues behind our concerns.

I live in New Hampshire and was appalled at the amount of junk mail I received from the candidates over the weeks leading up to the primary. My father met Senator Obama several times and, once, asked him why his flyers weren’t printed on recycled paper. The Senator’s response, according to my Dad, was shock and he said he’d look into it. I wonder if he did. [After our primary, the junk mail stopped, so I have no way to know . . . although I’m not complaining.]

To be fair, none of the flyers I received from any candidates were printed on recycled paper. To me, it was another case of politicians failing to walk the talk. But Senator Obama might have just redeemed himself in my eyes today by making a “commitment” to offer Al Gore a major role within his administration to combat global warming. I would love to see that White House turn green!

Question of the blog: Does the environment influence the way you’ll vote in November?