Skip to content

It’s not time to be critical, it’s time to help

Recent letters to the editor expressed criticism about the environmental types calling for truth and action on climate change.
18936241_web1_PQN-Letters

Recent letters to the editor expressed criticism about the environmental types calling for truth and action on climate change.

Actually, we all are environmental types. There is no Planet B.

The fact that we’re stumbling in our attempts to communicate the urgency of the situation does not lesson it. How do the seven million people motivate seven billion people?

Climate change is the greatest challenge ever to face humanity. Huge, societal level changes are called upon, much greater than what individuals can do alone. We rely on government to make such critical policy changes. We rely on media to tell the truth and prioritize the news so that we can be informed citizens of the world. But when they fail us or are too slow, we only have certain pathways of action available to us. One pathway is to protest and march in the streets.

The oil industry knew in 1977 that burning fossil fuels would heat the atmosphere and cause massive storms, floods, droughts and climate chaos. They buried the information, just as the asbestos industry buried their dark secrets for decades. My father died in 1956, age 42, from lung cancer caused by asbestos. The asbestos industry knew they would kill many thousands of innocent people – like my father – but they did it for profit. Industries will hide facts.

Fortunately, independent scientists tell the truth, and 97% of scientists warn us, it doesn’t look good. We are the last generation that can prevent total calamity.

So, what shall we do? It’s not time to be critical. It’s time to help. Our grandchildren won’t look back on those on the sidelines with forgiving eyes. If you know a better way to affect change, show us.

Join us! Time is running out.

Joanne Sales

Qualicum Beach