Letter: Facing climate crisis requires a change in values and life style - Alexandria Echo Press

Letter: Facing climate crisis requires a change in values and life style - Alexandria Echo Press | News, weather and sports from Alexandria, Minnesota

Letter: Facing climate crisis requires a change in values and life style

The following is a letter to the editor submitted to the newspaper by a reader. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo Press. To submit a letter, send it to aedenloff@echopress.com or Echo Press, P.O. Box 549, Alexandria, MN 56308.

To the editor:

What can an individual do about the climate crisis?

Do what you can to become more energy efficient. Consider energy efficient appliances, more insulation, a heat pump, turn off stuff not in use, more efficient vehicle, consolidate trips, buy less stuff, don’t speed. When you buy any product or service you are buying the emissions that went into creating it.

Stop voting for climate deniers. Vote for people with the courage to tackle the problem, those willing to end subsidies for fossil fuel and tax pollution. Apply this at every level from the school board to the President. Prioritize your values over party politics. This is a science based problem, not about party politics.

Divest your retirement accounts from fossil fuel companies. They will be bad investments over time. Don’t fund those creating the problem. Be part of the solution.

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Be aware of the ways that climate change contributes to other problems. Human migration, inequality, wars over resources are the tentacles of the climate crisis. Be aware that solving this problem presents an opportunity to address other problems. Focusing on this common threat could bring people together in a common cause. Creating a sustainable future could become more interesting and challenging than accumulating stuff. Our democracy cannot function without evidence based decision making.

Become an activist. Make your voice heard. Talk to people. Do the work to learn the truth. Make sure your sources are not shillings for corporate interests. Fossil fuel company websites may not be your best sources. Remember any problem created by people can be solved by people.

Quit letting marketers define your values. Admit to yourself that facing this challenge requires a change in values and life style. Be conservative enough to conserve our resources, environment, and children’s future.

Bryan Van Gorp

Alexandria, MN

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