Happy “green” day

On this day where green is a suggested part of the attire, I thought St. Patty’s day presented a fine opportunity to blog more about environmental issues.

Last week I got a press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I was excited to see the news. The release headline read “EPA strengthens smog standards to better protect public health and environment.”

What they did is great. But as I was searching around the Internet I saw a “Time” article online that exposed a little bit more info.

The article says that the progress on smog limitations is still being criticized by green groups, because the allowed air pollutants are “still much higher than the level recommended by the EPA’s own scientific advisers.”

My next question is ‘WHY ignore your own scientists?’ The long answer is in the story, but the short answer is politics and money. “Controlling pollution isn’t cheap,” the article states.

And nearly 350 counties in the U.S. violate the new standards. Even before the new standards some area counties, such as Walker County, Ga., couldn’t keep up with the mandate.

While the government may be struggling to set up the strict standards, I see many individuals doing what they can for the environment.

My friend, Mandy, is getting married in September, and she is planning a “green” wedding. She is going to recycle everything possible — from the flowers to the brides maid dresses. My favorite part is that her invitations are made from recycled paper, and with them she is sending out a package of seeds for her guests to plant in their yards.

It is a struggle for her to find what she wants and remain environmentally conscious, but each person’s efforts must help. They can’t hurt.

But what worries me is that — even though these small efforts must help — I think it is going to take a complete shift in governmental policies and in every person’s way of thinking to really make a difference. It will take a revolution. And how many times throughout history has there been a real, full out revolution? I haven’t seen one in my lifetime.

I leave you with an Albert Einstein quote. Come on. The man linked matter and energy (do you recall a little thing called the Theory of Relativity from your science classes?) And Mr. Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics, so I’m feeling like he was probably right when he said:

We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.