The Time for Easy is Over

Prior to reading this article I had never really considered the Green Movement as lazy, but Maniates makes a valid point. In the article he says, "Never has so little been asked of so many at such a critical moment." This statement made me begin to look at the Green Movement in a more critical light. I mean, how hard is it to use fluorescent light bulbs, turn the water off while you brush your teeth and recycle? If we only make the easy and convenient changes, how can we expect to see great improvement? However, even though I agree with Maniates, just looking around American University's campus you can see that even these lazy and easy tasks are too much for people to fully grasp. I cannot even count the number of times that I have spotted water bottles and soda cans in the trash when there was a recycling bin a few feet away. I in no way condone this laziness, but I do acknowledge that increasing the green expectations of people is no simple task. One of the obstacles we face is that our environmental woes are not always so apparent and seemingly relevant to the average Joe. The consequences of our actions often go unnoticed by the perpetrator. In a Moral Ground, Oren Lyons' "Keepers of Life" says that "We were told that there would be a time when we could not find clean water to wash ourselves, to cook our foods, to make our medicines, and to drink."(43) We can already see evidence of these things today, and Lyons, like Maniates, believes that "We need the courage to change our values to the regeneration of our families, the life that surrounds us."(44) Courage to change our ways, courage to not take the easy route, and courage to take action that will make a difference and save our environment. Ultimately, easy doesn't do it, but at the rate we are going today, it may take more time than we have for people to realize that.