EARTH FIRST! We'll plow the other planets later.
In all seriousness, how can anyone born in the 50's like me say this country hasn't made extraordinary strides in environmental stewardship in the last 50 years. To me our biggest enviromental concern is imported insects, diseases and plant and animal species screwing up our woods and waters.
Agreed. People are more aware now than earlier and much has been accomplished. Still, a lot depends on one's personal philosophy or viewpoint.
The Google link certainly is an attempt to put a 'green' persona around a commercial enterprise, as would any savy marketing material. Still, they have installed solar panels and are using heat management technology in please note - 'Google designed facilities'. Since Google server farms comsume enormous amounts of electricity, of course they wish to emphasize their green efforts.
If you read about oil extraction from tar sands in Canada, or look at the issues surrounding natural gas and coal extraction in the Upper Plains States, there is cause for concern. In my own opinion, the more we can move away from fossil fuels, the better off we will be.
I don't consider that radical, just a realization that energy consumption comes with a price to the environment and fossil fuel derived energy is the most harmful. It is wishful thinking to ignore that.
To Forester2's point, since the 1950's we have primarliy dealt with point pollution issues, not global, cumulative effect problems. I think an effort is still needed to balance our needs against environmental degradation. The proof is in the pudding. If ongoing declines in environmental health can be documented, obviously there is still work to be done.
We need to be smart about it and not knee-jerk radically oppose or support everything. If environmental impact were part of purchase and use decisions, just like price and quality, that would be the most economical and least disruptive method of preserving the planet. More and more people are making decisions which include the environmental aspects of a product or it's use. That's really all it takes to make a huge difference.
Dave.
