gigantic rant, be warned

I’m polite. I like to think I’m considerate. And I follow the mantra that if someone wrongs me, karma will do the dealing and it’s my place to be understanding not judgemental.
However… (and be warned, this is going to be one hell of a rant, so tune out now if you’re not in the mood)

Australia is undergoing the longest drought in history. I read the other day that Sydney will be the first global city to face a water crisis if the drought doesn’t break, we have approx. 600 days of water supply left. We’re on water restrictions, have been for years, and the government is desperately scrambling to engineer and build renewable water supplies. We use grey water to keep our garden alive and to wash our car, and lots of other little things to contribute. As are many many others.

So when I just passed a man hosing the concrete footpath I had to say something. I’m so so freakin’ sick of that generation (or people who share that mindset) that they are more entitled than anyone else. Those who don’t have any environmental responsibility or consciousness. The ones who think all this talk of greenhouse gasses, climate change, etc is some new fandangle speak that the young folk are into.

What is it with them?!!! People who have become so used to their own modern conveniences, the thought of being slightly uncomfortable or disordered offends them. Despite in many cases having survived the depression, many wars, being witness to the people power of the 60’s, the very real tragedy of Chernobyl; their sense of social and global obligation has vanished.

I don’t care, buy all the houses, spend your children’s inheritance… good on you, it’s your business, I think it’s fine, I really don’t care. But be responsible, give a damn about more than your own yard, make an effort.

I’m no hippy, I don’t chain myself to trees, don’t join protests, don’t live in a tent, am not carbon neutral. I understand that I too contribute to the hurting of the Earth, but I try to do what I can, alter my life in small ways to help, to contribute to the good. Listen. Learn. Alter.

Why are so many of “them” the same? An ex-client responsible for a so called “green product” who told us that “consumers don’t recycle anyway” and after I said I do, in the same breath she replied “yeah well there’s too much stuff being recycled, the recycle plants can’t keep up, they just through it all away anyway”. Contradiction!
My parents, for example, move into a new house and the first thing they do is cut down all the trees and pull out all the bushes, because it looks untidy, then they lay turf and can’t keep it from being sunburnt. My Uncle is boasting about wanting to poison a neighbours tree, (which not to mention being highly illegal is horrible), all because it drops a few small leaves in his yard and one day there may be root damage. They’re leaves right, not cluster bombs.

Toowoomba a town in Queensland Australia is about to run out of water. The city held a vote last year to start a water recycling plant (I know this sounds gross, but it’s advanced technology, perfectly safe, and is used in London. Yes, London’s water supply is predominantly recycled, has been for decades. I’ve drunk water in London and didn’t notice anything different at all. It’s an excellent solution). The town voted No. Why? One of the lobbyists claimed that the hormones women pee out would be so strong, couldn’t be filtered out, and would make men grow boobs! How’s that for creative propaganda? My guess is this old codger already has them anyway!

And I’m not even going to begin talking about our politicians…

So when I came upon the man hosing the concrete the conversation went thusly:
Me: “Gee, you’re brave”
Him: “Why’s that?”
Me: “Well, doing that under water restrictions” (pointing towards the flow of water down the footpath and gutter, implying the hefty fines for water miss-use)
Him: “Well, when there’s a mess, it’s got to be cleaned”
Me: “Have you heard of a broom?”