Margaret Mead

Renewable energy utilises naturally occurring resources, like sunlight, wind, rain, oceans and underground hot rocks, that are always available somewhere.

They produce very few polluting carbon dioxide emissions and are 100% renewable – they never run out.

Should we collectively plan and take action now to create a new way of living that is more connected, healthier, happier, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment?

Many say it’s too expensive to shift to renewable energy, and the results of this extra spending are uncertain and the payoff may not be seen for decades. They have a good point. People are absolutely correct in the same way people are absolutely correct when taking out car or household insurance. It is costly, the expense is almost never recouped and we rarely see a payout, but we do it anyway.

But why would you do it? Because we understand that we can’t afford to not insure. We are used to it. We have been doing it for centuries. We get it.

Why do we find it so difficult to insure our life support system, our earth? Hummmm, spend a few bucks or take a risk on life as we know it? A few bucks or life as we know it? Hummmm!

One can only assume that we don’t yet get it. We don’t collectively understand the risk. What will it take for us to ‘get it’?

‘I feel we’re in a car heading at a brick wall at 100 hundred miles an hour and everybody in the car is arguing about where they want to sit. It doesn’t matter who is driving. Someone’s got to say, “For God’s sake, put the brakes on and turn the wheel.” A few of us are saying that, but we’re locked in the boot. Nobody listens to us. So we are faced with this dilemma that yes, if we hit the wall, we’ll have no choice, we’ve got to pick up the pieces. It’s a hell of a lot harder to pick up the pieces than to put the brakes on and start turning the wheel.’

CREDIT

David Suzuki