Editor,
Green has become the color of choice as of late, but who is reaping the profits? Crayola or mother Earth?
I am going to be a pessimist and complain about what our society values as important. I find it sad that the green revolution has been around for decades but could not find a voice until being exploited by politicians, celebrities and big corporations. It seems as if Americans cannot think for themselves or open their minds until Britney Spears wears it or Clorox exploits it.
I hope Earth Day will not become another holiday that department stores and car dealerships abuse for the sake of sales. In the week following Earth Day, Macy's ran a commercial where their colors suspiciously changed from blood-sucking red to Earth-conscious green.
At Macy's, customers can purchase a $5 card that will benefit the National Parks Association. But wait, that's not all - with the purchase of this card, you will receive a 20 percent discount off your entire purchase. I would like to remind Macy's that Earth Day was founded on the principles of consuming less.
If it takes corporate convincing for Americans to change their behavior, our planet will remain intact only until the last dollar is sucked out of the last soul. Mayor Martin Chavez has run an elaborate campaign promoting Albuquerque's drive to become more environmentally friendly, but as I drive around the city, I witness more decorative lights along the Big-I and more electronic billboards sprouting up around town. The lights are pretty, and the signs are cool, but are they really needed? Or are they just another useless product designed to make us feel good about ourselves while they consume energy?
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Americans have to come to the realization that simple amenities such as air conditioning in their cars and controlled temperatures in their homes are not a necessity - they are a luxury. Air conditioning in homes is a hypocritical concept in itself. We turn on our swamp cooler or refrigerated air to escape the hot climate outside only to use more energy, which in turn makes the world a hotter place.
Am I happy that people are finally considering the idea that the U.S. has serious consumption and pollution problems? The answer is yes. But the answer lies not in producing more T-shirts, pens, buttons or fuel-efficient SUVs. We need to reverse our way of living and do so fast before we pass on a planet to our children that has been soiled, crushed and discarded in the same manner as our McDonald's hamburger wrapper.
The United States likes to consider itself the leader of the free world - our current administration did a good job of reversing that idea - and handling the issues of others abroad. But why will we not get involved in handling an issue that will impact life in general? By not agreeing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, the United States is turning its back on mother Earth and its inhabitants.
I challenge Americans, especially students, to speak out against corporate greed and stop diverting their attention to Jessica Simpson's newest handbag. Concentrate on real issues and real-life situations and just live for the sake of living.
Samuel Chavez
UNM student
