Thankfully, the Envision taping held no such interrogation. The audience got to ask questions of two of the guests, including the very cool State Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego). &
I went easy on the questions, considering my own relief at being left alone with my thoughts. My two questions basically revolved around the other green-cash money. My biggest question had an unsatisfactory, but predictable, answer: why can't the public transit infrastructure ever be improved?
"There isn't enough money," said Senator Kehoe.
Look, there are only a few changes I see myself making in order to go green. Honestly, there's no foreseeable way I can afford to drive an electric, a hybrid, or anything other than a used car in the next five years. I'm not going to start composting because of the "ick" factor. Make my own dish soap or detergent? The day I see someone's dishes that look less like they've been licked clean than washed, I'll consider mixing up a batch.
But I don't actually feel all that guilty about my carbon footprint, even after attending the show. My husband and I share one car, and we drive within the (dilatory) speed limit. & We consolidate trips and try to accomplish more than one errand at a time. We recycle cardboard, cans, and glass. Buy in bulk at Henry's. Turn off lights. Conserve water and don't buy bottled water. &
Our biggest contribution? We don't own a television set, so we aren't constantly bombarded with commercials telling us to buy, buy, buy.
One thing I wish could be said about the environmental movement is that it is a poor person's cause. Right now, you have to be able to be able to afford the choice to go green.
-Citizen Voices blogger Alma Sove has spent most of her life in San Diego and is currently attending law school.
