Stories in Ice
Making our way back through late afternoon traffic from SFO, a dear friend of mine told me about his mother who recently committed to green living standards. “Yeah,” I cheered. “Yes, but,” . . . . . he continued. Full of enthusiasm, she signed up for an “eco-tour”, which apparently buses, then helicopters eager eco warriors to see the melting glaciers. Hmmm, we both shot each other a look. A bit of disconnect—bring in more humans and fossil fuels to do what exactly? Create photo ops? Pretend they are Al Gore for an afternoon? What exactly does this type of “eco-tour” accomplish? We wondered.
Will commercializing global warming work? When I take a moment to think about this, my answer is a resounding yes—I mean, look what the caveman has done for Geico (are they really going to make a TV series from these characters?—probably). Extend this thought further, and let’s begin to wonder how we may then create responsible green commercialism. It might take us Americans a bit of convincing, but I believe we’d give up the frills and thrills of a helicopter ride for more education, more discussions, and consequently take more action (not helicopter rides). We are a nation of trust after all, we believe in ideals, which much of the world still argues over. Do we really need to see up front and personal a melting glacier? Can we trust the glaciers are melting, the seas are warming (ask any insurance company), and the time to act is now?
Yet, I do understand that if you haven’t been to the ocean, an online adventure experience can’t compare or come close to the majesty.
True, I haven’t spoken to a glacial eco-tour company, but I’d like to know what their objectives are. Perhaps they have studied Masaru Emoto (The HiddenMessages In Water) and are asking people send their positive vibes, pray, or to visualize the glaciers growing full again. Better yet perhaps they “give-back” by shuffling Buddhist monks back and forth to sit and pray over the glaciers for– like a year. I could support this, but for some reason it’s difficult for me to support wealthy Americans, spending thousands of dollars, flying over the disappearing glaciers.
Stay True,
M