Recently I have seen ads in magazines and on TV encouraging me to send money to fight for global warming. Now, I am not opposed to giving money for issues that can be helped by money. But global warming? How can my gift of $25 help repair the ozone or rising sea levels? It is like asking for donations to ward off hurricanes or prevent bear attacks. Picture this, a man is walking in the woods when a bear appears on an open trail roaring and ready to attack then a voices comes through his ear piece -”Black Bear 3, this is Spawning Salmon, disengage, a $25 donation just came in from the lower 48…abort, abort.” I mean what is the money used for?

The salaries for the company employees (are they really concerned citizens with our environment in mind or just seeking stardom in a casting call) who appear in the commercials asking for cash or the large building (does the building have energy efficient lighting) which houses the business? Paper information(is it recycled paper)? Television ads (which needs energy for TV to be on while ad is being viewed) ? I think people (volunteers) in places such as Wal-Mart and car lots would be more appropriate. Example – place a volunteer in the light bulb aisle. As one consumer reaches for regular light bulbs, the volunteer can give a brief speech on energy use of regular light bulbs vs. CFL and then threaten to break their knee caps if the more eco-friendly purchase is not made. Same said for plastic water bottles – consumer reaches for the pack of water. Hand comes out from shelf, smacks the consumers hand, makes gesture of “uh, uh, uhhh” and then gives them a stainless steel re-usable water bottle. At the car lot – as the SUV is being test driven, a volunteer can pop up from the back seat and inform the consumer that possible purchase of this vehicle will shorten the existence of our world by 4 years. Maybe a little farfetched but why not play the guilt card?

In truth we could all make more climate friendly choices with little effort. Here’s a daily mantra for you “I will be good to Mother Earth and she will be good to me”.