This little “lets go green” thing has begun to become less of a fad (like being aware of a genocide) and more of a humane obligation. Despite this need to improve the quality of our world, some still have refused to budge their opinion because of the global warming debate.

Despite the failure of the Copenhagen conference, we must not let one blunder deter us from living a life with the environment.

Those of us living in the Bay Area have been lucky to live in a major industrialized location that is also seen as the city upon a hill. Unlike other cities (like Los Angeles) that take pride in being a dumping ground, citizens here take pride in wanting to improve the quality of our relationship to the natural world.

Why does it matter? If you have to ask, then think about it: Do you want to live in a community the smells worse than a public bathroom? Unfortunately the eco-system of many communities are worse and some take pride in being a dumping ground (like Los Angeles).

According to the American Cancer Society, deaths caused by lung cancer are often linked to the quality of air pollution and people living in areas with high pollution are at risk.

Studies have shown a link between the environmental qualities of an area to high rates of birth defects. Then there has been the issue of adding harmful chemicals into an eco-system that is detrimental to human life (remember the movie “Erin Brockovich”).

We all have seen the difference between a beautifully designed neighborhood and a wasteland (compare the locations of the most expensive homes with the cheapest homes): it’s the amount of plant life in the area. It’s common sense: locations with a high amount of plant life are more desirable than the wastelands. By organizing neighborhood or community projects, people can focus on improving the eco-life in the wasteland.

So, should the decision that will affect the future of our eco-system be determined by governments who would rather keep the status quo just to stay rich now, or by civic leaders who are happy living in a dumping ground? Obviously, not everyone wants change, so if facts about personal needs will not convince them, the only real solution would be to point a gun to their heads and force them to rethink their life style.

The protection of humanity and the eco-system is too great of a decision to be entrusted in the opinion of the few who like to indulge in the poisons fumes of that dumping ground they like to call a society. If the fate of the environment will be decided by appeasing them, then take a dip into that hot tub of acid as you sit back and watch the world burn.