Ranger Report #2

Today's topic is Hypocrisy.

The Merriam Webster definition:  pretending to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : pretending to be more virtuous or religious than one really is.

Environmentalists (like me) are often accused of being hypocrites because we drive cars, use electricity, use oil, eat non organic foods, use plastic bags, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. These arguments come from both directions. The environmental extreamists who believe we have to give up everything to save the environment and the anti environmentalists who think we should destroy the environment for personal gain.

We live in the world we live in. It is big and messy and imperfect. In a perfect world I would live and work in a treehouse in a forest, overlooking the ocean, part of an organic city where all the energy was from renewable sources and all the food was grown nearby. I would walk or ride my bike or swing on a vine to get most of my errands done. I would never use plastic. If I had to drive, I would use a kinetic graphene spring driven, bespoke vehicle. But the world is not perfect. We have choices to make. We have to eat available food we can afford, take care of our families and work at imperfect jobs. We are surrounded by products made of oil, urban environments that are designed for cars, and economic systems that favor environmental destruction.

How do you live in the world you are trying to change? Do the best you can each day. Ignore the nay sayers and the overly judgmental and believe that by doing all the little things––recycling, eating local when you can, limiting driving, staying healthy, picking up liter, making less waste, walking, turning off lights, getting out into nature, protecting endangered species and especially voting for the environment––you can the change world for the better. I call myself an environmentalist. I don't believe I am a hypocrite because I believe in the cause. I work hard for the environment. I know I am not perfect and don't expect others to be. I keep my carbon footprint as small as I can and work everyday to make it smaller.

Blue Planet Rangers do the best we can every day. Some days will be better than others. If someone tells you you can't call yourself an environmentalist and drive a car, look them in the eye and say yes I can. Tell the truth. This is my truth "I drive the truck I can afford. It is 30 years old. It's small and gets OK gas milage and I kept it out of the landfill. No new truck had to be made. I drive as little as possible and walk or ride my bike as much as I can. I am an environmentalist. I am a Blue Planet Ranger"

Knot of the week:
The Bowline
It is a handy knot that has many uses.

Be well! Save the Ecosystem! Love Our Swirling Blue Planet! Environment is Everything!

Blue Planet Ranger Evan

Peace, Love and Less carbon!