"We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit."
David Suzuki, scientist and environmental activist
"The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity... that's all there is. That's the whole economy. That's where all the economic activity and jobs come from. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world."
Gaylord Nelson, former governor of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day
For as long as I have been coming to Whistler and for as long as I have lived here, the natural beauty of the surroundings has inspired me.
And while I admit I am a bit tired of all the snow right now and am hankering to get into my garden, when I look out across Green Lake to the mountains I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.
With that personal reflection also comes responsibility because like so many things if we don't act to protect the things we cherish they can often be lost amid the push-me pull-me of everyday living and growth.
Earth Day offers all of us a chance to think about the planet we live on, but more critically, it should make us do more than just adopt a few feel-good changes - like remembering to turn the heat down and turn off the lights.
It should challenge us to be accountable for our own actions and the actions of those we elect in all levels of government.
In a letter to the editor this week a resident bemoans the fact that people who should know better are throwing items out while only being steps away from the correct recycling container. I'm with the letter writer - what is so difficult about recycling? Even my kids get it.
That being said Whistler as a town does have one of the best records around for recycling to garbage ratios, but I know we can do better.
And what kind of message does it send when our federal televised election debate excludes the leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May?
A quick review of the platforms of the main federal parties doesn't make me feel very hopeful on the "green" front either.
In a recent column David Suzuki states that: "Environmental issues barely registered in the leaders' debates, have not factored into most of the campaigns or platforms and are not being covered by the news media.
"Instead, we get the usual platitudes and regurgitations about tax cuts, the economy, jet fighters, and law and order. Of course, these are all important and deserving of our attention, but if we don't protect the air, water, and soil that give us life, we eventually won't be around to worry about the other issues."
Thinking about these issues and addressing them is woven into the very fabric of Whistler's community planning. That's not to say we have perfected the process, and there are many who question new thinking in the form of the Centre for Sustainability, but recognizing the environment as a key factor in our success is the basis on which Whistler has been built.
And it is not all about walking the walk... it was no mistake that when the current mayor Ken Melamed was elected in 2005 he was commonly recognized as holding the "green" chair on council.
One of the items on the municipality's "to do" check list recently was neutralizing its corporate carbon footprint. In 2009 it stated that it hoped to be the first carbon neutral local government. This was to be accomplished through the purchase of offsets and by reducing emissions.
In 2010 corporate emissions were down about two per cent from 2009. But even with the emissions going in the right direction - the hydrogen buses apparently helped cut total RMOW emissions by one-third - the target could not be met.
In a 2009 press release the RMOW said: "Beginning in 2010, the RMOW will also purchase carbon offsets to bring its net emissions to zero. The current RMOW corporate emissions are approximately 2,200 tonnes of CO2 per year and $50,000 per year will be spent in offsets. This expense will decrease in direct relation to the RMOW's reduced carbon footprint over time. If the RMOW succeeds in meeting the targets outlined within this Plan, the annual cost will decrease to $45,000 by 2013, and $38,000 by 2015. "
Whistler hasn't fully met its emissions targets and offset costs are expected to be $58,250 this year.
We could have a long argument about whether this is a wise way to spend money and what the point of the whole exercise is anyway.
But instead why don't we applaud the fact that local government is trying to do something and by its very actions is calling out all the other levels of government for doing very little.
I'd like to think that if Whistler is in Suzuki's car (see above quote) heading for the wall it's not worried about the seating arrangements - instead Whistler has both feet out the door digging its heels in as the ground rushes past trying to slow down the juggernaut.
