Honestly, I'm hesitant to respond because of GB's nature of lashing out quite visciously instead of responding constructively. It's a large part of why I tend to steer clear of the politics forum in general. But I came up with a pretty sound argument that I'd like to share:
My argument isn't about just the CO2 levels or the ozone layer or anything like that. It's about finding a balance with nature instead of just taking.
Look at it this way: nature finds a great harmony and there's a use for everything and anything. Minerals in the ground feed the bugs, bugs feed the birds, etc. Even a fallen tree decomposes and creates rich minerals in the earth that continues the cycle. Nature also adapts, such as building an entire ecosystem around a sunken ship. However, it can only adapt so much and our mucking about, destroying forests in the name of "progress" reduces nature's impact to help us. By removing, say, trees around the area that birds can create nests in, they can't live there, so the bug population rises and we have an infestation that previously was stopped by birds and other animals.
I'm not saying we all live in caves, make fires, etc. But there's something to be said about going back to basics a little. For example, in the summers, I don't take transit at all and rely on my bicycle, which I love. In fact, it's a little faster than transit because I don't have to stop at every corner to pick someone up. It's a healthy way of getting outside, getting exercise and getting me to where I need to go. Now, I'm also not saying tha EVERYONE can live this way, either. But suppose more people did? Less cars on the road means less congestion, less air polution, a healthier population, etc. If more people transported themselves like this, there would be a slightly healthier population, meaning a reduced stress on an already stressed healthcare system.
Ditto for, say, electricity. I doubt I could give up my PS3, but just because we can't entirely rely on just wind or solar power doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. Imagine the reduction of emissions if nearly every building had solar panelling and a couple of smaller wind turbines? Imagine the reduction of heating costs if nearly every building with a flat roof had a green roof?
Heck, speaking of green roofs: they can be used to create crops. There's a hotel in Vancouver that produces fruit, herbs & honey worth $16,000 a year from its green roof (read it in National Geographic). There's so much wasted space in cities on those rooftops that could be used for green roofs and suddenly, we have rooftop gardens. Spread that to other parts of the world and local farming becomes a larger, viable option, which cuts the costs of transporting food across seas.
Like I said, I'm not saying that we live in caves, but I am saying that there are viable reasons to "go green" that can reduce costs, create jobs, create a healthier lifestyle for us and still have a similar life to what we live, now. Like I said, it's about creating a balance, rather than just reaping and sowing.
