Thoughts Along the Path . . .

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Did you happen to read my article 2 weeks ago about putting away my pandemic-masks along with my winter clothes? Well, I guess I spoke (wrote) too soon because now here we are, just a couple of weeks later, concerned about air quality to the extent that many people are again wearing masks.

The news this morning on Canadian and American stations had many stories and reports related to smoke and wildfires. Even the British stations carried the story – our story – as part of their world news reporting. Here’s a tidbit that caught my attention: For a few hours, New York City measured the worst air quality in the world, due in large part to smoke from Quebec. So it’s not “their” problem, something happening “somewhere.” It’s here AND there, it’s theirs AND it’s ours. The environment, the planet, is indifferent to borders and lines on maps.

Of course we all know that wildfires are nothing new, we can’t blame climate change for them, can we? And, for that matter, surely climate change is something for someone else to solve anyway, right?

Well, that isn’t quite right. Wildfires aren’t new, but what is new is that the season begins sooner, lasts longer, and there are more fires within it. This trend has been accelerating in recent years, and its relationship to climate change — both cause and effect—is increasingly documented and understood. Similar observations are made about other environmental conditions from hurricanes and tornadoes to drought and flooding.

The other thing that isn’t quite right is the notion that climate change is someone else’s problem to solve. I cannot solve it any more than you can. But I can still engage in the issues and practices related to it in some way. I can monitor my own habits to reduce my impact. I can minimize buying products with non-recyclable packaging. I can avoid unnecessary driving. I can encourage government officials to engage in policy-level decisions on my behalf. I can discuss with store managers my concerns about the products they sell. Every one of us has something we can do, and we all have something we are doing that we can learn to do better.

In the meantime, whether I wear a mask or not, I will go about my day looking for ways that fulfill these words from the Baha’i writings: “Let deeds not words be your adorning.” Please join me in taking action, however you can, for the well-being of our beautiful planet and its creatures.

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Submitted to Ayr News by Jaellayna Palmer, June 2023