Last week, I attended a lecture by John Stossel, hoping to gain some
insight into the world of TV journalism and investigative reporting.
Mr. Stossel hosts "Give Me a Break" on ABC’s "20/20," - a segment
that had once been a staple in my household. After an hour of listening
to my falling idol try to convince the crowd that unregulated
capitalism will solve all of our country’s problems, an audience member
asked his opinion on global warming. Mr. Stossel’s memorable response
began with the ignorant statement, "There’s been a little warming."
This event, and the rousing applause that greeted Mr. Stossel’s
words, brought me to a disturbing realization: In Madison, global
warming is an issue on everyone’s mind. There are a number of student
organizations working to reduce our impact on the planet, and signs all
over campus declare the school’s commitment to saving energy. I began
to take for granted that everyone had accepted climate change as a fact.
We live in one of the most progressive cities in the nation, and
it’s easy to forget that there are so many people who still doubt the
legitimacy of global warming. But this past Thursday, firmly believing
science had finally won out over politics and that the general
population recognized the issue of global warming, I was shocked back
to reality by Mr. Stossel’s remark. His lecture reminded me of the
number of people who still close their minds to the seriousness of
climate change, treating it as a partisan issue.
Later in the week, the Roosevelt Energy Conference at the Capital
provided some balance to Mr. Stossel. This event brought together
politicians and representatives from groups including the American
Transmission Company, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators,
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, SmartPower and many others
interested in implementing a reasonable energy policy for the United
States. Its mission was to connect individuals nationwide who hope to
play a part in forming this country’s energy policy with professionals
within the private and public sector. Listening to a student from
Harvard University propose an ad campaign renewed my hope in Madison’s
stance on the issue. The campaign’s wide reach and effectiveness would
rival that of old classics such as Smokey the Bear and "Just Say No."
In our progressive political environment, we have two options: We
can rest on our laurels, or we can educate the hesitant and
misinformed. I hope we have the foresight to choose the latter.
One project through which our city can make an impact is "Mpowering."Â This campaign seeks a 100,000-ton reduction of Madison’s
CO2 emissions by 2011 through citizen conservation pledges. With the
slogan "You can. You count,"Â Mpowering takes its mission beyond
awareness, driving action.
Whether or not the general U.S. population is completely aware of
the repercussions of global warming remained ambiguous at the end of
this week. What was clear, however, was the need for collective action.
Individuals are not going to feel as though they’re doing their part to
save the world by flipping off the lights when they leave a room. But
if these individuals feel like part of a movement, then as they shave a
minute off their showers, buy a couple florescent light bulbs and turn
off the lights when the leave the room, they will realize their
individual efforts add to the collective one.
That’s where groups like Mpowering and Wisconsin Public Interest
Research Group’s "Big Red Go Green"Â campaign come in. In other parts
of the country, where the idea of global warming is still scoffed at,
awareness campaigns are crucial. But in Madison, a city filled with
activists, students and people who thrive on knowledge and challenge
the majority, we need action to make an impact not only on the planet,
but on the mindsets and ideologies of the nation.
