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Can we live with less?

Letters

Editor:

Last week I attended an LNG pipeline dialogue in Sechelt. The event was informative, well presented and very engaging. Thank you to those who organized the evening.

Included in the dialogue was a local concern, the proposed LNG plant at Woodfibre and the risks involved.

Our local concerns are just a small part of a very big problem.

Canada has been resource driven since confederation. Along with the new and established world economies, we have a significant appetite for fossil fuels. With huge demand and relatively easy tax revenue, our governments continue to shop our resources to anyone who shows interest. It appears highly unlikely this will change. 

Green energy, the alternative, doesn’t appear on the radar for most energy producing or energy consuming nations.

In fact, green energy, reducing our carbon footprint and addressing global warming aren’t really all that important to most Canadians.

There’s still a big market for gas guzzling trucks and large houses built to accommodate empty nesters or small families. Imagine having to give up a flight to our favourite winter sun destination, electronic gadgets, boats, motorhomes, ATVs or motorcycles. These all require fossil fuels or energy produced by fossil fuels.

We can improve the future of our children and grandchildren. However, nobody is willing to make the serious personal sacrifices which would impact our way of life.

So, until we can simplify our lifestyle, let’s just continue with our selfish ways.

Richard Austin, Halfmoon Bay