Editor:
I applaud the B.C. government for its bold proposal to implement a governance model based on biodiversity and ecosystem health. It is long overdue. During the past 500 years, humans have driven nearly 900 species to extinction. A million others are currently at risk.
During my lifetime I have witnessed an incredible surge in the standard of living. No matter how much we have, we seem to crave more. Expectations are very high. The global economy is driven by consumption. How much is enough?
Our food options have never been more varied. Medical knowledge keeps growing. A massage or physiotherapy wouldn’t have been on the radar for previous generations. Public recreational facilities have become widely available. People now spend a lot more money on their pets.
The average adult owns an impressive array of appliances and electronic devices making their life easier and more enjoyable. There have never been more books to read, songs to listen to or games to play. From January to April 2023, more than 10 million Canadians travelled abroad.
Despite the overall luxury, poverty remains. Addictions, mental health problems and homelessness plague our communities. Everyone has a right to the pursuit of happiness and nobody expects us to go back to living in caves but our current model of governance is clearly not working.
Somehow we have to overcome the worst aspects of human nature, reassess our priorities and change course.
We can’t keep destroying the planet for the sake of comfort and entertainment. Humans have an incredible ability to adapt. Is there hope? David Eby and his colleagues seem to think so.
Richard Carton, Sechelt
