FROM THE EDITOR It’s easy to get discouraged about our ability to affect a planet in crisis. As we buy our reusable shopping bags, recycle our bottles and cans, and replace incandescent with fluorescent, it’s easy to wonder how these small gestures could begin to affect the catastrophic events we’re now told could be less than a century away: arctic melts and their resulting floods, and drastic temperature changes that will make some regions of the planet considerably less inhabitable. The main thing scientists seem to be arguing about is the “when” part, and we’re not providing those answers here. In publishing a “green” issue, we at Spree are taking the position that the small actions of private citizens and local businesses can make a difference. I presented this dichotomy between the large-scale and the small-scale to the online gardening community, and I got some interesting responses: Is much of what we do small and insignificant in the face of the damage we’re still doing? Maybe, but there will be no ecological Pearl Harbor that galvanizes people to act. Rather, it’s a slow decay that will only reverse itself when a critical mass of people awaken to it. We’d better at least try to control the damage we do as individuals. While none of us has the power save the planet all by our lonesomes—we do have the power to tread very heavily on our little corner of it. That brings its own responsibilities. Yes in 90-150 years time the earth may be burning but in the meantime more windmills means less kids with coal-fired power station-related respiratory problems; less plastic bags means I can keep enjoying seeing a few turtles on my dives and beaches for a few more years. That car with increased fuel efficiency/hybrid skillz means I put less money in the pocket of oil-rich regimes with ropey human rights records ... and so on and so on. To me, those who live sustainably obviously want to keep going on in life, and so they will. They have the will power to continue at whatever costs, or work it’s going to take. The people that will be alive in the future will be descendents of the people that are already living green today … These responses came from people living all across America, and the message is clear. What we do here in our corner of New York State is very important and will continue to be. I encourage all of our Spree readers to consider the green living options here, and to feel free to contact me with their own suggestion of ideas we could share. Also, for the first time, the entire features section will be online, so please encourage your friends to read it on our website. Another small gesture, but one we hope you will appreciate. Best wishes from a publication that continues to believe in Western New York and its ability to renew and sustain a great community. Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top