Attention being diverted from environment

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have heard very little of Greta Thunberg in the media since COVID-19 hit the world. Nonetheless, memorable was her apt, poignant description last year of the global-warming (non)efforts of fake or neo-environmentalist politicos as just more “blah, blah, blah”.

It’s no longer prudent to have so much of society, including our primary modes of transportation, rely on traditional sources of energy. Yet, even as bone-dry vegetation regions uncontrollably burn, mass addiction to fossil fuel products undoubtedly help keep the average consumer quiet about the planet’s greatest polluter, lest they feel and/or be publicly deemed hypocritical. It must be convenient for big fossil fuel.

A lot of people are concerned about the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels, but what are the alternatives available to the common people?

Unfortunately, global governmental decisions on curbing greenhouse gas emissions have thus far mostly reflected the profit interests of the influential fossil fuel industry. And the mainstream media seem to be quiet on the industry’s growing lobbyist potency.

Meanwhile, (neo)liberals and conservatives are overly preoccupied with vociferously criticising one another for their politics and beliefs, thus diverting attention away from the planet’s greatest polluters, where it should and needs to be sharply focused. However, it seems to be the conservatives who don’t mind liberally polluting the planet.

FRANK STERLE, JR

White Ro​ck, BC

Canada