My Faith in Al

Last night, I attended my first dinner with the SiliconFrench Clean Tech and Sustainability Group. Amidst our convivial exchange, someone started playing devil’s advocate and raising the question of, what if global warming was not such a bad thing after all? How about the people who will benefit from it? What is the point anyway in wanting to sustain the Earth? What are we trying to achieve? I like to keep an open mind, and always find these provocative statements very useful, as they force me to question my beliefs

The thought crossed my mind for a second, of, yes, maybe I embarked on this green journey a bit hastily. Maybe I ought to take a second look, and question my motives. Gone the guilt, the daily struggle as a green girl wannabe. I could just go back to my old habits, and live as if there was no tomorrow. My faith in pope Al got a good shake . . . While I could not gather intellectual arguments quick enough, my heart took over, and my instinct also. I could feel fear rising, the fear of no longer being able to live in harmony with the Earth. At the risk of seeming selfish, I am first concerned for myself, and the ability to continue to enjoy life as I have known it. Life free of unusual natural catastrophies, life cohabiting with birds, and trees, life with food in abundance, life with clean air, life with water galore. The good life in California

Next, my heart went out to the less fortunate than I, the majority, all the people who because of economic duress or geographic vulnerability, are especially at risk. I want to do whatever is in my power, to become a part of the solution to this impending crisis, so that their lives will not become even more hellish than they already are. Being a privileged member of Silicon Valley, with access to so many resources, economic, technological, financial, academic, and social, I cannot be a passive witness. Again, from a purely selfish standpoint, I want to be able to live with myself, and this is a way, as good as any other, to bring meaning into my life.

Last, I just would like to share the feats of a young man in Africa. His name is William Kamkwamba and he has been able to accomplish amazing feats, with very limited means, in his small Malawi village. When I read his blog, I felt ashamed.

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