Local politicians walking, need to hear public talking
By LYNEA NEWCOMER
The Wood River Journal ~ Hailey
“How do we get there faster,” Scott Runkel asked the panel of local government
representatives last Thursday night. He was asking for the big issues to be addressed in climate change rather than easy light bulb changing.
After viewing “Kilowatt Ours,” the audience, Runkel included, lit up. Viewers accompanied the film maker on the reverse journey of a light switch back to its origins. Focusing on mountain top removal occurring in Appalachia to extract coal, the movie raised a question scientists and technology developers are hustling to address each day, “What if every time we turned up the heat, the planet warmed? What choice would we make?”
Light bulb changing (from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs) does make a difference. The 1,500 CFLs WRHS teacher Larry Barnes and students freely handed out at the Thursday presentation, if used to replace the same number of 60 watt incandescent bulbs, will save $31,000 over their lifetime; they will also prevent a half a million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere (if placed in homes powered by natural gas) and would prevent over a million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere (if placed in homes run on coal).
Such light bulbs are the low-hanging fruit available to everyone. The local government representatives all described bulb switches their buildings are making to improve the efficiency of their offices. Three of Bellevue's council members take the bus daily to Ketchum. Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey and Blaine County are all increasing in-office recycling and appliance shut-down when not in use. Blaine County has increased the margins on all documents printed in-house, decreasing their paper use significantly.
Runkel's question, though, sparked the panel members to brainstorm several focus points for community action beyond office efficiency.
“We need to break the wishing versus doing cycle,” Nils Ribi, Sun Valley council member, agreed. “The fact that people demand the right to build huge homes,” he said, “the fact that we're owned by an oil company, we're at a tipping point. (We have to figure out) how to make decisions now to help us preserve this resort. We have to find the balance.”
Ribi suggested public pressure be put on the Sun Valley resort to look at other ski areas and what they are doing to conduct operations in more environmentally conscious manner, and ask what we are doing. Another audience member suggested identifying the basic resources in the valley, such as water supply, and raising awareness and action on a large-scale for the particulars of nature.
Along with Ribi, Jeff Adams, Blaine County regional planner, stressed the importance of public involvement. “Go to meetings, write letters,” he encouraged. “We read ‘em. Get involved, we want to know what you support. Too often we don't directly see the public support and initiatives get buried in the laundry list.”
Adams walks to work every day, and Ribi declares he is not afraid to advocate for environmental issues. Chris Kotch of Bellevue takes the bus and Becky ?? of Hailey composts and turns down her thermostat. “You gotta walk the walk,” Lisa Horowitz, Ketchum city council member, said.
Our local politicians are walking, and now they want to hear us talking.
Captain Green, aka Matt Gershater, dressed in full-body green theme, quickly polled the audience. “How many of you recycle?” A show of hands arose from the fairly full lower Liberty theatre. “Who drives an alternative energy car, like veggie oil?” Many fewer hands. “Let me hear an Om,” he asked. “Ommmmm. That is our voice, let's use it. Let's make our scene a little more green.”
Kids of all ages involved in making the evening of discussion happen, gave concluding remarks. They were the ultimate punch to topics the adults had discussed.
“To me,” Alexandra Aulum said, “dealing with climate change is like getting up and going to school you have the responsibility to educate yourself. Waking up is not enough.”
“None of us can afford to sit back and wait for others to take action,” Grace Guryan stated. “Although kids can't vote or make new laws, and don't have the money to make more efficient cars we as children have the power to inspire others. To the adults and parents here, I give you this urgent message: if you want us to have a prosperous future, you need to take action. We need your help.”