Earth Hour may have lowered the temperature across the globe but for sure it raised the temperature at a house in New Jeresy. Kevin was sitting with his beer watching recorded programs on TiVo, when Rose, his live-in partner, told him about Earth Hour and their duty toward turning off all electronic appliances. Not to be disturbed from his weekend rest, he preferred enjoying the TV to waiting in the dark for the time to pass. But never in his wildest dreams he could have thought that it would become the cause for their breakup.
The tribe of people who have seen their partner drift apart because of environmental issues is a recent development, but a growing one. Environment-friendly is no more just a fad but has entered the mainstream thinking; and like yesteryears vegetarianism, socialism, etc. has become an important issue while selecting partners.
For example, Evian, who is a computer programmer in New York, decided to dump her date on the first night when she saw his gas-guzzling Hummer. She says that it was emotionally difficult to sit in the car as she was constantly under realization that how she was impacting the earth. These days she is seeing a guy who, proudly and voluntarily, doesn’t own a car and prefers to travel in the city only on bicycle. And, interestingly, she is not the only one with such thinking.
Even Dr. Helen, a marriage counselor, affirms the importance of the environment in today’s married life, as choices about buying eco-friendly goods are no more seen as trivial, but important. She tells about a recent couple where one of the issues was the wife wanted to dump their SUV and buy a Toyota Prius, which was not acceptable to the husband in these lean times. Her objection was that she felt like a criminal in her circle driving that gas-guzzler.
The problems like such are no more restricted to green fanatics, or the super rich. Even the middle class is becoming conscious; and many times the incident of leaving a light on needlessly is not seen as trivial. Jack, for example, told his wife that finding lights on needlessly irritated him a lot; and Mary, his wife, has started ensuring that no such incidents would happen. They both are proud of this and it was evident in their voice, while narrating the story.
It has been a great development, as being environmentally conscious has entered the sub-conscious of the masses. The results may not be visible immediately, but if we continue in the direction we may for sure again see a sustainable earth, worth leaving to our future generations.
Image Credit: Hundredsofheads
