Listen up for a minute. I don’t typically do editorial photography; however, when my planet is at stake, I make an exception.
Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg came to Alberta this week. Her trip included a stop in Edmonton on a Friday, which happens to be her weekly school strike day.
I’m primarily a nature/outdoor photographer, capturing the beauty of the world around me. And I want that beauty to last—both for my lifetime and the lifetime of generations to come. Everything I photograph inspires me to protect this earth I dwell upon. How does it not inspire others?!
So I admire Greta for turning up the volume on the issue of sustainability, and how critical it is to take actions--both individually, and as a society--that will improve our planet. Each part of the globe has their challenges; each part of the globe also has the power and ability to work and think differently.
One news article I read following her visit to Edmonton indicated that while Greta's message is powerful, it is not fully informed, as she does not seem to recognize any of the initiatives that already exist--initiatives of the kind that she is advocating for. It was is something I reflected on as well. There are several great innovations, nationally and world-wide, that reduce our negative impact on the environment (one of my favourites is
this bad boy here).
That being said, at the end of the day--at least in Alberta--we are still extracting oil from the ground in excess. Alberta’s identity is wrapped up in oil and gas, to a fault. I get it--I heat my home with natural gas and fill up my car at Shell like everyone else. AND, I also believe we need to move away from oil and gas to something more sustainable as fast as possible.
I do agree that Greta will need to start affirming the positive actions that are being taken if she wants her message to remain powerful and motivating over time. It's well-known that recognizing strengths is a better motivator for learning and change than admonishment. Greta's key focus right now seems to be in sending the message that society simply isn't moving fast enough to counteract the damage we are still doing; and, that we aren't taking those 2C seriously enough. While the message is limited in scope, she's not wrong. (I've been eco-conscious
since well before she was born, and some days it blows my mind that some people don't even value the concept of recycling, let alone anything more advanced.)
I have
lots of beautiful places I want to photograph both in this province and around the world. ...will they still be there when I arrive?
