I kind of miss the time when we didn’t have to worry about the climate change. A time when we could burn anything plastic in our ovens, build our houses as if energy were free and feel a bit different ill will toward our neighbours as we do now.

See, the ill will is something that doesn’t disappear no matter what.

When I was younger we used envy our neighbours’ cars. If you bought a new one, big and expensive, everybody in the neighbourhood would think that you were a dumb yuppie. People had to consider how much they were willing to flaunt their riches. Most people didn’t to avoid rousing neighbours’ ill will.

Now, things are different. I bought my first personal car recently, about a year ago. Some people I know questioned my decision. Why on earth would you need a car, they asked. One person said she was never going to get a car and that she was thinking about giving up flying too.

For a moment I felt like the biggest criminal in society. Not only is the atmosphere filled with greenhouse gases already, I was going to pollute it some more.
Initially I’d thought that I woudn’t be driving very much. Since I’m a nature photographer, I’d only really need to drive to nature parks, distant lakes or areas most of people never visit. Those places you can’t reach by bus.

I soon realized I was actually driving more kilometers per month than my parents in combined.

I still don’t feel ok owning a car. I need it but I wish it polluted less. I have no money for hybrid or electric cars so I’m lumbered with a regular one. Plus
I still feel the ill will. No one says it aloud and it’s not all my fault but in general every car owner is considered to be guilty for the climate change.

If I had been born 20 years earlier I would have no pressure now. I would drive around with my car and feel happy.

Damn you climate change!

Kirjoitus on osa Th!nk about it -projektia. The blog entry is part of the Th!nk about it project.