And though that sounds like something you'd find as a comment under a troll diary, it's not. I've been part of the problem. I'm an overweight, over-energy using guy. I've worked in the same office for the last five years or so, and driven to work, then driven to lunch, then driven back to work, then driven home. I tried all of once to bike in, last summer. I got halfway and got caught in a downpour and was completely soaked by the time I got there, and had to call someone to bring me dry clothes, thus negating my having biked in. But I read a diary...
It was this one on how badly screwed we probably already are, climatewise. How we've probably already passed the disaster point, in large part thanks to people like me. How maybe the only chance we have not to bequeath a nearly dead world onto future generations, is to cut, and cut hard now, while working to develop non-greenhouse gas producing energy sources so that we can expand again in the future.
After reading the diary, I was depressed, but thoughtful. I turned off the computer I'd read the diary on, turned out some lights around the house (already mainly CF lights, at least.) Went out and looked at my newly planted lettuce and snap peas. Listened to the cardinals squabble a bit.
And today, rather than drive the 5-10 minutes it takes to get to work, I got up early, did some dishes by hand, and left 30 minutes earlier than normal, on foot, with a baggie of melon and a sandwich in my pocket for lunch. I didn't actually get to work til I was 30 minutes late - it took me an hour to walk in on foot.
I had kind of thought I could take a shortcut through the woods at the local university, follow the paths rather than walking the paved parking lot uphill. Turns out those darn paths twist around a lot. So I walked. And I listened. The sun cut through trees and bushes just beginning to bud out. Squirrels ran past, chasing each other. I heard more and different birds than I had in years. I crossed a couple of small gurgling creeks.
I finally got to the office, covered in sweat, slightly out of breath, and with faint twinges and tightness in my calves. Within 15 minutes, I got a call from my parents, who informed me they'd just searched my house for my body, as I hadn't popped over to get the vehicle I drive and leave parked next door at their house where there's more room and hadn't answered my phone at home. I told them I'd just walked in, turned down their offers to bring me lunch, as I'd brought it with me. Told them I'd see them tonight, stop by their house before heading to mine.
So an hour commute by foot, 5 min or so by car. Sweaty and slightly tired, or just generally normal.
Tomorrow I'll know better. Tomorrow I'll leave an hour early, not just 30 minutes.