September 1, 2011. Today is the first day of my car-free year. I have resolved not to get in a car – or a plane – for an entire year. This is not because I believe it will do any good. It is because I feel desperate, a feeling related to despair.
The situation appears hopeless. A few months ago the International Energy Agency reported the world’s carbon dioxide emissions are continuing to rise, and faster than expected, with no sign of slackening. Now we are pretty much committed to warming the planet by two degrees Celsius, and scientists warn us much more than two degrees warming probably means catastrophe.
It feels to me as though the whole huge mass of humanity is running headlong towards a cliff, and the momentum is so powerful no one believes there’s any way on heaven or earth to stop it.
A few lone voices – David Suzuki, Elizabeth May, Ann Coxworth – are yelling Stop! and digging in their heels. But no one hears them – we’ve all been brainwashed to believe the economy is more important than life itself – and anyway most of us are on our cell phones.
So I feel compelled to do this. I used to feel compelled to do more. Back in the early 90’s, when I first learned about global warming and climate change, I was obsessed with it. I worked with a number of organizations to try and change the world. It all came to naught.
And now all I can do is not get in a car or a plane. Which won’t change anything. But I feel compelled to do something and it’s all I can do. Or, I guess, not do.
I realize I’m lucky to be in a position to make this commitment. I’m an artist, art teacher, and landlady. My studio is in the same building as my tenants, a 12-minute bike ride from my home. Our local organic food coop is two blocks away. So the prospect of doing without a car is a lot easier for me than it would be for most people.
Nevertheless Saskatoon is a sprawling sometimes bitterly cold city of 230,000 that has been developed for car travel with precious little attention paid to alternative transportation. The bus system stinks. It costs $5.50 round trip and the service is disgraceful. The last two winters have dumped more snow on us than we’re used to – thanks to a warmer atmosphere? — making winter cycling tougher. I know there will be hard times ahead, when I’ll have to pick up art supplies or items for my rentals and carry them on my back, bike or (last resort) the bus. I’ll probably not be able to attend events I’d really love to, maybe not even see people I care for. For sure I’ll terrifically miss canoeing up north on the Churchill River with my friends next summer (sigh).
I’ll write this blog whenever anything noteworthy occurs. And naturally I’d love to hear from others: comments, questions, suggestions, experiences and ideas.
So here goes… my car-free year is beginning…
Happy trails,
Jan Norris
Very cool committment Jan. I look forward to reading your blog this year. Hopefully something more than desperation will come out of it.