Green Glossary: The Seat Belt Supposition

I've written about this before but it deserves a bigger stage—a green glossary entry of its own: The Seat Belt Supposition. What we call normal is actually consumption and consumption requires energy. As a result, the vast majority of scientists now point to human-influenced climate change. But what if all those ardent global warming deniers are correct? Well, that's where seat belts come in.

While some of us fasten our seat belts to avoid getting a ticket, many more do so as a safety measure (what some might call a "preemptive strike"). We don't wait until we see another vehicle spinning out of control to snap the seat belt into place. We fasten it upon entering a car. It can be a little uncomfortable to wear, but if we arrive at our destination without needing that seat belt, we typically don't regret using it. To apply this same mentality to climate change-to be unconcerned whether or not the human role in global warming is overstated-would be to live with a vision for the future. The only players with a vested interest in the status quo are those who profit off our indifference and our conspicuous consumption, so why not alter our lifestyle as if our very existence were hanging in the balance? To accept this challenge would be to overcome corporate propaganda-something we can feel good about on its own.