Maple Bay - Re: "David Suzuki is an environmental hypocrite" Thank you for printing April Gibson's letter.
I had missed reading the article on cultural paradigm shift due to a very busy holiday period. April's letter forced me onto the web version and I was able to find the story.I have to say, I feel that April hit the nail on the head in many areas; I have similar views on environmentalism activists. The article on cultural paradigm was a self-serving bunch of nonsensical philosophical tripe.In the same vein, the most recent article about the solar power proposal put forward by Peter Nix on solar energy launching a green tidal wave is another example of overzealous passion directed toward trying to instill fear of something (climate change, doom and gloom if the hydro power goes out) and suggesting indirectly you need to be on board with his thinking - oh look at me, how great I am for saving the environment, and what are you doing to be like me; a common tactic of environmental activists.I'm all for developing solar power opportunities. But, if he plans to "sell" expensive solar power to BC Hydro it bothers me at several levels. There is nothing"green" about buying and setting up a solar power station, so let's get that point on the table. All the products used in making a solar farm are made of nonrenewable resources harvested from mother earth.Further, someone has to connect that power supply (small as it is) with an expensive connection to the main grid for distribution (a further cost to Hydro users). I have no issue with individuals setting up their own solar power supply for their use to reduce or mitigate their draw on electric hydro but don't make me pay for your grandiose ideas through my Hydro bill. If you are fortunate enough to have the wealth to buy and set up solar power to your home then fill your boots.These days so many people and businesses are exploiting the use of the term "being green" which has no specific definition and no real useful meaning and often having no idea what they are talking about.Often people's actions and behaviours are at complete odds with their stated beliefs. During the holidays, did you check out the shopping malls' parking lots overloaded with cars, millions of folks flying around the world to visit family and loved ones, overcrowded stores with staggering volumes of non-renewable resources being bought and paid for as gifts or for personalconsumption items? I was one of them. And, every time a person goes to the grocery store and consumes the wonderful array of foods available to us and brings it home in our cars...how does one think that luxury of modern society happened without some impact on the planets resources?What does one think about the impact on the environment of all these above stated actions? It may be more appropriate to talk about how I, we, you can undertake some sort of reasonable action that might lead toward mitigation of an environmental damaging effect or of limiting those impacts. Or at another level, just ask yourself, what can I do personally in my behaviour, or actions and my consumption patterns that will result in less consumerism, less consumption of natural resources? What am I willing to give up?For many of us caught up in today's wonderful society it's pretty hard to think of not buying that 60 inch widescreen TV, or new smart phone or tablet, or taking that winter vacation flying somewhere warm and sunny, or just enjoying time at home - in our home loaded with all those goods and services that make it a comfortable place. I'm just saying, try to avoid being a hypocritical.Bryan Wallis Maple Bay