Dear Editor,

Global warming threatens to produce a cataclysm of major proportion. Those of us who realise the enormity of the looming crisis predict a world of chaos which could lead to the collapse of civilisation. The protests against the tar sands, coal mining, and fracking of natural gas, argue for development of renewable energy, such as solar or wind. We realise that protests against pipelines and tanker traffic are not only about spills but also about the final burning of the fuel that produces greenhouse gases.

Almost everyone decries the greed of major coal, oil, and gas corporations, but we must remember they can’t make money if we don’t buy their products. Many of us take long-distance plane trips, use personal cars for all our transportation, and buy a lot of things which indirectly produce more global warming. Even food which is transported from distant sources contributes to the problem.

It is already too late to prevent some global warming, but if we want to make the impending calamity less severe, we must reduce our personal carbon footprint. We can’t wait for the government to do something — it is up to each one of us to cut back our own consumption, starting now.