PETA is drowning blogs with their assertion that meat is the biggest cause of global warming. This seems to be the biggest lifestyle change story tied to climate change in months. I’ll quip that they’ve exaggerated their conclusions to jump onboard the climate gravy train with other big time NGOs and nonprofits. Despite that I whole heartedly support the abolition of corporate slaughter houses and think that people should reduce or stop eating meat, especially from corporate farmed, genetically modified, antibiotic laden animals. What was refreshing about PETA’s message was that finally a group is saying that change can’t happen without Americans rethinking their lifestyle.

Let’s look at the framework of our current environmental discussions. They typically fall into a few oft repeated and mixed together varieties. The subjects I hear most about are new technology, clean cars, clean energy, and of course how much we are screwed. I don’t see any of these discussions as being fruitful toward the end goal of stopping our planet from burning.

Let me start by staring down the new tech crowd. All they need is a hundred billion dollars, ten years and voila! Climate crises averted we can all pat each other on the back and go about our lives.

Yeah right. What ever happened to that flying skateboard you promised me in the eighties? I’m still pissed.

Seriously, did we all forget that technology got us into this mess in the first place? I’m not dogging human innovation but gizmos like giant space shields to block the sun aren’t going to cut it. These supposed futurists have no real vision. They usher in an Orwellian era with corporations controlling a high technology society stratified by class. The ultimate vision is a society so far “advanced” that we have total control over nature.

Think I’m wrong? Look at pop culture science fiction movies for clues. So many feature galaxy sized corporation running ragtag mining operations under unsafe conditions. How many of the story lines go along the “Oh shit, my boss didn’t tell me there would be aliens!” The Death Star is the ultimate example of technologists’ visions. A planet sized machine that blows up real planets.

I’ve got more head knocking to do! This time it’s the fuel cheerleader’s turn. Get over your fuel of choice, they all suck! Why? Because cars are giant, metal and plastic, stinking rats.

Tell me I’m wrong. I dare you.

Should I point my finger towards the greenhouse gases, the suburban sprawl, the asthma, obesity, and other health problems, the 40,000 Americans that die in car crashes each year, the Iraq War, the isolation, the destruction of habitat caused by the building of roads, the millions of roadkill animals, the enormous infrastructure cost or just the destruction of neighborhoods and communities all over the world?

I’m not going to get into energy. Except to say that no-one is saying we are fat energy hogs gorging ourselves on the coal fired slop squealing for more. Did you know that pigs will keep getting fatter the more you feed them? They just keep gorging, some animals won’t do that but hogs do. If I were to pick an animal that best describes the United States you can guess which one I’d pick.

Oink! Oink!

I’m waiting for the attacks to come slamming in. Accusations like being un-American (like that is an insult), or the classic “well do you want to live in a cave?” No! I just want some honesty.

I want America to pause from the slop bucket for a moment and wallow up to the mirror and take a good look at itself. When America repeats patriotically that it is the greatest country in the world and turns it’s head away, I want to direct eyes back onto that mirror till it can’t deny being what it is anymore.

Most of us in this country were raised as pigs. Once you look into that mirror you have two choices. You can go back to eating the slop even though it won’t taste as good or you can decide to change and become a human.

Rethink your lifestyle. Think about it hard and do one thing at a time different until you start finally feeling it change. Push harder, go further, get madder. We need courageous warriors on a new way. The planet will only survive from a bottom up revolution peaceful or otherwise and don’t let anyone trick you into thinking otherwise. When they try and lure you back to the trough, just keep staring at that mirror.