It has long been understood that in order to avoid the
consequences of global warming, action needs to come not only from individual
and local levels, but also from a federal one.
While the American and Canadian governments have been among the more
inactive countries in fighting climate change, their citizens have continued to
find ways to save water, energy, and food.
This week, those governments look to work with others to finally take
reasonable and significant action.
Negotiators from 192 countries have descended on Copenhagen,
Denmark to find common
ground and leave with a substantial climate deal. And so far talks are optimistic.
Though these discussions are taking place on a global plane,
there is still something that individuals can do to have an influence: write
letters. Members of Provincial
Parliament in Canada,
and members of Congress in the United States
are influenced, for better or worse, by their constituents. When enough of them voice their concerns with
a particular issue, representatives will make that issue a new priority. It sounds simple, but these are the
politicians working directly for the people, and should they fail to deliver on
a top issue, they risk losing support and losing their seat. Despite all the
advances in technology with new social mediums such as Facebook and Twitter as
ways to connect with governmental leaders, politicians still respond to formal,
direct letters written by concerned citizens.
It doesn’t take long to write a letter to a representative,
but it should take care. To effectively
capture attention, the letter should be a well-written, articulate collection
of thoughts and concerns urging the government to take action. If a citizen is in charge of a small
business, an official letter head should be used to represent not only the
individual, but the company as well. A letter shows that the issues addressed
is of very particular importance. Emails
are easy to send off, and adding a name to a Facebook cause takes even less
effort. A letter with a formal greeting
and proper formatting takes time, and is an underrated, yet highly effective
tool.
World leaders are not directly accessible, but citizens have
both the right and responsibility to express their concerns to their
representative. MPP’s and Congressmen
are only as passionate as the people whom they represent.
After composing the letter, of course, it should be printed
on eco-friendly paper. And this should
be made known. Recycled paper is readily available online and at many
stores. Big name corporations such as
Office Max, Canadian Tire and Staples sell recycled products to consumers. Moreover, there are environmentally-friendly
companies that cater to businesses and offer a wide range of office supplies,
including paper.
To gain the necessary attention of politicians, it is
important to not only identify the actions that need to take place, but set
examples as well. In urging the
government to do what it right, representatives and their offices should also
be encouraged to use some of the many eco-friendly business products that are
available. There is still hope that dedicated individuals can effectively influence those with the power and the purse to make necessary change.
