It’s Time To Choose
By: Pearl Beeson
Tags: Environmental Issues, Celebrity, Climate Change

A collage by me, representing what I feel about this topic.

Speaking very generally, one could say that there are two different types of people — those who ignore the news, and those who base their lives on what is reported on the news. There are positives and negatives to both approaches. Those who ignore the news may feel that ignorance is bliss. But they may be missing some important reporting on information that can make them better citizens, or healthier. On the other hand, those who are actively invested in the news may feel they are better off being “in the know.” But they may get to the point where they are overwhelmed by all the things they should be doing to counter the bad news they see. No matter where you fall on this information spectrum, it’s important to note that there are issues with both types of people, and the fact is, there needs to be a huge change.

If you go on the news today, there are certain words that seem to pop up all the time. Words like, “Trump,” “Biden,” “COVID-19,” “Vaccine,” “Masks” and so on. These are very valid and important things that need to be talked about. But as I get older, I often wonder if our society is ignoring the most important thing of all? As an 18 year old girl, I have been stressing about climate change for a while now. It is clear to me that this is something that all of us should be worried about — both young and old. With our lives flooded with problems upon problems, it could almost make someone feel claustrophobic, and that there is no way out of the hole we have dug and put ourselves in. I am confident that there is a way out, but we must choose now to act. There are so many different factors that feed into this topic, but I want to start with the fashion industry.

I am probably the perfect example of a shopaholic. I hate to say it, but there’s nothing I love more than spending my hard-earned money on overpriced goods. It’s not my best quality and is something I need to work on. Something I learned in the past year is how much of an effect the fashion industry has on our planet. We as a society are consumers, and especially in the last decade, we have come to consume more and more. The media makes us feel like we need the “latest and greatest,” and fashion trends seem to change as soon as you get your hands on what you thought was new. The New York Times published an article titled “How Fast Fashion Is Destroying the Planet.” In it, the author talks about how the industry designs clothes “not to last,” meaning they know trends will change, and they know you will continue to want to buy the new, hot, trendy items. The sad truth is that so much clothing ends up in landfills. “More than 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay” (Schlossberg). Not only that, but the fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases, which is what is trapping heat in the atmosphere. The only way to really slow this problem down is to shop more responsibly, try to use clothing as long as you can, and when you are done with them, donate! Shopping at thrift stores is also a very eco-friendly way to shop.

Not A Good Look: How Fast Fashion Is Destroying The World

What is an ideal day for you? If I had to choose my perfect day, I would wake up around 8 am, go get breakfast at a cute cafe, go shopping and maybe to a museum, stop at the beach and have a picnic at lunch, and then go to a fun restaurant for dinner. That is a very vague description of what I would do in my perfect day, but the sad truth is that everything in my day has a negative effect on the environment. Driving all around to stop at all those places, shopping at stores that probably aren’t environmentally friendly, and eating out. While we do need to do these things to keep our economy running and our society happy, what many people aren’t realizing is that the food we are eating is potentially killing our planet. That is a very bold statement for me to say, but I personally believe it’s true. When you eat something, do you think “where is this from?” Most likely, the answer is no. But it’s something you should start thinking about, because do we really know where our food is coming from? Not only are animals treated horribly, the beef and chicken we eat comes from large industrial farms that are usually stuffed with antibiotics and GMOs. Is that really something we want to worry about? Not only that, but when certain fruits and vegetables aren’t in season, they are transported across states, and even sometimes continents, to get to your local grocery store. Now, I am not sitting here and blaming anyone. I am definitely one of the many people who buy non-organic produce because it is cheaper. But why is organic so much more expensive? The fact that the food better for us and the environment is harder to reach is so terrifying to me. Organic food is “produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, organic food is better for the environment. Organic food is also safer for consumers because it is not genetically modified and it does not contain growth hormones or antibiotics” (Infobase). Since our population has grown so much, and we consume so much more than we ever have, we are using a larger amount of resources than ever before.

Why Farming Is Broken (And Always Has Been)

Now, the more we discuss this topic, the more relevant it seems, right? So why is the United States choosing to ignore this. I don’t want to get into the political side of things, but our current president has stated multiple times that he doesn’t really “believe” in climate change. Now, it really doesn’t matter what political party you reside in or who you choose to look up to, these are all facts. Climate change is more real than ever and it seems as though people are deciding whether or not the US should take a stand against climate change and try to undo the large amount of damage we have done. In an article titled “Climate Change: Should the U.S. Government Take Aggressive Steps to Combat Climate Change?” the author discussed both sides. On the supporting side, people claim that since we are one of the largest contributors to pollution in the world, we should be the ones “leading in the fight against it.” The opposition argues that “restricting greenhouse gas emissions would slow economic growth, increase unemployment, and impede innovation.” While that is valid, the fact that people are more worried about the slowing of our economy than the that fact that our planet could literally die, and we could run out of food and water, is honestly more scary.

What If We Don’t Stop Global Warming?

Now, how does all of this tie into rock music? Well, what we really need in the current situation we are in is a loud voice. In order to get people to listen, we need someone to talk about this! While many people have taken a stand, and some states have started using paper straws over plastic, that is not going to remove the plastic from our oceans, the GMO’s from our food, the greenhouse gases from our atmosphere, or the pollution from our air. Yes, it is a small step that was very much needed, but we now need to take bigger steps before the damage is completely irreversible. So, the goal of this article for me is to get my voice heard. Think of your favorite celebrity, artist, or musician. Let’s use Green Day as an example. You are a diehard fan and you finally got tickets to their concert. Say that before they start their set, they let the audience know that all funds of the concert are going to a charity to help save the planet, and they want you to donate whatever you can. Would you donate? I hope your answer is yes, especially if your idol is telling you to do so. So that is what we need! It seems that celebrities are doing brand deals daily on Instagram, telling you to buy the new hair growth pills or slimming tea, and it works. So what if celebrities started posting about climate issues and putting links to funds and charities for these initiatives. My hope is that this article will help you realize that we need to come together, and what a better time than now when it seems that our world and society is falling apart.