Sustainability and Wine

I just took a break from a bicycle ride at one of the local wineries and happened to strike up a conversation with a guy who had driven up to our valley from nearby Santa Barbara – the site of yesterday’s protest march against the Keystone XL Pipeline, which we discussed for a few seconds.  “Oh, I think we ought to build it,” he affirmed. “There’s no way that oil is going to stay in the ground; why shouldn’t we benefit?” 

“Yes, I’ve heard people say that,” I smiled.  In fact, I suppose that this is the main argument we hear in the pipeline’s favor. Our civilization is on an inexorable course to suck the last drop of crude from the ground.  Of course, doing so will immeasurably screw up our environment and the civilization that lives as part of it.  Yet somehow, it’s our destiny.  Why resist? We’re a consumer nation — isn’t it common sense that consumption comes with consequences?  Why not enjoy the ride as long as we can, even though we’re all at least dimly aware that what’s left of our society will someday be one continuous disaster-relief effort?

I considered trying to make a case for my reasoning that it’s probably not too late, that if we are wise and diligent, we can avert this catastrophe, blah, blah, blah.  But I decided against it and just casually changed the subject.  I’ve learned that, sadly, people who need to have the merits of sustainability explained to them probably won’t understand the explanation.  It’s something you either get — or you don’t.