Greenhouse

I was standing in my driveway watching my three-year-old grandson, Robert, playing while we waited for dinner. I looked around and wondered: If a war or other catastrophe happened here, what would this place look like? The buildings would be destroyed; Robert and I would not be playing here. I would not have a feeling of being safe and satisfied while enjoying my time with him.

I am reading a book by Robert Fisk, The Great War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East, which has brought to mind the above thoughts. The book is honest and very disturbing at times. War is just not acceptable, because we all suffer in some way. Is war based on greed or religion

or higher ideals? I cannot say, but it sure is upsetting.

My thoughts went on to how a three-year-old would survive to my age with all the doomsday prediction we now hear. Will global warming raise water levels to cover New York City? Will storms get worse, and will water become the commodity of the future? Will we have water wars instead of oil wars?

The tough question is: What will you and I do about it? I have volunteered in many organizations to help fulfill my desire to make this world a better place. I have learned that the best results for things to work come from local people striving to help themselves and looking for assistance from others. It is

for this reason that I am involved with the United Way and I am a Rotarian. Both groups help those who want to help themselves. I have seen the changes that these and similar groups make for communities both locally and internationally. Local people can make sustainable changes that help the local people live and thrive.

I ve been thinking about global warming, after listening to lectures and discussions on the subject. What can I do to help? There are lots of alternatives and I ve started to consider them. My business will be green. That may sound funny coming from a guy who mostly gives talks and does seminars. What can I do? Well, one area that concerns me is

the large diesel engine in my boat that I use for team-building. There are no controls on motors on boats, so they just add to the pollution and greenhouse gases, like cars back in the early sixties. I have discovered a purpose I can take up and help make change.

I will have to add to my vision the idea that I will improve the global warming by doing all I can to eliminate greenhouse gases. I want to have a world where my grandson and his grandsons can live as our ancestors did, with clean air, clean water, lots of fish, and animals. By ensuring this, maybe we can avoid the water wars and keep this planet safe and healthy.

All children should grow up knowing happiness and those small joys. They should have parents who can help them learn. They should be able to go to school and reach their potential.

Stop reading and pick up a pen. Write out your vision and include the idea of improving the mess we have made of our world and making it better for those who follow. Take the lead: we all can make this world a better place.

Time to go. Robert and I have to go in and eat dinner.

Robert Boucher, President - Cirrus Management Training & Sailing 1286 Rockwood Dr. Kingston, Ont. K7P 2M7 Phone:1 613 634-0696