Protect Our Winters (POW) – greenwashing

I’ve lost patience.

So here’s my message to Protect Our Winters

All I see from you is greenwashing.

Meat (anything with a face or a mother) and dairy is responsible for more emissions than all tail pipe emissions. Why don’t you talk about this?

I read on your website what you recommend people do to take action
http://protectourwinters.org/take-action/pow-seven/

You say these actions are “effective”. Mostly I disagree.

You encourage your following to get involved, which is good. But your message isn’t specific enough. Climate change starts in neighborhoods, towns, cities, and states.

You promote education. Why aren’t you promoting these films?

http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/
https://www.beforetheflood.com/
http://truecostmovie.com/
http://www.whatthehealthfilm.com/

You say “speak up”. That’s great, but speak up for what?

You say “support companies that put the environment first” and you want people to “reduce their carbon footprint”. That’s boilerplate mumbo jumbo when you could simply say consume less, not more. You could lead the way by stop selling POW swag.

You’re part of a sport that promotes buying a pair of skis for every imaginable condition and clothing for every imaginable day. Why not point out to skiers the waste they generate? Then, suggest they get by on 2 pair of skis — one for every day but powder, one for powder. In the same context of reducing waste you could suggest that skiers make their skis last until they can’t be tuned any more. Yvon Chouinard says “the most responsible thing you can do is buy something used and make it last forever”. Instead of buying new clothing, encourage your following to first shop at consignment stores.

You say, “cut down on red meat consumption”. Which I guess is an acknowledgement of the damage animal AG is doing. Suggesting that people break their addiction to meat by telling them to eat less, is like telling an addict to break their addiction by practicing moderation. It doesn’t work. Instead, I wish you skip ahead and be clear about the damage meat (beef, chicken, pork, fish), dairy and processed foods are doing to the snowpack.

I’m sure you’re well meaning. But we won’t begin to save our planet until we’re all making sacrifices that are really uncomfortable. We won’t save our planet until organizations like yours, who have the power to influence millions, start taking extreme positions. You have the power to make a difference, use it. Holding up banners at marches and printing t-shirts amounts to nothing more than hashtag activism.

Ski areas serve food that’s really bad for our planet. They serve dairy, burgers, fries, junk food, chips, candy, etc. They’re hurting the environment and their customers! Why not call them on the carpet?

I get it. If you did what I’m suggesting you’d lose sponsors, partners, friends, and business, right? Right. Or maybe not? Because in doing so, you’d gain a helluva lot more. Including the respect — and the dollars — of people like me.

My words are harsh, yes. Because we’re way past what you guys are about.

BTW, I’m a ski bum. We live in Eagle. I grew up skiing. I’m going skiing tomorrow. We don’t eat meat, dairy, anything with a face or a mother. We don’t eat processed food. I’m patching my ski clothes. When we do buy, we buy from Patagonia and only Patagonia — because they’re helping the planet. We’re involved, we volunteer. We give money each month to sources we know are helping the planet. We’d give money to you, if I thought you deserved it.

– PK