Spotlight on the Global Environment

What People are Doing

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"In late December I came to Germany for a one year school program, and have been living in a small town in the Western part of Germany. I thought you might be interested in some of my observations about the environmental situation here in Europe, since I remember you once mentioned that you have never visited this part of the world. Your class opened my eyes to so many environmental issues, and everywhere I look I am remembering things I learned in that class. This sometimes isn't a good thing though, since a week ago I was marveling at the beauty of a forest I was driving though when I realized that these were all even aged, second growth trees which were obviously being harvested… and I must admit that this realization did ruin the beauty a little bit.

In Germany environmentalism truly is a way of life which has become part of people and their attitudes. The first major thing I noticed, of course, is that there are tiny cars. I have always known this about Europe, but they have taken it to an entirely new level here. There is one car made by Mercedes Benz and Swatch, called "Smart," which sits only the driver comfortably, although it also has a passenger seat. I have seen go-carts which are larger than this car! These cars are everywhere, and not because they are cheap either; a new Smart car costs about $13,000.

When I asked a German friend of mine why people would buy such a small car for so much money, he told me that people are buying the concept of being environmentally friendly, rather than the actual car. Here, people with large cars such as BMWs or Mercedes are looked at as wasteful polluters, and un-concerned citizens.

The huge taxes on gasoline also help bend the social consciousness however, since a gallon costs about $4.00, and at least 70% of this is a direct tax imposed by the state for environmental cleanup and other environmental support. Also, since I have been here I have not yet seen a regular (I forget the name) light bulb. Everywhere, people use fluorescent bulbs. I was told that students, and young people who are just starting their lives typically buy regular light bulbs, but once they are able to, everyone buys fluorescent bulbs. This is more a smart decision than an environmental one, since people think long term and say that they use fluorescent bulbs for their durability and lower long-term electricity use.

Gas stoves and top loading washing machines are seen as ancient appliances, and are not even sold anymore. When I marveled that a friend of mine had a front loading washing machine, he laughed and told me that even the Middle East is more advanced than the U.S. since top loaders are also ancient technology there.

Of all that I have seen here, the one thing which has impressed me the most is the German trash system. Citizens have only three bins to put trash into, which are sorted into plastics and metals, compostable organic wastes, and the rest. Paper must also be separated, and there are strict fines for people who throw paper products into the "rest" bin. Therefore, each home has at least four trash bins where Americans only have only one, so that the trash can be sorted in the home. A few days a month there are pickups for paper as well as hazardous wastes which must be separated into flammable, poisonous, combustible, bio-hazardous, and acidic wastes. However, glass must be taken to special collection centers, and of course separated into clear, green, and brown glass color. Trash from the "rest" bins are incinerated and the heat is used to produce electricity, and of course the separated trash is recycled and sold back to producers.

Also, along the countryside windmills are everywhere. Sometimes they are in ones and twos, but often there are large fields of them. I am not sure what percentage of the power they supply for Germany, but judging by the amount of windmills I see, I can guess that it is a rather large percent. Nuclear power is still used here, but they plan to phase it out within thirty years.

I have been so impressed with the evolved environmental attitudes I have seen here. From the packaging of products (almost all in recycled cartons, even juice!) to having to bring your own bag to the grocery store, to the farmer I buy my milk and eggs from; this is a culture which is so far evolved from American culture. In a city near where I am staying, there are more bicycles than people living there.

Here, the future is more than a reminder of our impending doom, as I sometimes get the feeling it is in America. Here, individual citizens are giving up luxuries and sacrificing their comfort for a better future, and since all are contributing, they are making a difference. I have been here less than one month, so I am sure that I will discover much more, however I thought that my observations so far might be of interest to you.

When I was in the U.S. I wanted to change my lifestyle and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, but it seemed that no one else cared about the planet and efforts I made seemed to make no difference. Here, environmentalism is a communal effort, and those who do not help in this effort are scorned. It is such a wonderful feeling to be part of this country's effort and see that I am part of a plan which ensures this country's future, and indirectly the rest of the worlds."