Reflecting upon the era in which I grew up, it's clear that progress and prosperity were the expectation for my generation. I have not been disappointed. My life has been blessed and my acquisitions are notable. My generation is doing better than any previous generation. At some point though, enough is enough. There are now more motor vehicles registered in the USA than there are licensed drivers. I live in a home that has 3 showers and only two occupants, whereas in China, 2/5’s of women there will never experience a hot shower. I am living in an era when little effort is made to teach where waste goes, where few are aware of the true costs of food and from where it comes, and why that fast-food hamburger costs only $1.00. The idea that reusing something is tacky like wearing the same shirt again during a school term has become well-developed. The use of a needle and thread to repair something has disappeared and can you tell me where I might get my hiking boots resoled? The diseases of affluence are maiming us at startling rates (accidents and obesity, for example), and today’s 18 year old will likely have a lower life-expectancy than their parents. More distressing is the head in the sand attitude we have about our relationship to global climate change. It must be the fault of the Chinese that that the planet is warming. They are so wasteful using energy making all the stuff we buy.

World War II, the Great War, created hardship in United States. Rationing required most citizens to give up the freedom of using all of the gasoline they could buy. Sugar, nylon, chocolate (12 oz/month), and animal foods became precious and a thriving black market arose to allow those with money to buy the products they wanted. It is notable how heart attack deaths dropped significantly during WW II as a result of less animal food (fat) consumption.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without became the cry of many who fully supported the war effort and were willing to change their lifestyle. We are now embroiled in a war in two distant countries whose local populations are very poor. Yet, we choose to do little about changing our lifestyles to show any concern for what is obviously becoming an out of control ride down a dead end street with a bunch of school children playing in the road. What if we declared war on global climate change?

Furman has made a significant commitment to insure our students will both be aware of the impacts of climate change and be prepared to deal with the changes in lifestyle it will produce. An organic garden has been planted and the lessons of learning how to grow food are beginning to be taught. Come work in the garden this spring. You will get a nice suntan, burn some calories, and do your planet some good. Let us call it a victory garden against climate change.

Dig! Dig! Dig! And your muscles will grow big
Keep on pushing the spade
Don’t mind the worms
Just ignore their squirms
And when your back aches laugh with glee
And keep on diggin’
Till we give our foes a Wiggin’
Dig! Dig! Dig! to Victory"