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Accepting the new norm
by Michelle Minnoch

There are two words on most peoples lips of late, and no, I am not speaking about Stanley Cup, beer garden, or Grey's Anatomy (it was the best I could come up with at 7am).

Of course, I am speaking about Climate Change, or Global Warming, whatever term tickles your fancy.

For one hour in Winnipeg, the CBC documented the number of cars that went through a Tim Hortons drive-thru between seven and eight in the morning; prime coffee drivethru time. With over 100 cars going through to get their morning java in just one hour, some startling information was revealed.

Over 77 Lbs. of emissions were released in the air. Just at this one drive thru. For one hour.

There is an old tale that it is better for your car and the environment if you sit and wait in an idling vehicle at a drive-thru - better then if you turned off and restarted your engine.

According to this clip, if you have to spend more than 10 to 15 seconds in a drive thru, it is better for your engine and the environment if you simply park, shut off your vehicle, get off your butt, and go inside to get your coffee (or whatever you are stopping for).

The birthplace of Tim Hortons, Hamilton, Ontario has considered this information and their council may be making some important decisions about new businesses opening up in the area.

The idea at hand? No more drive-thrus. If a new fast food chain, coffee shop, bank, etc. opens up in the area, and it is passed into law, there will be no more new stores that offer convenience in this world-a-flutter, that makes things fast and easy for us. Our world is now taylor-made convenient for the average customer.

We have all heard that little steps will make a big difference; changing all your household lightbulbs will help tremendously not only for the environment but for your pocketbook in the long run - you should start now anyways, as the older ones will be phased out in a few years.

Although little things, individual actions, do help, moves like the possible one facing Hamilton is a little more dramatic. Life changing? Maybe. The way of the future? Not sure.

We all have to make adjustments, that is for sure. Whether we will accept these changes without a fight is another thing.

Just think - if you had a choice to park your car and run in for a coffee, or could idle in a drive-thru for five or more minutes, what would you do? We have all done the latter, and quite frankly, I think we are used to it and accept it.

The question is, will we eventually have to accept the fact that turning off our vehicles and getting off our butts for a beverage or food should be the normal? We probably should.

Everyone keeps talking about the changes that have to be made. The sooner we start, the better off the environment will be.

Hey, we need a planet. A functioning, safe, non toxic planet to live on. As the saying goes, change for the better!

Who knows, if we make and accept these changes now, it will be a great story to tell future generations. As we are sitting in coffee shops and restaurants. Not spouting emissions. Enjoying a double double. Remembering the good old days when you sat in your car for five to ten minutes for a drink or bite to eat.

Sad, isn't it?