Page 104 - ECOlogic Book
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self-conscious when talking about injury, whether it is to fish and wildlife
resources, or to human health and child development.” 119
And yet, governments of two large nations have decided not to take action,
not even the very conservative action of “sunsetting.”
Is this a case of macro-denial, reinforced by micro-denial, or vice versa?
One of the mechanisms of denial is finger-pointing. Rather than accepting
responsibility for a problem, we say, “It’s their fault,” “He drove me to
drink,” “The devil made me do it.” It’s easy to blame industry or lobbyists,
or government. However, we are part of a democratic society (though in the
light of recent trends in Washington, some may doubt it). We are the
government. We buy the plastics. We insist on white paper. We have met
the government and it is us.
Some things you’d rather not know. Like a freight train bearing down on
you at a railroad crossing. Like a twinge in your side that keeps on twinging.
Like cancer. Like a birth defect or a learning disability.
119 Op. Cit., Durnil, P. 88.
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