Petrol prices have everyone hot under the collar at the moment. Photo: James Coleman.
It’s not news to anyone that petrol prices are through the roof, alongside classic lockdown hoarding behaviour.
This has a huge impact on cost of living, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community and families who are balancing a shoestring budget.
I’m not talking to those people; I’m talking to the rest of us, here in the middle.
Get yourselves together.
The hoarding behaviour is selfish, immature and a self-fulfilling prophecy.
While we remember that we live in a society, not our own personal fiefdoms, let’s get solutions-oriented.
We can’t control international oil prices; we can’t stop America or Israel bombing the crap out of nations that provide much of the oil we use.
What we can control is our behaviour – both in the short and the long term.
Social and traditional media over the past few weeks have been full of whinging, with little focus on solutions.
We’re a nation of adults who pride ourselves on our laid-back attitudes, self-sufficiency and practical problem-solving, so let’s put those skills to use.
You don’t need the government to tell you it might be sensible to cut down on unnecessary trips, bundle your chores and look for opportunities to walk, bike or take public transport.
These options aren’t just better for your hip pocket, they’re better for the environment and your waistline.
If you’ve been thinking about it and the finance is available to you, now might be the time to make the jump to a hybrid, EV or e-bike – or even just downsize the suburban Range Rover to something that guzzles less gas.
If the past decade has taught us anything, it’s that we live in chaotic times.
As climate change accelerates and resources become more scarce, it’s naive to think things will return to how they were, or become easier.
Many people – like those whose homes are being bombed or inundated by sea level rise – have few options.
If we take an honest look at ourselves here in Australia, most of us still have choices.
They might not be choices that we relish, they might not be our preferred choices, but they’re still a heck of a lot better than the alternatives.
We could see this as an opportunity to invest more at a state and federal level in our public and active transport infrastructure, as well as renewable sources of energy.
An ambitious government could see this as the ideal time to start the difficult process of weaning Australia off its dependency on foreign-owned fossil fuels and invest in community batteries, solar panels, and God-forbid, wind turbines.
Collectively we could come together to look for solutions that work for our families, neighbourhoods and communities, strengthening the relationships and infrastructure that can help us all to thrive.
Take a minute and think about the people you know – could any of them use a helping hand at the moment? Is that something you might be able to offer?
At the very least, it’s a good exercise in cultivating kindness, generosity and community spirit.
Or we could sit on our hands, complain, and hope someone else swoops in to foot the bill and save the day.
I know which kind of person I would rather be.
Original Article published by Zoe Cartwright on Region Canberra.
