Peter Webster, Chapter 3, Question 2

Right away in Chapter 3 Wheelan talks about his move from a Honda Civic to a big Ford Explorer. He talked about how his decision to buy a car more efficient for his new family affects everyone else in the environment. Wheelan says he does not have to compensate for asthmatic children who will struggle even more due to the exhaust he generates while driving. "And I have never mailed off a check to people living on small Pacific islands who may someday find their entire countries underwater because my CO2 emissions are melting the polar ice caps." This passage directly relates to me. I drive a big car that probably has the same effects as Wheelan's Ford Explorer, but I have never thought about that until now. When my parents looked for a car for my sister and I, I'm sure the effect the car had on the environment was one of the last things on their mind. They were probably just scared they were going to have two of their kids driving around on their own. So, when picking out a car they want to buy a safe car. That just happens to be a big car that is bad for the environment.