T he warm weather of early January added credence to the argument for global warming legislation, but from the first flakes of snow just two weeks ago, the evidence has shifted. An article from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News on Jan. 16 reported an estimate by biologist Lily Peacock that polar bear populations in the Davis Strait region of Canada are rising. This damages one of the main arguments of advocates who list dwindling polar bear populations as proof of global warming.

Finally, in the Jan. 29 issue of Time magazine, Bryan Walsh reports that Kyoto, Japan, namesake of the infamous Kyoto Protocol, has had an increase in carbon output by eight percent since 1990, rather than the 14 percent decrease required to meet the Kyoto Protocol commitment. This could damage the push for future legislation; as Walsh asks, “If ultra-efficient Japan can’t wean itself from the carbon habit, what hope does the rest of the world have?”

These may be sad times for those who weep for the future, but they don’t necessarily imply impending doom. The argument against global warming is often linked to resource utility. Whether polar bear populations are thriving or shrinking is moot, and Kyoto actually shows how saving our planet is not about curbing emissions but consumption.

The entire world can be split into two types of people: those who realize how they affect others down the road, and those who just don’t care.

Take this simple test to figure out who is who. One student, let’s say his name is Jack Green, takes annoying hand-out flyers to the garbage, and after he eats his to-go lunch in DuSable Hall, he puts plastic in the plastic bin. When he finishes reading this newspaper, he will recycle it or give it to someone else. He does his part to use resources efficiently.

Meanwhile, Michael Morestuff throws flyers on the grass and leaves his waste on the table where he ate. He will take this newspaper and throw it on the bus floor. It will be kicked into the street and possibly blow into the Kishwaukee River. NIU will pay someone to clean it up, charging Morestuff and other students higher tuition next year to pay for it. He doesn’t care; he got what he wanted, and now he’s done.

It’s easy to see which student has the proper mentality. Unfortunately, it seems more people are disciples of Morestuff. This philosophy is a key component of capitalism.

The ability to consume more drives people to become stock traders, doctors and lawyers, unlike a command economy which doesn’t reward extra effort.

Yet our economy uses resources inefficiently because there is no threat. The U.S. trade balance and the federal budget are out of control because we like cheap imports and more services for free, and so far there is no reason to stop.

Population is rising and the planet consumes more resources every day, but the average person pretends depletion or waste can be averted by recycling once a week. Recycling is good, but efficiency is better. Sure, you can take that $5,000 loan refund and blow a couple hundred bucks at the casino or eat Pizza Pro’s every day, but it will certainly not be the most efficient use of limited resources, especially if in May you have to pay for unexpected emergency knee surgery.

This argument is universal. All resources have finite limits; using resources inefficiently makes waste. This can be smoke, chemicals, nuclear waste or Mountain Dew bottles in the Cole fountain pond, rather than in the recycling bin.

As we continue to nurse a habit of endless consumption, problems will grow. Polar bears are irrelevant. Someday there won’t be enough oil to fill the world’s gas tanks and meet the demands of the plastic industry. There won’t be enough drinkable water to create Gatorade or Arizona Iced Tea. There won’t be enough trees to create instruction booklets for all the Motorola Razr phones.

But there will be plenty of Michael Morestuffs who want to drive to the tanning salon, want something fruity to drink, can’t figure out how to work their new phones and can’t imagine happiness without these.

And Jack Green will smile because at least there won’t be any more garbage to throw on the ground.