Here’s a quiz for you. What does protecting our environment have to do with world peace? What does protecting our environment have to do with the economy? What does protecting our environment have to do with the health of your family?

How did you do?

Here is how I would have answered:

World peace? As we are all aware, we cannot continue to depend on oil, domestic or foreign, for our transportation energy. Not only are we seeing “peak oil” here in the United States, but even our military, the most powerful on earth, is unable to assure U.S. access to foreign oil. It is imperative that our government fund scientists and entrepreneurs to identify and create new domestic energy sources that are renewable and harmless to the environment.

The economy? It is a well-proven fact that our current national budget is out of balance when it comes to providing funds for military adventures vs. funds for new clean energy sources. And, in addition, it is also a well-proven fact that money that is funneled into the military does not flow outward into the general economy as efficiently as money that is funneled into innovative new ventures such as wind turbines or fuel cell-powered automobiles. Think of the new jobs that will be created as renewable energy projects come online!

The health of your family? Power plants, motor vehicles and industries that burn fossil fuels emit a host of pollutants that imperil human health. A 2002 study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that exposure to air pollution poses the same risks of dying from lung cancer and heart disease as does living with a smoker. Cleaning up our air results in improved health.

When we assess our current direction of attempting to achieve world peace, a vibrant and healthy economy and healthy individuals, it is clear that we must change direction – and soon. Not only would we have a chance for peace, our economy and health could improve. What’s stopping us? You won’t like to read this, but we are the ones responsible. We each must take the initiative to write or call our legislators and let them know of our concerns. And when they make the right choices for a healthy and sustainable environment, we must likewise let them hear from us. We cannot and must not be silent.

Sally Breen is an environmental and social activist living on Highland Lake in Windham.