Marriages of Environmental Convenience

Adding some biofuel to the marriage debate, researchers at Michigan State
University have given Americans another legitimate reason to save the family
environment. Their study found that on top of the emotional and physical toll of
divorce, the breakdown of the family is exacting a hefty price on the
environment.

With every separation, analysts note that water and energy
consumption skyrockets–in some instances by 61 percent per person! Had divorced
couples stayed together in 2005, the U.S. would have conserved “71 billion of
electricity and 627 billion gallons of water.”

While global warming has been
blamed for everything from maple syrup shortages to collapsing gingerbread
houses (see www.numberwatch.co.uk for
over 600 examples), the repercussions of divorce have been largely ignored. With
lifelong commitment on the endangered list, we can only hope that liberals, who
have been unwilling to jump on the marriage protection bandwagon, will be
motivated by this study to hop aboard now that the wagon’s
eco-friendly.