posted by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
purplerabbits at 09:34am on 03/09/2009 under politics
purplerabbits at 09:34am on 03/09/2009 under politicsI wanted to talk about the 10:10 thing, but it seems a bit done to death already, to be honest. What I can say is that a) any news articles done in the form of a list is likely to be cheap ill-thought out journalism and easy to take pot shots at and b) the sight of well-meaning Guardian readers each defending their own carbon footprint while happily commenting on each others' is getting old really quickly [1].
Yes, we need more big changes, but this does not mean we need fewer little ones, it just means that the little ones will be more possible, because the infrastructure will be there to support them. So if you've just found the time to go down the list and tick off everything you 'can't' do for various unarguable reasons, either think of something you *can* do, or do some campaigning about the larger issues. Don't moan to your mates about why you can't do recycling, moan to the council. Or call a meeting at work about *their* carbon footprint. Or even write a well reasoned and public article about what big changes need to happen. Because the planet, annoyingly enough, doesn't care whether or not you personally are in the right.
I remember that the last time I ranted about something similar I made the point of contacting the council about getting recycling facilities on my street. Which there now are (well, just round the corner, and it doesn't do glass, but still). I'm not naive enough to think it was me wot dun it by myself, but I'm pleased I did.
[1] And, yes, there are things on the list which I either can't do or which would be really expensive or which I doubt the carbon efficiency of, and I'm not saying you're all wrong about everything on your lists, either.
Yes, we need more big changes, but this does not mean we need fewer little ones, it just means that the little ones will be more possible, because the infrastructure will be there to support them. So if you've just found the time to go down the list and tick off everything you 'can't' do for various unarguable reasons, either think of something you *can* do, or do some campaigning about the larger issues. Don't moan to your mates about why you can't do recycling, moan to the council. Or call a meeting at work about *their* carbon footprint. Or even write a well reasoned and public article about what big changes need to happen. Because the planet, annoyingly enough, doesn't care whether or not you personally are in the right.
I remember that the last time I ranted about something similar I made the point of contacting the council about getting recycling facilities on my street. Which there now are (well, just round the corner, and it doesn't do glass, but still). I'm not naive enough to think it was me wot dun it by myself, but I'm pleased I did.
[1] And, yes, there are things on the list which I either can't do or which would be really expensive or which I doubt the carbon efficiency of, and I'm not saying you're all wrong about everything on your lists, either.
(no subject)
(no subject)
Having said that, there is a level of amusement in laughing at other people's hypocrisy.
"Because the planet, annoyingly enough, doesn't care whether or not you personally are in the right."
Indeed not.
I probably already cause a good deal less CO2 emissions than most people in Britain, Most of the things on the list I'm either doing already, can't do, or won't do because it would represent a decrease in my quality of life. I'm not going to replace my PC with a laptop (I don't like crappy keyboards), nor am I going to wear uncomfortable clothing (cotton is popular because its comfortable), or go vegan (I like eating cheese and meat). Nor are the vast majority of people going to do such things if they can help it; so any such effort would be tokenism by a small minority who like feeling virtuous by wearing a hairshirt, and will do bugger all to fix the problem.
"think of something you *can* do, or do some campaigning about the larger issues"
I am trying to get elected as an MSP, which will enable be to tackle these (and other) issues with more effectiveness.
(no subject)
And how could they not see that talking about "cute badges" etc invites potshots?! I also agree that the list of things they suggest doing aren't achievable for most people- which is a shame, because they miss out lots of much simpler changes. Nevertheless, I signed up for it, because I think the basic idea is good, I like people power, and I think it could be an interesting way of motivating pupils.