Is there any point in going green? Well is there? We think we do enough don't we? hastily haul our green boxes and bins of recycling onto the pavement fortnightly, buy the occasional 'loose' tomato maybe even consider glamping by the sea for our holidays this year. We feel great, but then...despondency can easily sink in. If some of us are making sacrifices but the majority aren't it feels like a losing battle in the attempt to reduce the impact of climate change.
It's the classic free rider problem: what's the point if no-one else is going to bother. It gets worse when you consider the whole world, let alone your neighbours. If we can't get people to re-cycle on our street then how on earth are we going to get China and India to make their sacrifice?
Al Gore discussed this issue in his seminal movie An Inconvenient Truth. He argued that, first, there will be climate change deniers (a summary of their arguments can be seen here.) But when confronted with the overwhelming evidence that climate change is here and happening right now Gore believed that a second shift would occur with many people feeling despondent and apathetic.
It feels that we're beginning to reach this point. We're getting upset with the government about oil prices, food prices and floods and so on, but there's less of the climate change denial and much more anger. And there's a lot to be angry about. As governments fail to show a lead in climate change, the market will do it for them. Insurance claims will rise for those near flood plains, food prices will rise as supply remains static or even falling, peak oil may have been reached. It's hitting our pockets hard.
In many ways the market may quicken the need to change as people looking to save money and resources will look to those that are pioneers in reducing their carbon footprint. It feels that being green is still a minority lifestyle, but saving money and going green will be huge in the next few years and glamping, eating local food, growing your own and electric/hybrid cars will become increasingly common.
This leads us to what we hope will be the third phase: optimism and belief. That solidarity, the harnessing of green technology, the growth of carbon neutral businesses and good governance will steer us through a turbulent time. We're optimistic, are you?
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2 comments:
I am very optimistic! I don't believe for a second that all this going green business is all in vain. I think that there are honest and genuine people out there that really want to help the cause. I've actually been busy defending this very subject to a few other bloggers recently, where they were basically saying that global warming is a sham, or that anything have to do with the green movement is a failed attempt because there's "nothing wrong". One blog even said that rising carbon emissions are a good thing because plants thrive on carbon, so we have nothing to worry about right? Wrong. If people couldn't tell, our world is in such turmoil right now, with severe weather changes, political unrest, oil, economy, the list goes on. I'm not saying that global warming is the culprit for all these radical changes, but I do think that our world is going through serious transitions, and whether we realize it or not global warming plays a role in all of this.
Which is why we need to do all we can to try and heal our planet. Which is why I hope everyone will go out and start making positive changes in the way they are treating the world around them. You can do simple things like buying reusable grocery bags, switching to CFL lightbulbs, and switching from regular oil heat to bioheat. Has anyone ever heard of it, or already made the switch?
Did you know that if everyone switched to bioheat we could conserve 400 millions gallons of regular oil. That's a huge amount! I wish everyone could see the light. I would love it if you would check out the site on bioheat to read more background info on it. The other thing I love about it is that it's completely clean burning, and is comprised of a b5 blend of vegetable and plant oils such as avocados, hemp, corn, etc. Check out the link! http://oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=bioheat PS I work with Nora to bring this info to you!
I agree with the view that global warming, general pollution and unrest is happening around the world.
If people cannot believe global warming is happening would I be correct in saying that, with global warming, the ice caps are melting thus cooling the Gulf Stream? Could that be the reason for our disappointing summers? Our winters are not as cold as they used to be due to greenhouse gases not letting the warm air escape.
Political unrest obviously is happening over oil. We could reduce this unrest by not wasting oil based plastic. I tend not to buy much contained in plastic - if I buy processed food it is in a tin and not in plastic. Likewise I don't buy other goods encased in plastic packaging. I take my own shopping bag even if I don't know whether I will buy anything or not - I have a large handbag which can take a foldable cloth bag.
I also detest disposable "crockery" - and take my own mug to events where disposable cups are likely to be used.
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