"Why bother? That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change and it’s not an easy one to answer. I don’t know about you, but for me the most upsetting moment in “An Inconvenient Truth” came long after Al Gore scared the hell out of me, constructing an utterly convincing case that the very survival of life on earth as we know it is threatened by climate change. No, the really dark moment came during the closing credits, when we are asked to . . . change our light bulbs. That’s when it got really depressing. The immense disproportion between the magnitude of the problem Gore had described and the puniness of what he was asking us to do about it was enough to sink your heart."Absolutely fantastic article on why we should bloody well care by Michael Pollan for the New York Times. Read more here.
It's baby steps. So many people are so overwhelmed, that the thought of all that needs changing just freezes them, and nothing happens. But you start thinking of the lightbulbs, and then it leads you to thinking of switching them off. Not leaving the coffee machine on warm all day. Maybe reducing the amount of hot water we use. And while we're at it, hey, that bottle can actually be recycled, how about that?
ReplyDeleteBaby steps. I got in trouble at work recently cause I was separating the massive amount of office waste into a recycling pile, rather than just cramming it all into the rubbish. With a frame of mind like that, you have to start SOMEwhere. And a lightbulb is easy to change.
It was an interesting issue - and I can definately relate to the lightbulb thing. I'll be honest and stick my neck out here but I hate the color of the light the eco light bulbs cast and they are not anywhere near as bright as the incandescents. (My house is currently about half and half). Not sure about Australia but here in the US there is the added problem of disposal when they are burnt out. We are told that we cannot throw them in the regular garbage, yet there are very few places that will take them off our hands. We have to pay to get rid of them, and lets face it the vast majority of people who may be persuaded to use them via discounts/coupons etc. - being as they cost so much more in the first place (and do not last anywhere near as long as claimed) will not want to pay more and have to DRIVE miles across town and then pay again to dispose of them - myself included. Hopefully this situation will resolve soon - it would be nice to be able to dispose of many things - batteries, car oil, cooking oil etc. etc. easily and safetly without damaging the environment any more.
ReplyDeleteCarol.
I've just been reading through your delighful blog, checking out the sewing, then I got curious, only 1 child (like me). There must be a pregnant again post here somewhre, and then I read, and reread your birth story - you made me cry - in a good way, how lucky and blessed.
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