Re:Going Green - 2008/08/20 18:41 So true! Offsetting is better than nothing, but of course offsetting allows those who can afford it to carry on like nothings changed.
There are so many things to consider in this discussion
- Who is making the choice to go green (am I being hypocritical expecting the government to step in when I reject paternalistic decisions in other areas like art)
- Who is effected (especially when various socio - economic groups are effected differently. Inconveniences for one group of people are life changing/life threatening for another)
- So many issues are still up in the air or contentious. Most agree something needs to be done but what? Should we be following tried and true (but sometimes decades old) solutions. Or what about the off the wall/exciting new suggestions.
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Pheirser 2.0 Junior Boarder
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Re:Going Green - 2008/08/26 04:25 Jevons Paradox - I'm gonna copy/paste from the wiki
The proposition was first put forward by William Stanley Jevons in his 1865 book The Coal Question. In it, Jevons observed that England's consumption of coal soared after James Watt introduced his coal-fired steam engine, which greatly improved the efficiency of Thomas Newcomen's earlier design. Watt's innovations made coal a more cost effective power source, leading to the increased use of the steam engine in a wide range of industries. This in turn increased total coal consumption, even as the amount of coal required for any particular application fell. Jevons argued that increased efficiency in the use of coal would tend to increase the use of coal, and would not reduce the rate at which England's deposits of coal were being depleted.
Personally, I'm fence sitting on the global warming issue. If I could I would use it to create a profit, so I assume business will do the same, hence I figure the market will sort it out in the long run. So I don't give a shit till it costs me no more in both thought time and money, but I'm aware of why. If the whole planet were communists I might be worried, but supply and demand has a way of dealing relatively fairly with consumerism and innovating new shit for us to smoke.
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petersj Platinum Boarder
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Re:Going Green - 2008/10/09 21:04 THere is much we can do. I do not drive a car as I believe them to be enviromentally disatrous. We have been conned into thinking we need them in the city (maybe different in country). I only use public transport. I do not even use taxis!
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Hummie Platinum Boarder
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Re:Going Green - 2008/10/09 22:31 there are also simple things we can do, like instead of buying new furniture buy secondhand. or go down the street and look at all the furniture that is there on pick up days. when my son had his 18 we got a whole set of outdoor gear. two brand new bikes. a swimming pool, a small chest, some kitchen chairs, some computer chairs, a chest of drawers and some other stuff we needed. i had been homeless for a while so this was a godsend. the kids thought it was xmas, and we had all the stuff for the 18th. Making sure you recycle everything you possibly can. i hate the way everything comes in plastic. when i buy fruit and veg, i don't even put them in plastic bags, it must annoy the checkout people, but it erks me. also its only a dollar for a fabric bag, if you forget to take one shopping get them again. plastic bags cost more in the long run. you will soon remember. i do now. I have so many different coloured ones. i use earth choice products which arent advertised and are on the bottom shelf. or vinegar and water for windows. vinegar is also good for cleaning kettles coffee machines (boiled water through them after though). and for cleaning washing machines too, i would say dish washers too, but i dont have one. coffee cups. metho is good for getting your glasses and cuttlery sparklering and no need for rinsing it evaporates. my next goal when i move to the new place is to get a compose bin going and a worm farm plus a vege patch going. well that is the plan, katie wants it and you know how 8 yr olds can be
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aarondarc Admin
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Re:Going Green - 2008/10/10 00:22 Hummie wrote: well that is the plan, katie wants it and you know how 8 yr olds can be
Wow, so young kids really are incorporating the messages into the way they think. That's great to hear.
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Hummie Platinum Boarder
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Re:Going Green - 2008/10/10 00:49 oh yes its very much taught at school these days. but katie has been taught from a very young age about the environment and about protecting it. we have even replanted trees at werris creek. that was when she was 3 and she still talks about it. she is very conscious of litter and dislikes it when people do it. she will actually remember the green shopping bags if i don't she does alot of reading. too much sometimes, god love her. but its all important to her. so yes when we move into our own home we will do the whole compost, worm farm and vegie patch, because its important to katie. like all our environmentally friendly light bulbs, she was super happy when we got those. oh she was also part of the big 60 on nobby's beach for earth hr, not sure if any of you saw that. where everyone had to turn their lights off for an hour. we do that.
I really think its important for kids to get involved, we can make it fun, and not scarey. like the worm farm. or get them recyling, she is constantly going through her clothes and toys and giving them to the needy.
THE MIC 
