Nobody Cares

[bluepill 0]

### BEGIN RANT

If global warming is such a big issue then why don’t you really do something about it.

In all forums anywhere I hear people talking about how we are to blame for the impending doom that awaits us, or our children or our children’s children and that we have to do something about it. And what do they do, they talk some more about it, or maybe they recycle something every now and then.

Yes, policies are introduced to be more “green”, bring carbon footprints down and research is commissioned. But let’s face it, they are just token gestures and moreover, money making machines for those who can exploit public perception around global warming.

People in general like to say that they are “green” and they “do what they can”, but its all bullshit really.

Examples:

1. We have an ever increasing number of buses in my city along with an ever increasing number of bus lanes. A significant number of these buses are known as Ghost Buses, because very few people use them, and yet you see them trudging around the city with no one on them. So you have these ghost buses driving around town all day and they give off at least 6 times the emissions of a car. Why do they continue to run? – Because the company that runs them is getting a big fat “green” subsidy to provide the route.

If anybody really gave a shit about the carbon they would have explored use of non carbon producing transport. E.G. Bycycles and cycles routes. But they did not, and why not? - Because there is no money in it !!!!

2. All year long one of the bosses here has been going on about recycling and introducing “green” initiatives and basically ramming the environmental stuff down our throats. And yet the other day I was involved in a conversation with him where he was discussing what new company car to get. He insisted it had to be a top of the range BMW. He only lives 2 miles from work and doesn’t drive as part of his business. He also insisted it had to have air con, even though the average annual temperature in this country is less than 11 C. If he really gave a shit, he would forego the company car and bloody walk to work !!!!!!!!

Does anybody REALLY care?

Or rather does anybody really care ENOUGH?

IMO I don’t think anybody does. All we are really interested in doing is finding a happy balance that will allow us to continue to drive around in our cars, fly in planes and generally live the life we live and yet appease our own conscience and more importantly appear to be seen to be doing something about it.

If you really do care, then make some real sacrifices for it. Give up the cars and cycle or walk everywhere, give up the skydiving and take up base.

END RANT ###

BP

[Richards 0]

Quote

If you really do care, then make some real sacrifices for it. Give up the cars and cycle or walk everywhere,

I do that to the best of my ability but you need to understand that sometimes a persons circumstances require them to use a car with some frequency.

Quote

give up the skydiving and take up base.

Uhm....no. I am sorry but I just am not sure I could have the balls to base jump. I used to want to but I think I feel more comfortable openning at 2500-3000 with no solid structures around me. Yes I know.....I'm a fucking wuss!

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[skymiles 3]

You're right - there's a lot of talk but little seems to be done.

I try to do my part. For years I walked to work and I carpool with my new job. My next car will be a hybrid and a well insulated house is a priority in house hunting. Nonetheless, I can't give up skydiving - my only vice.

Phil

[rehmwa 2]

I try to smile and nod when people get all emotional about it and rant, but do nothing really in their own lives.

I also smile and nod when people do a few things and get all smug about it.

I think smiling goes a long way.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[vortexring 0]

I do my part too - I regularly burn holes in the sky, using up F34 at around 5kg per min & I've booked flights for a weekend break somewhere nice today.

Your right - not enough people care.

I still don't. Am I bad? Selfish? Or perhaps, realistic?

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[skymiles 3]

I also smile and nod at those who's contribution is limited to that of the "Smug Police".

Phil

[billvon 3,173]

>If anybody really gave a shit about the carbon they would have
>explored use of non carbon producing transport.

Many of us do, and the number is increasing all the time as electric bicycles become cheaper, faster and easier to get.

>If he really gave a shit, he would forego the company car and bloody walk to work !!!!!!!!

Again, many of us do.

The challenges facing widespread adoption of such practices are:

1) Awareness. There are still a lot of people out there who claim "there's no such thing as global warming! And even if there is, we didn't do it! And even if we did, it's a good thing!" So there is a very strong lobbying effort to undermine any attempt to reduce our carbon footprint; this tends to discourage efforts to do so.

2) Availability. Many people living in towns/small cities do not have access to light rail, commuter rail or buses. Hence the subsidies that encourage these services.

3) Economics. Coal is just plain cheap, and often that trumps all other considerations. Again, incentives that make the use of alternative forms of energy can help people make the right decision.

>All we are really interested in doing is finding a happy balance that
>will allow us to continue to drive around in our cars, fly in planes and
>generally live the life we live and yet appease our own conscience and
>more importantly appear to be seen to be doing something about it.

What I am interested in doing is finding a happy balance that will allow us to continue to travel freely, fly in planes and generally live the life we live and yet greatly reduce our carbon footprint.

For example - air conditioning takes power. You could

a) never use it and sweat when it's hot out or
b) put in a solar power system and run your A/C on solar.

Traveling to work takes gas, especially if you live 12 miles from work (US average.) You could

a) quit your job so you don't have to go anywhere
b) walk 24 miles a day
c) bike 24 miles a day
d) get a high mileage car and drive 24 miles a day
e) get a natural gas car and drive 24 miles a day
f) get a pluggable hybrid/solar power system and drive 24 miles a day

One common perception is that your two choices are to freeze in the dark or be "normal." That's no longer true. We now have a lot of choices when it comes to reducing our carbon footprints.

[ExAFO 0]

Quote

Nobody Cares

You're right, no one cares. What's your point?

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[number9 0]

Whilst I have a lifestyle that is as environmentally friendly as I can make it (I was bought up a hippy, so it was easy enough to achieve ) I do feel that individuals can only do so much and without organisations/corporations becoming more involved in environmental issues, the impact will be negligible.

So, I guess recycling etc. is only one part of being green and encouraging better practices in all walks of life is essential if we are to improve the current environmental condition.

Examples of this could be only buying products that are recyclable from companies whose carbon footprint is deliberately small, voting for political parties who have a green agenda, etc. etc.

Errr....anyway...

[GreyLake 0]

I think that in any of our endeavors, especially ones where we'd effect change on a level that exceeds our personal sphere (i.e, community, country, planet), nobody's perfect. Some of us try, some of us do our best, and some try harder than others. In any case, caring a little is better than not caring at all.

The "perfect" pursuit of some goal entails a fanaticism that, unchecked, could lead to some pretty unsavory results. I remember, for example, when a few extremists torched a hummer dealership. I'm sure they thought (think) that they truly, deeply care. Danger in absolutes!

If everyone tries a little, a lot gets done. Not as much as if everyone tries a lot, but I'm of the school of thought where anything is better than nothing.

Let's go to candy mountain.

[Lindsey 0]

I can care about a lot of things but I have to pick and choose what I actively work on, areas where I make real changes. I *care* about global warming. I *care* about Roe vs. Wade. I care about a lot of things, but there's only so much of me to give... I think that I'm prob'ly not the only one with that sort of attitude.

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail