Hi
Did you see the reports of a Mintel survey this week into how people feel about ethical and environmental issues?
Apparently though most of us are keen to be green a lot of people are rather fed up with the whole issue and over half feel it's all about companies jumping on the bandwagon. A third said they're confused about the whole organic, carbon footprint jargon, a third didn't see the point and a quarter were plain fed up with the whole thing.
I suppose I fit into the first and second categories (keen to be green and cynical about the bandwagon effect).
Just to be clear, though, as is clear from my signature, I have an interest to declare.
Any thoughts?
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
No, not at all, I think its just topical just now, I do as much as I can to recycle and use ethical products, energy saving lightbulbs, my electricity and gas comes from a geen source, I dont use air fresheners, I use soapods for my washing and ecover elsewhere.
I also buy as many fair trade and ethical products as I can.
Am quite sure many people have done much more over a long period of time.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Hi Sam,
I guess I’ve got mixed views on this. I have to say that I do try and do as many things as I can – I re-cycle things weekly by visiting the amenity site (I never put rubbish out for the binmen to take), take public transport where I can (I feel that I can do more though), buy organic fruit/veg/eggs/meat whenever I can, give “plant a tree” gifts to people and try not to use air fresheners and things like that as I have never liked the thought of already adding to the chemical cocktails already in our homes (they also started asthma attacks in my ex-partner). It’s not just global warming (which I’ll come to in a minute) but the probs with landfill sites etc. Also to be honest I don’t like the fact that many of our electronic goods go overseas to third world countries for dismantling – as many poor people who dismantle them are subjected to toxic waste without protection.
On the other hand - I feel though that any progress we make in the UK is vastly outweighed by the pollution caused by heavy industry in other parts of the world (like China, eastern Europe) where life expectancy is quite low.
I’m not entirely sure about the global warming thing but I guess it’s better to err on the safe side just in case there is something going on. I did train in meteorology and although I’m no expert there have been fluctuations in the climate of the world long before industrialisation.
I have found a little bit of hypocrisy in some of the so called “green” people. I have a neighbour who is always telling us and others what we should be doing. She does actually re-cycle cans and turns off all the lights when she goes out. However this is the thing – she has at least 2 (sometimes 3) long exotic holidays per year (no not eco-friendly ones either) – usually to places like China, Australia, Japan, South America, South Africa and Nepal to name but a few in recent years. Also, apart from driving to work, she spends all her spare time (she’s divorced with 2 grown up children elsewhere) driving around the UK visiting family and friends. The norm is for her to do over 500/600 miles most weekends (that’s not counting all the miles she racks up in the week – about 200/300 ). To my mind this is double standards. I’m not against driving - I drive myself – but she doesn’t exactly practice what she preaches and only does things which are “convenient” to her.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
I can see where the report comes from. Also, people hear "green" from the government shortly before they announce a new set of taxes which won't encourage people to become more environmentally friendly, but will result in greater revenue for said government.
If for instance the government was really keen to promote "green" travelling, they wouldn't just say flights will cost an extra £80 (or whatever it is) for a flight abroad. They'll say it will cost an extra £500. As it is, people will likely just bite the bullet and pay the extra tax (which I suspect is what the government want, while seeming to come across as being environmentally friendly). Or am I just being ultra sceptical and untrustworthy of President Blair?
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
ORIGINAL: samlang
Did you see the reports of a Mintel survey this week into how people feel about ethical and environmental issues?
I'm interested in where I could read more about this please; I haven't seen it.:)
Apparently though most of us are keen to be green a lot of people are rather fed up with the whole issue and over half feel it's all about companies jumping on the bandwagon.
I am undecided here. Yes, I feel companies, particularly some of the well known supermarkets *are* jumping on the bandwagon and do not have an ounce of inegrity about their policies. Bascially, they will do anything to get what they want - more business.
otoh, it's good that there is more awareness of this issue, generally.
A third said they're confused about the whole organic, carbon footprint jargon, a third didn't see the point and a quarter were plain fed up with the whole thing.
I think jargon can confuse people and I am concerned that people think they can just carbon offset their way through their life.
For the third that didn't see the point, we live in a society of 'it will never happen to us' and a bunch of politicians who aren't prepared to make lifestyle changes and lead by example.
For the quarter who were fed up; I wonder what, specifically they were fed up with?
You might be interested in another thread on the forum:
http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=423199&mpage=1&key=global%2Cwarming񧔟
I'd be interested in your views if you have time / the inclination.
I fall into the 'ethically minded but very cynical about the 'big powers' in the world'. I do not let that put me off, however, because I believe we need to do something and I am an optimist. I believe that everyone doing their 'little bit' can add up to make a whole load of difference. If I allowed this (my neighbour's rubbish for just one week - this is just from one house, not the row) to affect what I do, then nothing would get done:
Great topic,
Amethyst x
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Amethystcave - that photo is Soooo bad. I know I live on my own but most of my rubbish is re-cycled i.e. cardboard, newspapers, tins/cans, bottles, vegetables (compost heap). There's no excuse for those bin bags.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
how on earth do you produce that much rubbish in one go? did they collect it?
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
ORIGINAL: DarrenFollowsThePath
how on earth do you produce that much rubbish in one go? did they collect it?
I know! I did wonder, but I have to say, they usually have around 9 bags a week. That was a particularly bad week; I guess they had been decluttering [&:]
I find we are at the mercy of the companies though with regards to packaging; sometimes there just is no choice and we have to dispose of the packaging that THEY sell us. Often we can make better choices, but not always.
it sounds like you do really well, HappyGirl.
Grrrrrrr..
Amethyst x
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Well as I posted on another thread, I live in a flat and dont have a recycle bin, I have a depot where I can recycle plastic, clothes, bottles, card, tins, drinks cans but I was told 2 weeks ago I am not allowed in as I dont drive as I might get run over by a car on the way in, the cars drive at 2 miles per hour.
I phoned the council to ask where else I could go, that was 10 days ago, still waiting. I now have to go to the place on a Sunday when there are no staff on because under no circumstances am I putting all that stuff in the bin.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
ALL GREENED OUT?????? what the!!!![:@][:@]this is the planets future, how the hell can you be all greened out[sm=fit.gif]
It is just typical of the press in this country (and a lot of the inhabitants) "yeh we havebeen fedthat one about the environment, but it's too uncomfortable and I don't what to have to make any hard choices,now let's move on to the next sensational story" "What's that"?jade gooddy's mum to marry prince phillip, that's more like it[&:]
Grrrrrrrrrrr
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Hi samlang,
I think we should all jump on the bandwagon, personally. Also, there should be a tax incentive to recycling and keeping the neighbourhood environment clean and tidy.
The climate is changing, and how much of that is due to man's influence I don't know, but it wouldn't hurt us all to clean up our acts.
Patsy.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Hey Amethystcave, if this thread is anything to go by, it won't be long before you have your collar felt......
[link= http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=425177&mpage=1&key=񧽝 ]http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=425177&mpage=1&key=񧽝[/link]
:D:D:D:D:D:D
Patsy. :D:D
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Well, I care but thanks to some ridiculous rule made by my local council thats states only people who drive can recycle at certain points, I am struggling at the moment, I live in a flat, I dont have a recycle bin so, according to my council who have made a big song and dance about recycling, all my stuff can go to landfill.
I dont blame people for being greened out, basically Governments could be doing a lot more and a lot of the penalties imposed for not being green are ridiculous, such as the new taxes you pay when flying. It wont stop people flying at all. What I want to know is, if I can have green gas and electricity, why cant everyone? A very large supermarket, who is promoting green points on this and that and the next thing, has some of the most unethical practices. Thats all just lip service.
As for fairtrade products, this is fairtrade fortnight, I went to my local supermarket this morning and there were 5 maybe, 10 fairtrade products.
If ethical products can be produced why can there be more of them available, if there are recycling initiatives, they should be made avaialable to all people.
If gas and electricity companies can produce green energy, then why cant all energy come from a renewable source.
It shouldnt need to be hard work for people to recycle for example.
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
Hi,
What gets me is that it is sooooo complicated and sometimes costly. I am a secondary school science teacher and as such am forever pushing the topic of global warming and it is obviously taught as a topic of its own. However, the government don't encourage the schools to become green easily. We have an untold amount of paper wastage and wanted to have a recycling provision within the school grounds. We were told that the school would have to pay for the facility, it was a ludicrous amount per emptying, and as we would use it regularly it was not viable. We had several suggestions to get around this; we could get pupils to carry the paper wastage to the local paper bank (about quarter of a mile away), but this meant more paperwork for parents to give permission for this!! In the end we decided to collect as much as we could in the staff room and staff members would put it in their cars and offload!! It is ridiculous to have to go to such lengths!!
Another moan, why are people campaining against having windfarms, do they not realise this is (one of)the only ways to go. If we do not do something soon we will be at the point of no return, when there is nothing we can do about the increase of global warming. I have 'camped' withinrange ofone of these windfarms and I personally think they are a wonderful sight and indeedenhance the countryside. I think we need to prioritise or at least the government does!!
I would have solar panels on my house and a wind generator in the garden if I could afford it at the moment, more people need to make the effort.
The school I work in is having a major rebuild soon and we have been allowed an input into the design, needless to say we are having solar panels and wind generators included!!
Having said all that, I still drive to work, fly to my holiday destination and often leave the electric lights on/heating too high, but I am only human after all??
Crabapple
RE: Are you "all greened out"?
It does seem to be the hot topic at the moment. If the government can get us well and truly focused on all things `green` perhaps we will forget about the war in Iraq and the massive cost in lives and revenue. We could also forget about the shambles in the NHS, the robbing of the pension funds etc.
On a local note, our council Waltham Forest is at present excellent on waste collection. We have our rubbish in wheelie bins which are emptied weekly, along with recycling bins also weekly. Plus we have brown bins for our garden waste which are collected fortnightly........so well done them.