Climate Crisis: Are we doing enough?

[icowden]

Billions of people have managed just this, despite the disadvantage of less education than you were privileged with. Why do you find it so hard? Why all the excuses? (and criticising the USA at the same time !! )

I find it hard because my family like to go abroad. Simple as. And this ideal is reinforced by our constant production of TV programmes showing us how wonderful other countries are and a desire to create wonderful memories with our children.

My mother finds it very easy not to go abroad. I think she has only done it twice, and only once by air as she's terrified of flying. My maternal grandma never went abroad, but then for a significant part of her life there wasn't a commercial airline service and she didn't have the time nor money for a cruise. Paternal grandma was considered incredibly adventurous as she went on a cruise by herself to Africa in the 1960s after her husband had died and my dad and his brother were at University.

But the world has changed since then, and you can get a flight for very little money. We have been on holidays in the UK as well - Lake District and the Highlands for example. We've also climbed the mountain formerly known as Snowdon.

 

[monkers]

Zack Polanski takes on Sadiq Khan ...

https://bsky.app/profile/zackpolanski.bsky.social/post/3lbhhk5hfh22s

 

[matticus]

I find it hard because my family like to go abroad. Simple as. And this ideal is reinforced by our constant production of TV programmes showing us how wonderful other countries are and a desire to create wonderful memories with our children.

I hinted at it earlier - and you ignored it - but doesn't their education about the wonderful world we live in include the ways humanity is destroying it?!?

(There are TV programmes about that too, if you need any help.)

 

[monkers]

On another platform I am simultaneously arguing with some random chap. He is boasting about his wealth, how he thinks all tax is theft, that tax avoidance is absolutely fine, how the country is turning to shoot, and saying the greatest thing about this country (UK) is that he gets to to do what ever he likes. He likes to dish out the worst kind of insults saying (wrong) stuff about the absolute right to free speech.

He also got red-faced enraged when somebody else called him a 'gammon', claiming that was ''racist'', and that people who call him a gammon should be put in prison. He insists that climate change is a hoax, that poor people are claiming because of ''their politics of envy''.

Personally I don't measure my success by comparison with what wealthy people have, I measure it with what little homeless people have, and I try to do my bit to help them. Apparently I'm just sadly woke and delusional.

Thatcher's children eh?

 

[icowden]

I hinted at it earlier - and you ignored it - but doesn't their education about the wonderful world we live in include the ways humanity is destroying it?!?

Of course - especially if you do A Level or GCSE Geography. Of course how well that is taken on board by children who have never seen the countries they are studying is somewhat questionable.

One of the other benefits to our Malaysia trip was that they got to see the deforestation and learn about the eco-tourism initiatives. If tourists stopped visiting, then Malaysia's primary income becomes palm oil. So we may reduce the greenhouse gasses caused by the jets but wipe out the rainforest as a result...

 

[monkers]

Of course - especially if you do A Level or GCSE Geography. Of course how well that is taken on board by children who have never seen the countries they are studying is somewhat questionable.

One of the other benefits to our Malaysia trip was that they got to see the deforestation and learn about the eco-tourism initiatives. If tourists stopped visiting, then Malaysia's primary income becomes palm oil. So we may reduce the greenhouse gasses caused by the jets but wipe out the rainforest as a result...

Interesting points.

You may have already learned this on your trip, but palm oil is currency, not by strict currency definition, but such is the effect of the trade agreement. The UK supplies Malaysia with military equipment including fighter jets. The manufacturers of the jets are subsidised by the tax payer, the UK offset payment with palm oil. Big food is complicit with the government which is why there is so much of it in foodstuffs.

I may not still have the evidence, but I certainly did once. I'll have a look to see what I still have saved.

 

[matticus]

One of the other benefits to our Malaysia trip was that they got to see the deforestation and learn about the eco-tourism initiatives. If tourists stopped visiting, then Malaysia's primary income becomes palm oil. So we may reduce the greenhouse gasses caused by the jets but wipe out the rainforest as a result...

Fair point. I've never been there. Perhaps that's why I:
- don't know which hemisphere it's in,
- have never heard of "eco-tourism", and
- have no clue what "palm oil" or "rainforest" is.

If only there was something on TV, or in a book, or on the radio about these things. Everyone in Europe should fly there to have a look.
Heck, we should pay for everyone in Africa and South America to fly there too!

 

[Rusty Nails]

I'll come out and admit it. I like sunshine. I get miserable throughout the long late autumn/winter periods and look forward to my early summer break in Italy. Living in S Wales it's a hell of a slog by bus/taxi/train to italy when we can fly there via airports that are either 30 minutes or one hour drives from my house. We also have breaks in the UK a couple of times a year, and while we usually enjoy them, there have been many that were spoiled by bad weather, one or two even being cut short, but we accept that as part of living in this country.

While I drive less than I used to, using the bus/train or bike for local journeys, I still use the car for days out to nearish places such as Brecon or Hay or the Gower Peninsula, and to visit my sister 25 miles away, saving me and my wife four hours each return journey over public transport, I find it relatively easy to accept my selfishness and lack of perfection, especially in the context outlined in my post #1850 above.

 

[matticus]

I find it relatively easy to accept my selfishness and lack of perfection, especially in the context outlined in my post #1850 above.

Whatever the f post #1850* says, you shouldn't feel bad - you are in good company here!

*I apologise for not referring to it just now - I'm sure it's both perceptive and wise.

 

[BoldonLad]

I can see a case building for taxpayer funded “holidays” for all state school pupils studying geography. It is clearly essential they visit each country they are studying.

 

[monkers]

I'll come out and admit it. I like sunshine. I get miserable throughout the long late autumn/winter periods and look forward to my early summer break in Italy. Living in S Wales it's a hell of a slog by bus/taxi/train to italy when we can fly there via airports that are either 30 minutes or one hour drives from my house. We also have breaks in the UK a couple of times a year, and while we usually enjoy them, there have been many that were spoiled by bad weather, one or two even being cut short, but we accept that as part of living in this country.

While I drive less than I used to, using the bus/train or bike for local journeys, I still use the car for days out to nearish places such as Brecon or Hay or the Gower Peninsula, and to visit my sister 25 miles away, saving me and my wife four hours each return journey over public transport, I find it relatively easy to accept my selfishness and lack of perfection, especially in the context outlined in my post #1850 above.

But the sun always shines on the righteous. Sorry to hear you are being left out.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Whatever the f post #1850* says, you shouldn't feel bad - you are in good company here!

*I apologise for not referring to it just now - I'm sure it's both perceptive and wise.

I'll be in good company shortly when I ...walk... to the pub to meet some friends and drink locally produced beer. Nothing said there will be perceptive or wise.

 

[mjr]

I'll come out and admit it. I like sunshine. I get miserable throughout the long late autumn/winter periods and look forward to my early summer break in Italy.

I like sunshine. Lots of it here today. Freezing temperatures too, but you can't have everything! Not sure how long it will last with all these people flying around willy-nilly.

Living in S Wales it's a hell of a slog by bus/taxi/train to italy when we can fly there via airports that are either 30 minutes or one hour drives from my house.

Well yes, that's the problem. It's easy (1 bus or bike, then 3 trains) to Italy from where I am but a slog from other parts of the country and it really shouldn't be.

While I drive less than I used to, using the bus/train or bike for local journeys, I still use the car for days out to nearish places such as Brecon or Hay or the Gower Peninsula, and to visit my sister 25 miles away, saving me and my wife four hours each return journey over public transport, I find it relatively easy to accept my selfishness and lack of perfection, especially in the context outlined in my post #1850 above.

The only people really demanding perfection are the climate change deniers who promote the idea that it's not worth doing anything better unless everybody does everything the best they can. I think most reasonable people agree that "drive less, bus/train/bike more" is a good step.

I just get a bit grumpy when crazily long travel times are taken off Google (who probably prefer people to drive, using their sat nav to feed data into their traffic map) and repeated thoughtlessly, or prices are calculated by adding together single tickets for each leg for each passenger without even looking at multiperson through tickets, let alone subscriptions or area passes. It's extra annoying when driving costs given are fuel only based on ideal mpg (so they must not park at most destinations or service the car or have insurance) and air costs are just the naked headline "from" fare without the many airport and airline extra charges that most people will pay at least some of (most travel doesn't have as many hidden extra charges as flying).

 

[qigong chimp]

... it's a no brainer to fly.

Word.

 

[mjr]

COP29: First draft text draws widespread criticism but presidency confident of imminent breakthrough | Euronews – https://www.euronews.com/2024/11/21...cism-but-presidency-confident-of-imminent-bre