Sacrifices

The world is cooking. Global warming is real. Human (and cow) carbon emissions are partly to blame. The scientists who disagree, are quite frankly, rogues. As Marcus Brigstocke says, I don't expect to see wasps on my Chritsmas pudding. So what sacrifice should we human beings make to save our own skins? Stop flying? Stop driving? Stop tumble drying?

Sadly, there are some things I'm just not prepared to do. I'm not prepared to give up flying. I have though tried to give up other things, most involuntarily. My car packed up, and I haven't been able to afford a new one, plus I'm not particularly bothered anymore. I have a drying rack, so I dry my clothes on them, and only use the tumble dryer in emergencies.

I turn off lights religiously, I don't leave things on standby. I recycle my bottles and papers, I reuse my plastic bags. San Francisco might be banning plastic bags, and the advent of biodegradable plastics would go a long way to assuaging my guilt. But no matter how hard I try, I doubt I'll ever be carbon neutral.

Back to flying. I can't see any replacement for flying. Cycling to New York across Greenland, Newfoundland, transatlantic sharks snapping at your heels, is not my idea of saving the planet. Flying was the greatest thing that emerged from the post-industrial revolution West. I just cannot imagine giving up flying, especially if there's no alternative.

If you're keen to hear about someone dedicated to a green life, spare a thought for Barbara Haddrill. She was to be a bridesmaid at one of her best friends' wedding in Australia, but refused to fly because of the damage air travel does to the environment. You can imagine how much of a conundrum she was in, considering she lives in Wales. What did she do? She quit her job and proceeded halfway around the world in 50 days, on a various modes of transport except flying. A real green trooper.

The long version: http://www.babs2brisbane.blogspot.com/