crumby contribution
July 2007
I generally live a pretty 'green' lifestyle - shopping locally, growing some of my own food, not driving wherever possible, using a green energy tariff and energy efficient light bulbs, composting and recycling to name but a few things; I've also gone as far as buying a solar powered mobile phone charger (I'm constantly getting ribbed about this, but the detractors are soon won over by the double win 'it's good for the environment, and it's saving me money' argument). Also, the charity I'm a trustee of in Bristol are looking to build a new community building, and I, along with a number of other trustees, are pushing the low carbon / environmentally friendly message. Happily, the organisation I'm involved with are already geared into this thinking. Whether that is due to the collective voice of a number of trustees or a general shift in thinking - I'm not sure!
Everything appears to be rosy then. Not necessarily so. Feelings of defeat, apathy and cynicism creep into mindsets, even of those who want to make a difference. The thinking is, "i'm doing my bit, but what difference is it really going to make" citing industrialisation in China and India as examples of reasons to be fearful. For me, the point is this: the more people that chose to live a lifestyle which is more conscious of the environment, the more this will get into the conscious of the population, popular opinion will sway, leading ultimately to this way of life being seen as the norm. If this country, and other industrialised countries can clean up their act, my feeling is other countries will follow suit. I'm not as naive to think this will just happen, they'll be trade offs between countries involved, sharing of technology etc, but if we can lead the way, and then help others to do the same, this has to be a good thing.
So, you'll deduce i'm a glass half full kind of bloke. You'd be right, and i think people need to start thinking this way when they assess their own carbon footprint. For me, it's a case of working backwards from a point of 'absolute' share of the carbon cake. For example, i could be taking numerous long haul flights a year, driving everywhere on my own, not composting, putting all my rubbish in landfill, etc. This would constitute the full cake. As it happens , i'm not doing all of this, and i think in working back from this 'absolute' share position, i'm doing pretty good. When thinking in this way, it makes me realise that every little change i make means i'm eating into that 'absolute' share, with the ultimate being all the cake eaten, and me being a happy (and full) fella. Not everybody is going to be able to have their cake and eat it, but every slice eaten is a step in the right direction. So, looking forward, what am i doing to do to eat into my share a little more. The first thing is to change to an energy supplier to one that provides 100% renewable energy ; the one i'm with at the moment provides some (not all) energy via renewable means, but does use profits to build more electricity generating wind turbines, and love them or loathe them (i actually love them, i think they're very majestic), they create clean energy. After that, who knows, but every crumb is a contribution.
By Andy Youl
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Bristol Climate Countdown on 24 October was an afternoon of fun highlighting the need for action on climate change. On the FSFC stall people could get climate change resources and enter a draw to win eco-prizes!
Over 300 new supporters! Paignton Zoo's Green Solutions Festival ran from October 24th-November 1st with demonstrations, competitions and activities to help people reduce their impact on climate change. The FSFC stand attracted over 300 people to add their name to the supporters li...
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Fair Shares, Fair Choice has been chosen by the SDC as a Breakthrough Idea of the century. The campaign, which supports ‘globally fair and safe carbon shares for everyone’, features in the report as a breakthrough idea for personal carbon budgets.
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