The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Shnoowie on January 22, 2011, 06:12:05 pm
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What does everyone here think about going carbon neutral?
I'm thinking about off-setting the carbon footprint of my (very small) business - it equates to planting around 4 trees per year which I think it very little to pay (around £40). Would you be more inclined to use a carbon neutral business?
Do you think it is something we all should be doing anyway? It doesn't always entail planting trees (apparently!) though I'm happy to plant a good few trees!
References: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/offsetprojects.html (http://www.carbonfootprint.com/offsetprojects.html)
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well ive just planted my new 5 fruit trees .so hope that counts
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Last year we re-planted a small proportion of ours (less than 10%) which had been damaged since the original planting was done (pesky deer and rabbits ;)) that small proportion amounted to 16,000 saplings - don't think I've got any worries about staying carbon neutral for the rest of my life ;) ;D ;D ;D
But I'm all for eco-friendly businesses, and if there were 2 rival companies selling what I wanted and one was eco-friendly while the other wasn't I'd definately use the eco-friendly one. I'm trying to operate in an eco-friendly way with my slate signs - I only use recycled/recycleable packing materials. We should all do our bit - even if it's just a little ;) :wave:
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First off, I love this site.
Second, you asked everyone's opinion.
Respectfully I ask, are you kidding? You still buy this man-made climate change and the whole carbon foot print scam? Guys, you are being duped and people are making a ton of money making everyone feel guilty!
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First off, I love this site.
Second, you asked everyone's opinion.
Respectfully I ask, are you kidding? You still buy this man-made climate change and the whole carbon foot print scam? Guys, you are being duped and people are making a ton of money making everyone feel guilty!
Does it matter whether human activity is responsible for climate change? The fact remains that the climate is changing, with resultant changes in sea level, whether or not it is man made, and we have a responsibility to our grandchildren to do whatever is necessary to minimise the effect for them.
John
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A couple of points to ponder.......
following the explosion that destroyed BP's Deepwater Horizon well, 4.9 million barrels of oil were spilled, resulting in havoc in the area (and a huge political fuss).
Yet, with an average consumption of more than 20 million barrels of oil per day, industry and consumers across the US would have gobbled up the entire spill in just a few hours.
It puts the enormous consumption of oil into perspective. ???
Another fascinating fact (extracted from New Scientist), Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that closed Europe's airspace and stumped English-speaking newscasters trying to pronounce its name, is estimated to have emitted between 150,000 and 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a day.
That's less than the grounded flights would have emitted, making it the first carbon-negative volcano! :-\
John
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Happy - You must have so much space! 10,000 saplings must have been hard work, but must have left you with a good sense of achievement.
Yankie - I asked the opinion of everyone because I think it is important to get a balanced view before I make any decisions. And to be honest...if each tree cost me £100 I'd feel I was being duped, however, with trees starting at £5 at my local garden centre I don't think they're trying to cash in in that way!
Fergie - I agree that we need to do what we can for our children/grand children...maybe instead of planting trees we should be investing in carbon-negative volcanoes!
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Ok, here's my tuppence worth - regardless of whether there is climate change or not, I believe we should all be reusing, recycling whenever we can, and that includes anyone planting trees to replace what is being cut down all over the world. My reason is that we have only a finite number of resources on this planet and the population is always growing, so we should do some standard economics and save whatever we can whenever we can. To me it's just common sense. So Like Karen, if there were two business selling exactly what I want I'd choose the one that was putting back into the world what others have taken out.
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The one constant is that climate will change. It has very little to do with carbon dioxide be it man made or not.
Yes, be more sustainable in your use of materials, it makes sense, be resourceful and we will put less pressure on the system.
No, don't swallow the politics that will have you believe you need to pay more tax.
GREENPEACE CO-FOUNDER QUESTIONS MAN MADE GLOBAL WARMING - INTERVIEW
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/greenpeace-founder-questions-man-made-global-warming/ (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/greenpeace-founder-questions-man-made-global-warming/)
Choosing between a carbon neutral company or another? I will go for the most cost effective for me.
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Shnoowie: I meant I wouldn't give my opinion on this hot button issue if you hadn't asked. I also am all for being a good stewart of what God has given us. I resent the attempt at income redistribution in the guise of helping "save the planet". I resent Uncle Sam telling me I have to use these stupid pigtail light bulbs. I resent being treated like a complete idiot who doesn't know enough not to soil in her own nest! I am frustrated by those who wont think for themselves, instead buy into every "feel good" program that comes down the pike.
Heck yea, plant trees! Just don't let the gov't tell me I have to.
DON'T TREAD ON ME!!
There...I'm done. Thanks for the ear.
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Bright Raven, you truly are BRIGHT.
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bright raven - some say he's paid to say that
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2010/dec/02/sumatra-rainforest-destruction-patrick-moore (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2010/dec/02/sumatra-rainforest-destruction-patrick-moore)
yankieGirl - are you by any chance a supporter of Sarah Palin?
Shnoowie - I think it's a good idea. Everything else being equal I would buy from a carbon neutral company over one that wasn't
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It's a struggle to know what is toxic, what sources are trustworthy. George Monbiot of the Guardian........ toxic - in my opinion. He backed the 1010 climate change campaign.
Fear and taxes, I am not laughing. This video was pulled shortly after the launch of the campaign due to such a bad response.
Fear tactics..... Toxic.
EPIC GREEN FAIL!!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfnddMpzPsM#ws)
Oink, Perhaps you could explain why YankieGirl is a supporter of Sarah Palin in your opinion, this seems like a bit of a cheap shot?
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I think it's hard to believe that a world population of 7bn and rising fast doesn't have an effect on the climate. But whether or not it does the fact is that we've used up the easy to get oil and gas so energy prices will keep rising and the risks of extraction will get bigger. Oil shale and tar sands are ugly sources of the stuff, while Uncle Sam's use of grain to make hooch to drive cars is morally and economically criminal
Much of the oil we use in Western Europe comes from places which are politically unstable and have deplorable governance.
So why would anybody not want to cut down on waste and reduce their costs?
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I can easily see to be the problem with that video but I have to be honest and admit that I nearly fell off my chair laughing when the teacher blew up the kids. ;)
I guess it was a cheap shot but I'd still be interested in yannkiegirls answer. I first heard a comedian mention it but there does seems to be some truth to it. Most lefties believe in man made climate change and most deniers are right wingers. I have absolutely no idea why as the two don't really seem to be linked except perhaps the fact that government intervention will be needed to reduce carbon usage. That makes me wonder if it's the answer they disagree with or the solution.
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Basically, the climate is changing - it is always changing. We have a set idea of what our climate 'should be' based on the relatively settled period we are experiencing at present. Bear in mind this settled period has only lasted less than a century!! Prior to that there have been huge swings in temperature and storminess - The medieval warm period - the little ice age - weather interruptions caused by volcanic activity. Whether the present periods of warmth (and these are by no means as unusual as people seem to think) are anthropogenic or otherwise, we still need to think sustainably. We are actually more likely to hit a cold phase (see posts on the 'Coffee House' section) here than a warm one - the more food we can grow for ourselves, the better because there are going to be food supply problems in the very near future. We cannot possibly continue with our present levels of consumption - of anything - it is simply not sustainable! We all need to reuse and recycle, climate change or not, as Doganjo has pointed out previously.
As for offsetting - we'd all be much better using less to start with than trying to offset it, which is merely a sop to those who can't bring themselves to do without. That said, planting trees is always a good idea provided, in the circumstances, it does not inhibit the growing of food.
Look forward to lots more comments on this important issue. Cheers all, you've got the right idea - unlike most politicians!!!! :wave:
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And my dark thought for today is that I am long past trusting the actions of any government or organised political system to actually make policy decisions that intervine positively for the ordinary person or the planet.
And as I descend into the depths of my cynicism and disgust with the whole hierarchy I might even carve on my own grave that the New World Order would have us financially, morally and socially bankrupted, depopulated and de-skilled and would suppress us by causing us to fight among ourselves.
I am convinced that individuals should do all they can to limit their environmental impact.
I am convinced that us bright folk who think outside the system should stick together, help eachother and encourage one another to look into the difficult questions without shooting eachother down.
TAS is a brilliant place to share our valuable skills and ideas.
We are living in interesting times.
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BTW if my replies don't seem timely, it's because I am 5 hours behind you folks.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get along.....well we don't and for good reason. There is fact and fiction. Reality and fantasy land. Those who want to socialize (the governmental/economic theory, I'm not using it as a slur) and those who don't. At the risk of sounding simplistic, it's that simple.
Waterhouse said "while Uncle Sam's use of grain to make hooch to drive cars is morally and economically criminal"
Some (like me) in the US have been saying this since the beginning. More BTU's are required to make the ethanol than the energy it will ever provide. Corn is the least efficient of all the products they have fermented for ethanol (wood products, switchgrass, etc) Corn $ goes up. I never realized how many foods and products used corn and its by products! So why do we do it? To be less dependent on foreign petro....point taken. But this isn't efficient so why plod on?
Oink: I guess it was a cheap shot but I'd still be interested in yannkiegirls answer
I would be labeled a right winger by the left and a conservative by the right. Call me whatever you wish.
No I'm not a Palin supporter. I am not a detractor either. I do however, find myself more in her corner everytime the media bashes her. I know it excites the left wing base but I think they fear her for some reason beyond a mere disagreement with her positions.
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Some (like me) in the US have been saying this since the beginning. More BTU's are required to make the ethanol than the energy it will ever provide. Corn is the least efficient of all the products they have fermented for ethanol (wood products, switchgrass, etc) Corn $ goes up. I never realized how many foods and products used corn and its by products! So why do we do it? To be less dependent on foreign petro....point taken. But this isn't efficient so why plod on?
Yankie girl, have a look at either of these books and you'll find your answer.
Paul Roberts 'The End of Food'
Felicity Lawrence 'Not on the Label' OR 'Eat Your Heart Out'
Cheers.
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morri2
I am convinced that us bright folk who think outside the system should stick together, help eachother and encourage one another to look into the difficult questions without shooting eachother down.
TAS is a brilliant place to share our valuable skills and ideas
I agree with morri2. My husband and I often talk about how we could barter our skills and resources. My less informed friends and peers at work don't have a clue what is coming....I would gladly share my stash of toiletpaper with any of you when things become scarce.
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Which seems an apt moment to quote the american father of a friend whose long term plan is "cash, canned food and cartridges"
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There is a thriving "survivalist" movement here in the US. Seeds, food storage, water storage, gas generators......Some to the extreme, some less so.
"cash, canned food and cartridges"
I too subscibe to that trinity! We have stashes of all three! Plus toiletpaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We Americans like our creature comforts.
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I think the British are generally more laid-back. We collect solar energy and store rainwater because it reduces our bills rather than we expect the Apocalypse any time soon.
We do have a small generator but that's because Electricite de France owns the local power infrastructure and turns if off pretty regularly for extended periods. It was cheaper than a UPS big enough to run my business for 12 hours.
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A new thread on what we stash could be interesting......
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The realities of what could happen have been brought home to me on this forum. In fairness, I'd got the front door open looking for them but home they are!
I've never really trusted 'governments' before without really knowing why................now I do!
I belive that we should as a matter of course recycle. I HATE waste of any kind so we reuse and adapt everything we can. I haven't had to make a choice about carbon neutral or not but if everything else was equal then I would go with the CN company.
I heard some disturbing news today...............no will put that on a separate topic.
Ian