change our lives, why should we?
May 7th 2008 23:56
Apparently there is a damning survey out there saying that despite the fact most Australian people see Climate Change as the largest issue our country faces, most of us are unwilling to change our lives.
Look there is no doubt we are consumerism crazy, but I think most people are willing to give up a bit for the environment. So I think I am going to have to step in and defend us a little bit and say that I think some of the criteria are a little unfair:judging us, for example in terms of the length of commute we have, we can't help it if our cities are spread out and the accommodation is far away. Fair go people. Many of us sacrifice luxury and catch hideous public transport to work, and I think ALL of us would just about kill to be allowed to work from home a few days a week and not commute at all.
We did as an aside SCORE the best in terms of this
and America apparently scored last according to this USA today story. CLICK HERE
Anyhow, judge for yourself, heres a link and a small extract from the story. I guess its just another reminder that we all really should be pulling our heads in a little when it comes to our carefree ways, we are being perceived as selfish, maybe most of us are. CLICK HERE
cheers
Louie
Look there is no doubt we are consumerism crazy, but I think most people are willing to give up a bit for the environment. So I think I am going to have to step in and defend us a little bit and say that I think some of the criteria are a little unfair:judging us, for example in terms of the length of commute we have, we can't help it if our cities are spread out and the accommodation is far away. Fair go people. Many of us sacrifice luxury and catch hideous public transport to work, and I think ALL of us would just about kill to be allowed to work from home a few days a week and not commute at all.
We did as an aside SCORE the best in terms of this
"Australians do, however, exhibit more responsible behaviours than many others surveyed in terms of water use and energy-saving appliances.''
and America apparently scored last according to this USA today story. CLICK HERE
Anyhow, judge for yourself, heres a link and a small extract from the story. I guess its just another reminder that we all really should be pulling our heads in a little when it comes to our carefree ways, we are being perceived as selfish, maybe most of us are. CLICK HERE
Brazil and India tied for the highest score for their small footprint per capita, and US consumers were ranked the most wasteful.
Roughly a third of Australian consumers surveyed had nine rooms or more in their homes and most had air conditioning (70 per cent).
More than 90 per cent had one or more vehicles per household, second only to US consumers, and six out of 10 drove alone daily.
They also had the longest average commutes of those surveyed.
Australians ranked among the lowest in using public transport, with only 22 per cent catching a bus or train at least once a week.
When asked an open-ended question about the most urgent problem facing their country, Australians cited the environment/climate change - showing more concern on that count than any other national group surveyed.
However, they ranked second-to-last in the belief that environmental problems were having a negative impact on their health, with only nine per cent agreeing strongly.
Roughly a third of Australian consumers surveyed had nine rooms or more in their homes and most had air conditioning (70 per cent).
More than 90 per cent had one or more vehicles per household, second only to US consumers, and six out of 10 drove alone daily.
They also had the longest average commutes of those surveyed.
Australians ranked among the lowest in using public transport, with only 22 per cent catching a bus or train at least once a week.
When asked an open-ended question about the most urgent problem facing their country, Australians cited the environment/climate change - showing more concern on that count than any other national group surveyed.
However, they ranked second-to-last in the belief that environmental problems were having a negative impact on their health, with only nine per cent agreeing strongly.
cheers
Louie
photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com thanks
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That - brings us all back to dinosaur ages and humans are simply too 'advanced' to be willing to go backwards.
What we can do really is try to spread the word and educate as much as we can and hopefully one day people will get the idea. We don't have to be completely green (because it's simply impossible with humans) - but we all need to at least TRY.
Comment by Rosemary
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Example: If air conditioning is available, people will buy it and use it for sure.
If it's not available, people would just have to get used to that.
Hoping that we humans will sort it before nature decides to get rid of us.
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Comment by RubySoho
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I'm with Amy on the air conditioning thing. Switch it off. Why are people such wimps about summer these days anyway? Remember the good ol' days when we used to swelter, throw water bombs to cool down or spray each other with the garden hose?
Now everyone just stays indoors with the air con set to 19 degrees. It's summer! It's supposed to be hot! Air con should be illegal, that's my rant for the day.
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I recently moved into a rental with aircon, so I hid the controls from my flat-mates and told them it was broken, guess what.........we managed.....
I agree it is disgraceful people sitting indoors, worst their kids do it too playing Video games, we used to play cricket and hang out in the bush and go swimming....
and that is my rant for the day too, hopefully...hmm no guarantees....
Comment by Thoraiya Dyer
Demented World
Legislation is the answer, baby. I'm with Rosemary. Tax air conditioners and watch their sales drop. It's already working for girlie drinks, and the tax was only slapped on them last week!
And I'm also with Louie - the tax has to be spent on green power. I'm not talking about ethanol, either. But that's a rant for another blogging day.
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And with the price of Petrol we will all have to give up our cars soon anyhows
cheers
Louie
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Sure - we've got an air-cond in the house which we seldom ever use (despite the protests of the kids) but given the workout some of these tend to get - it's almost a self fulfilling prophecy - means we'll all eventually need one to starve off the increased fluctuations in our climate.
. . . you get the gist of what I'm saying anyway.
Trouble is we (the world) all need to slow down just a little - in every respect.
From our health to business deadlines, roads and traffic to our kids growing up too soon - we'd all (I suspect) be better off.
MNG
Comment by Louie
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From our health to business deadlines, roads and traffic to our kids growing up too soon - we'd all (I suspect) be better off.
Here here MNG.....bring it on