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Yep. Most people don't even seem to admit to themselves that they're doing a lot of harmful activities. A lot of people like to say they're worried about the e

Yep. Most people don't even seem to admit to themselves that they're doing a lot of harmful activities. A lot of people like to say they're worried about the environment, but very few change their life in significant ways to help it.

NeedMoreTea 8y ago
How will any individual's actions counteract the approval of a single fracking or tar sand site? Or the choice by a supermarket to package everything in plastic, and continue to add to this in 2019? Or any other multi-national? Starbucks straw-free solution was a plastic lid that uses more plastic than the straw. Family made major changes, but it feels increasingly pointless, and increasingly like spiting ourselves for no reason. Every shop brings home more plastic, used in ever more profligate ways, and mostly impossible to avoid. What was the point changing?
- dd36 8y ago
  It’s cumulative. Single use plastic should be highly taxed.
- ethagnawl 8y ago
  > Starbucks straw-free solution was a plastic lid that uses more plastic than the straw. This may be true, but it was still a worthwhile initiative. The new lids can be recycled, whereas the straws couldn't[0], and their new policy has drawn a considerable amount of attention to the issue of single use plastics. 0: https://mic.com/articles/190171/starbucks-will-ban-plastic-straws-by-2020-but-is-its-new-lid-really-any-better-for-the-environment#.SWvB7wOXc https://mic.com/articles/190171/starbucks-will-ban-plastic-s...
tonyedgecombe 8y ago
That's because it's hard. I've done it but I would be lying if I said it was easy or didn't have an impact on my life. Just this morning I had to fix a puncture on my bike before I could go to the shop, it's only ten minutes to fix but there are a lot of these frictions if you want to have a low impact lifestyle.
progman 8y ago
> very few change their life in significant ways to help it. I did it, and it is really worth the effort. What I changed: - buy liquids in glass only -> healthier and reduced container garbage to 2/5 - use soda stream for mineral water - buy fresh food -> healthier and reduces plastics packing - buy used devices (where it makes sense) -> cars, phones, pc's etc. -> much cheaper, reduces waste -> don't be beta tester for newest products - use rechargable batteries with smart recharger (to benefit the life cycle) - avoid unfixable devices in general - use grandma's household remedy, e.g. baking powder and vinegar instead of chemicals (packed in big one-way plastic bottles) to clean your house drains There are many more tips in the Internet. For instance: 7 Ways to Support the Environment in 2018 https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-support-the-environment-in-2018.html https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-support-the-envi... Further recommendations are appreciated.

NeedMoreTea 8y ago

How will any individual's actions counteract the approval of a single fracking or tar sand site? Or the choice by a supermarket to package everything in plastic, and continue to add to this in 2019? Or any other multi-national? Starbucks straw-free solution was a plastic lid that uses more plastic than the straw. Family made major changes, but it feels increasingly pointless, and increasingly like spiting ourselves for no reason. Every shop brings home more plastic, used in ever more profligate ways, and mostly impossible to avoid. What was the point changing?

dd36 8y ago
It’s cumulative. Single use plastic should be highly taxed.
ethagnawl 8y ago
> Starbucks straw-free solution was a plastic lid that uses more plastic than the straw. This may be true, but it was still a worthwhile initiative. The new lids can be recycled, whereas the straws couldn't[0], and their new policy has drawn a considerable amount of attention to the issue of single use plastics. 0: https://mic.com/articles/190171/starbucks-will-ban-plastic-straws-by-2020-but-is-its-new-lid-really-any-better-for-the-environment#.SWvB7wOXc https://mic.com/articles/190171/starbucks-will-ban-plastic-s...

tonyedgecombe 8y ago

That's because it's hard. I've done it but I would be lying if I said it was easy or didn't have an impact on my life. Just this morning I had to fix a puncture on my bike before I could go to the shop, it's only ten minutes to fix but there are a lot of these frictions if you want to have a low impact lifestyle.

progman 8y ago

> very few change their life in significant ways to help it. I did it, and it is really worth the effort. What I changed: - buy liquids in glass only -> healthier and reduced container garbage to 2/5 - use soda stream for mineral water - buy fresh food -> healthier and reduces plastics packing - buy used devices (where it makes sense) -> cars, phones, pc's etc. -> much cheaper, reduces waste -> don't be beta tester for newest products - use rechargable batteries with smart recharger (to benefit the life cycle) - avoid unfixable devices in general - use grandma's household remedy, e.g. baking powder and vinegar instead of chemicals (packed in big one-way plastic bottles) to clean your house drains There are many more tips in the Internet. For instance: 7 Ways to Support the Environment in 2018 https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-support-the-environment-in-2018.html https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-support-the-envi... Further recommendations are appreciated.