Posted: Jun 01, 2019 8:21 am
I think there needs to be a distinction made between activities that one just doesn't do, and actions one does/doesn't do expressly through concern for ecological footprint.
For example, if someone's afraid of flying and therefore doesn't fly, the outcome may be better for the environment, but the motivation isn't pro-ecology. I don't drink, but there's no ecological motivation there for me, just a happy coincidence.
For the latter ecological concern motivation: I don't drive and never have, I eat locally sourced food stuffs and minimize meat consumption, I am conscientious of waste in all forms both in generating it and of where it's ultimately going, I don't partake in the throw-away economy, I carry a bag around to avoid a smidgen of the excessive plastic pollution generated by stores over here.
But on the other side, I feel perpetually guilty about buying plastic bottles of drinking water but will eventually be able to prioritize funds to install a bloody expensive water filtration system.
In the middle, I use air con in the bedroom at night, but I don't feel in the slightest bit guilty about it because it's impossible to be alive and have no impact whatsoever so one must make rational choices about what is an acceptable impact; given that temperatures here are in the high 30's at night time, I wouldn't survive long without ac.
For example, if someone's afraid of flying and therefore doesn't fly, the outcome may be better for the environment, but the motivation isn't pro-ecology. I don't drink, but there's no ecological motivation there for me, just a happy coincidence.
For the latter ecological concern motivation: I don't drive and never have, I eat locally sourced food stuffs and minimize meat consumption, I am conscientious of waste in all forms both in generating it and of where it's ultimately going, I don't partake in the throw-away economy, I carry a bag around to avoid a smidgen of the excessive plastic pollution generated by stores over here.
But on the other side, I feel perpetually guilty about buying plastic bottles of drinking water but will eventually be able to prioritize funds to install a bloody expensive water filtration system.
In the middle, I use air con in the bedroom at night, but I don't feel in the slightest bit guilty about it because it's impossible to be alive and have no impact whatsoever so one must make rational choices about what is an acceptable impact; given that temperatures here are in the high 30's at night time, I wouldn't survive long without ac.