One Good Thing I Did Today

DC_DEEP

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I conserve whatever I can, whenever possible. When I shower, I do wet down, turn off the water, lather up, and then rinse. I don't let the water run while scrubbing.

I recycle everything that's recyclable. I rinse the food & beverage containers before putting them in the recycling bag (to keep from attracting bugs) and the water I use to rinse them goes into a bucket, not down the drain. I then use it to water the flower beds.

All our incandescent bulbs have been replaced with fluorescent (and even a few LED) bulbs.

I allow a somewhat warmer temperature in the house in summer (thermostat set at 82), and cooler in the winter (thermostat set at 68) - then I dress appropriately.

We walk or take public transportation whenever possible. It takes me about 20 minutes to walk to the grocery store, and I do that if I'm just getting a few items (such as just a few fresh fruits and vegetables). I get my exercise, don't have to deal with the hideous traffic, and use less fuel.
 

SteveHd

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Fine, inconsiderate to say the least. Do you need that huge monster of a vehicle to drop little Thomas or Joshua of at the school gates, or do you actually have a legitimate reason for using it?
Pot...kettle...black.

*I think I'll trade my Cadillac for a Hummer to see if I can piss him off even more.*
 

viking1

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To frizzle:

:mad::mad::mad:
I'm not fat!!
I'm not lazy!!
I'm not an asshole!!

My car is a 4x4 (4.2l Audi quattro 6-speed engine), and I don't think I have to accept such generalizing accusations.

To Male Bonding:

I'm not derogating your idea of starting somewhere, but I did notice that environmentalism, especially regarding transportation, has become not only socially acceptable, but also fashionable. However, in a general way, I see a great deal of funny excesses. Don't let that bother you, just keep going, and let me do my driving :wink:

Good for you, Claire. It's none of anybody else's business what I drive or how much I drive it. Public transportation is great. However, there is none out in the boonies here in the US. I drive a pickup, and I'm going to continue to drive it until there's no more fuel to run it, or I can't afford to run it, or they pry my dead, cold hands off the steering wheel.:eek: :biggrin1:
 

Love-it

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What pisses me off are 4x4 drivers. No need for those gas guzzlers, just arrogant pricks who drive them. I walk everywhere I need to go, or get public transport.

Lazy fat arseholes piss me off.

First off there are those of us who need four wheel drive to get home in late fall, winter and spring break up. Second, some of the smaller four wheel drives get better gas mileage than other cars. Third, a lot depends on how you drive your vehicle and the number of trips you make to get through the week.

I am overweight which doesn't help the vehicles gas mileage but I intend to lose weight.

I have always said that if you want to find out the easy way to do something ask a lazy man and if he has time he may clue you in. But I am not lazy.
 

ClaireTalon

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Fine, inconsiderate to say the least. Do you need that huge monster of a vehicle to drop little Thomas or Joshua of at the school gates, or do you actually have a legitimate reason for using it?

No, and it gets even better: I don't have anyone to drop off. I drive it for nothing but my personal pleasure, for the sound of it and the feeling. And on the plus side, it's suited greatly to take your waste out to the recycling yard.

I haven't done anything good today, but I did something very bad last night...:wink:

But I guess that was more about immissions than emissions.

[Claire, something can still be worthwhile and fashionable. The trick is getting people to see its worth whether it is fashionable or not.]

Actually, it is a good thing that transportation environmentalism has become fashionable. Climate change yes or no, fossil fuels will be used up sooner or later, and the actual debate about alternative drivetrain concepts has fuelled the development of such.

Pot...kettle...black.

*I think I'll trade my Cadillac for a Hummer to see if I can piss him off even more.*

If only he knew that I love the sound of radial engines burning a pint of lubricating oil during start up.:biggrin1:
 

Male Bonding etc

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I know plenty of people who own SUVs, luxury and performance cars. One rarely makes an impression yelling at them or insulting them. In fact, if one really wants to change their behavior, giving them an opportunity to dig in their heels and generate excuses or bravado regarding their vehicle and transportation choices is probably the last thing one should do. One may (briefly) feel better having unloaded on them, but long term change is not achieved.

People are more impressed with how happy I am with my vehicle and how little I've had to sacrifice to be more environmentally conscious. I insert my feelings about public transportation and carbon footprints into conversation only rarely and, hopefully, in an informative way rather than accusatory. I offer to help with recycling, and I mention ways that I am using rehabilitated materials when it is appropriate and not as a mantra that others must endure any time I speak.

It may seem lame or too slow to take this approach, but I believe we'll make more progress with the bulk of those who are wasteful and polluting this way than by getting in their faces. Meanwhile, legislative initiatives do need to be encouraged, but I am speaking in terms of what we as individuals can do.

Good thing I did today: worked out already.
 

SteveHd

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Just another stereotypical American aren't you? ...
I'm queer, nonreligious, and rather thin. Is that your image of a "stereotypical American"?
No wonder half of the world's pollution comes from your country.
Half? I don't think so.

I made a sarcastic comment about trading a Cadillac for a Hummer to make a point that calling SUV owners "arrogant pricks" and saying they have "no need for gas guzzlers" was counterproductive. Apparently you missed that point. Moreover it was "inconsiderate" and a bit "arrogant" for you to make such generalizations in the first place. I'll concede that I'm arrogant but America didn't invent arrogance; it was brought here from elsewhere else.

It's true that I own a Cadillac but I have no plans of trading anytime soon. I only drive 3,000 or 4,000 miles per year so whatever I drive won't impact "world pollution" too much. I actually dislike large SUVs such as Hummer but in a "free" market people can buy what they wish. Do they sell Rolls Royces, BMWs, Mercedes, and Aston Martins over there? How about ... gasp! ... Range Rovers?

I hope you read #27 and I think you should reread it. He suggests a better tactic.
 

Not_Punny

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Just another stereotypical American aren't you? No wonder half of the world's pollution comes from your country.

Interesting point, Frizzle.

I looked up the statistics, and saw some interesting data --

-- America does not cause half the pollution -- not by a long, long shot. (see pollution hotspots.jpg
of 10 most polluted spots on the planet)

-- America does, reportedly, use HALF of the automotive gasoline in the world. Ergo we are probably responsible for half the auto-related ozone emissions. And sadly, automotive emissions are greater in quantity than power-plant emissions.

-- America, on the other hand, is leading the world in purchases of hybrid cars. In fact, in the city where I live (Los Angeles), 33,000 people purchased hybrid vehicles last year. Compare this to 30,000 hybrid cars purchased in 2006 in the ENTIRE continent of Europe.

So while America is the King of Cars, it's also the Rabbi of Reform.

P.S. I'm an American who lived half of her life abroad -- eight of those in England. I know the difference between the America and other cultures, and I say Viva la difference!! I love America. I love other countries. I'd hate this world to become one culture.
 

ClaireTalon

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<.>
-- America, on the other hand, is leading the world in purchases of hybrid cars. In fact, in the city where I live (Los Angeles), 33,000 people purchased hybrid vehicles last year. Compare this to 30,000 hybrid cars purchased in 2006 in the ENTIRE continent of Europe.
<.>

Quite an interesting point, and especially the map I saw. Speaking of pollution hotspots, I had other suspects, cities like Lagos, Kairo, Beijing and the like.

However, this is another way to deal with polluting cars. I should mention beforehand that my man Frank is German-born and still receives newspapers from there. From that he had told me about an article on an arson series Berlin seems to be currently seeing, self-acclaimed environmentalists set fire to heavy cars: SUVs, heavy sedans, small sports cars (like Porsche, MG, etc), and leaving flyers at the crime scene that accuse the owners on pollution and what cars are better in consumption and efficiency.
 

frizzle

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United States of America: Oil, Pollution and Kyoto

Proves America IS the biggest polluter.

"The US contains 4% of the world's population but produces about 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions. By comparison, Britain emits 3% - about the same as India which has 15 times as many people"

Also, you're country has over 250-260 million people in it, whilst the EU may have double that, you must realise that half of Europe is not quite as rich as you Americans, and that many people would rather have food on their table, then help the environment out by buying a car.
 

ClaireTalon

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Your argumentation doesn't fit together.

So, if the EU has double as many people as the US, they're up to 500 - 520 million. Let's subtract the half that isn't as rich, and we're back at 250 - 260 million, same as the US.

In 2004, nearly 84,000 hybrid cars have been sold in the US. 2005, the number has risen to nearly 200,000, and 254,000 in 2006. So, I don't why you're bringing this argument to prove we're bigger polluters. If half of the EU inhabitants can't afford a new car, that is their problem, but it doesn't make them cleaner countries.

By the way, it's your country and not you're country. Go back to college and learn something about orthography.

Also, you're country has over 250-260 million people in it, whilst the EU may have double that, you must realise that half of Europe is not quite as rich as you Americans, and that many people would rather have food on their table, then help the environment out by buying a car.
 

Not_Punny

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Oooooh, Claire! I love your talons!

But speaking of BRITISH.... the British SUVs (Landrovers) are waaaaaaay behind environmentally.

I love those cars, but I traded in my gas guzzling BRITISH Landrover for a more environmentally correct AMERICAN SUV (Saturn Vue) -- and I am impatiently waiting for Landrover to get their act together environmentally so I can go BACK to having a Landrover cuz I love those cars.... but I will not drive one right now.
 

SteveHd

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... No wonder half of the world's pollution comes from your country.
Later:
... America IS the biggest polluter...
So you've backstepped from "half of the world's pollution"?
Also, you're country has over 250-260 million people in it, ...
That's way out-of-date; current population is over 300 million.

I appreciate that you can't get your numbers right. It diminishes your credibility.
 

frizzle

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Your argumentation doesn't fit together.

So, if the EU has double as many people as the US, they're up to 500 - 520 million. Let's subtract the half that isn't as rich, and we're back at 250 - 260 million, same as the US.

In 2004, nearly 84,000 hybrid cars have been sold in the US. 2005, the number has risen to nearly 200,000, and 254,000 in 2006. So, I don't why you're bringing this argument to prove we're bigger polluters. If half of the EU inhabitants can't afford a new car, that is their problem, but it doesn't make them cleaner countries.

By the way, it's your country and not you're country. Go back to college and learn something about orthography.

I guess you missed the point where the whole of Europe is still a cleaner continent then your entire country.

Also, unless you got better grades in your exams then me, let's not bitch about spelling?

(Two A*s at GCSE level, which so far is the highest you can get at my age.)
 

Not_Punny

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He is actually not contradicting himself. Any one single country that could theoretically be responsible for a full half of the world's pollution WOULD be the biggest single polluter in the world.

The problem is Frizzle's use of the word "pollution" -- pollution is a very broad subject and includes many different TYPES of pollution: radioactive, heavy metals, industrial waste, etc. etc. etc.

Frizzle is specifically talking about America's high consumption of gasoline -- one very specific type of pollution.

Guilty as charged.

However, like I said in an earlier post, Americans are also leading the world in cleaning up this source of pollution.

Plus, America has a far better pollution footprint when it comes to other, nastier pollutants. At the risk of being repetitive, let me repeat my post:

Interesting point, Frizzle.

I looked up the statistics, and saw some interesting data --

-- America does not cause half the pollution -- not by a long, long shot. (see View attachment 14558 of 10 most polluted spots on the planet)

-- America does, reportedly, use HALF of the automotive gasoline in the world. Ergo we are probably responsible for half the auto-related ozone emissions. And sadly, automotive emissions are greater in quantity than power-plant emissions.

-- America, on the other hand, is leading the world in purchases of hybrid cars. In fact, in the city where I live (Los Angeles), 33,000 people purchased hybrid vehicles last year. Compare this to 30,000 hybrid cars purchased in 2006 in the ENTIRE continent of Europe.

So while America is the King of Cars, it's also the Rabbi of Reform.