What are you doing to help stop climate change?

[outlandish]

18 minutes ago, Arthur said:

I'm a hypocrite in that I do drive a gasoline vehicle and pay for "dirty" electricity (from coal sources). But I am committed to change that in the future.

This is why we need systems-level solutions. You're probably in the top 1% of educated and aware of this issue, but you find yourself in a circumstance where you're burning fossil fuel at all ends. And then there's industry, which is only answerable to profit. What hope is there that 7.5 billion of us, and all of the collective industries that we depend on, will become so goodly and moral on an individual basis that the problem will be solved?

The idea that the problem is in individuals' hands is a narrative that allows the big polluters and profit interests to keep operating in their known modes, keep churning profit. Nothing will change if we swallow the idea that the problem lies with you and me as individuals. We still need to make individual change, but we also need to restructure how the whole global economy works.

[StardewValley]

I'm not doing anything besides the little stuff like recycling and being a vegan. Make me the president and I'll executive order convert everyone to solar energy. 

[Arthur]

@outlandish I agree that the government is corrupt and closes the eye on this issue. It is very hard to change the government since it is lobbied by the big corporations, and most of us don't have any political influence.

Instead, I would suggest each of us take responsibility and acknowledge our own actions. If your living in the first world country there are conscious choices you can make toward greener future. For example, buy a Telsa model 3, or some Hybrid vehicle, instead of a truck with a 5.7liter engine. When you mortgage a 300 thousand dollar house, invest a couple thousand in a solar panel array. The panels will pay for themselves in a couple of years and you will make a profit.

I am young and not financially stable enough yet to follow up on some actions. I will do my best in the future. 

I think when we start to invest in green energy products, an industry shift will follow. As long as there is demand for fossil fuels, there will be supply.

Edited October 16, 2018 by Arthur

[RichardY]

Planted a few trees about 200 or so. Parents have a small piece of land, about 5 acres. Was wheat land for decades no rotation so very compact, no top soil clay & sand, marginal land. On average many farms are probably about 10,000 acres near where I live anyway.

Planting trees isn't always necessarly good. Portugal has a lot of Eucalyptus, which is really bad for that environment, but grows well in the climate. Same with many pine forest in Europe, partially due to CAP subsides. Water is really fucked up in some places, like acid in Barcelona. Heard that pig farming pollutes the water table.

Grazing if well managed is generally good for the environment, leads to rotting, rather than oxidation. Less chance of wildfire and deserts, dates back to when there were more predators other than man, and therefore larger herds, which compacted & layered rather then split grasses.

Using less resources isn't stopping climate change, just slowing it. Same mindset of I saved 50% in a sale. No you didn't you just spent less. Having said that I'm defintely a net drain on resources, probably like 99% of the world's population. Banning Nuclear was possibly bad in Germany, meaning they're dependent on Russian Gas, and wasted vast resources. Things like high tax on heating oil in the UK, has lead to a return to wood burners in cities, so beginning of a smog again in London.

Climate changes anyway, the environment matters more. Recyling for the most part is stupid, except things like metal sometimes, mostly manufacturers and gov cartel with programmed obsolence. Women also consume way more resources than men in general, shoes, clothes, cosmetics, children, healthcare, fashion goods.

[Hellspeed]

I curse them. 

[outlandish]

4 hours ago, RichardY said:

Women also consume way more resources than men in general, shoes, clothes, cosmetics, children, healthcare, fashion goods.

Men consume more trucks, motorbikes, quads, snowmobiles, jetskis, entertainment systems, meat, food, beer...

Kind of absurd to point dude...

[RichardY]

20 minutes ago, outlandish said:

Men consume more trucks, motorbikes, quads, snowmobiles, jetskis, entertainment systems, meat, food, beer...

Kind of absurd to point dude...

All of that technology is the reason, a discussion is possible, about climate change.

[Zweistein]

12 hours ago, outlandish said:

The number one solution to climate change is that we need to push the big institutions, politicians, kicking and screaming, into taxing carbon pollution. We need to end coal. We need to push government to end fossil fuel subsidies, slow down fossil fuel industry expansion, and foster renewables and robust high voltage power grids. De-invest in the fossil fuel industry, invest in renewable energy. Vote for local mass transit.

This massive challenge to humanity needs Tier 2 solution and a great deal of progress through the stages for humanity as a whole.

I don't know how bad it's going to get before we do make this progression. I think it's possible we won't, we could fail at this.

@outlandish So, wouldn't it put extreme pressure on politicians and big industries, if let's say more than 50% of people would get actively involved or at least somewhat support the zerowaste-/minimalist living & vegetarian/vegan-movements combined with using bike/trains more than cars & airplanes? 

5 hours ago, RichardY said:

Women also consume way more resources than men in general, shoes, clothes, cosmetics, children, healthcare, fashion goods.

 

42 minutes ago, outlandish said:

Men consume more trucks, motorbikes, quads, snowmobiles, jetskis, entertainment systems, meat, food, beer...

Kind of absurd to point dude...

@RichardY & @outlandish How about we ask why women and men need all this stuff? Aren't most of these things "emotional baggage"? Why do we need to compete for having/owning the coolest things? And here we are - back to the internal change that needs to happen. But can't external and internal change happen at the same time? ?

[Arkandeus]

Love is the answer to everything

[Girzo]

@Zweistein take my car, I won't give away a motorbike.  It could be electric, though. 

It's not about owning, riding a bike is just awesome.

Edited October 16, 2018 by Girzo

[Psyche_92]

13 hours ago, moon777light said:

or nothing is determined

Keep dreaming.

[cetus]

I re-purpose everything I can.

Buy used instead of new whenever possable.

Grow many of my own vegatables.

Make compost fertilizer from yard wast and food scraps.

Lots of ppl are going solar in my area now so that will be next.

[luckieluuke]

Im one of a core group of people who are creating a ecological village, a way to live so that we take care of ourselves, the people around us and the nature we live in. It´s part a concept to show the world that it´s possible to live in another way and part because we prefer to live in such a way.
But man it´s challanging!
It´s also hard to balance the small jihad and the large ie external conflict and internal.

[Emerald]

I hate to be a raincloud on this one, as I do agree that we should all be doing our part. But the lion's share of this problem isn't with individuals, but with corporations buying the right to pollute by giving a cut to politicians. If we all as individuals did the best we could, things would still not be right because we'd still have huge systemic issues. That's not to say that we should not encourage the positive green trends and to try to reduce our carbon footprint where we can. It is our responsibility.

But I would almost say that framing it as a personal responsibility issue, helps the biggest contributors to climate change and pollution to pass the buck off to the little guys and obfuscate their responsibility.

The best things we can do for eliminating the threats that contribute to climate change are going Vegan, buying local (and especially avoid Chinese goods as China is the #1 polluter by far), and voting for grassroots funded candidates to get big money out of politics. 

Here are just a few things we should be showing a demand for...

Offer green energy alternatives (and governments could create tax incentives for this)

Offer biodegradable options at a similar price-point to plastic and styrofoam items

Create jobs for new negative emissions technology (govt. subsidized)

Create jobs for people who literally spend all their time cleaning up the ocean (govt. subsidized)

 

[luckieluuke]

@Emerald I think the individual can do alot. Corporations are a few people ruling the masses. Why the masses don´t revolt is beyond me.

We do live in a democratic world...not in the way of politics but in the way of money. We vote with every single dollar we spend. If we take a loan to get a house we vote for banks. If we buy gas for the car we vote for war on people and the planet. If we buy cheap clothes made in china we vote for slavery, if we buy solar electricity we vote for renewable energy instead of coal etc etc

 

[Girzo]

@luckieluuke Do your village has reduced footprint compared to living in a city? How long did it take to achieve or when do you plan to get there?

[luckieluuke]

@Girzo
On top of my head:
We are in the process of buying the land and getting an ok for building, the layout etc.

Houses will be constructed with natural resourses mostly from the land, ie wood, clay, hay etc
We will grow as much food as possible but will not be able to grow it all. We will have some animals
We will provide our own energy and water
We will clean our own water in a natural way and our poop etc.
We use Permaculture as a core value (google it, its very cool )
hydroponic gardening
+ alot more projects to come

One main problem is that we grow our stuff in one place and the biproducts is flushed out in the ocean or put someplace else. Long term our soil is drained. The energy you take from the land MUST be restored to the same place.

But it´s not gonna be a place where everyone has to work like socialism, individality is very important to.
We are also not against technology, quite the opposite we need to use it as much as possible.

Edited October 16, 2018 by luckieluuke

[Emerald]

1 minute ago, luckieluuke said:

@Emerald I think the individual can do alot. Corporations are a few people ruling the masses. Why the masses don´t revolt is beyond me.

We do live in a democratic world...not in the way of politics but in the way of money. We vote with every single dollar we spend. If we take a loan to get a house we vote for banks. If we buy gas for the car we vote for war on people and the planet. If we buy cheap clothes made in china we vote for slavery, if we buy solar electricity we vote for renewable energy instead of coal etc etc

 

I have struggled financially for all of my adult life. So, many of the options to be greener have been off the table. But I do agree that those who have should make these decisions if they can. But this still won't get rid of the systemic issue, as choice is not something that everyone has. Not everyone has enough dollars to vote with. And their priorities will naturally lie with getting their family's needs met. And we can't really look at people who are poor and point fingers at them because they are doing the best they can with what they have.

So personally, thus far, I've had no option to buy solar and I've had to buy gas to make my van go. The bank thing I haven't done because I've never bought my own home. But many green options are off the table... at present anyway. I do plan to do more green things as my business grows and my finances change.

But that's just me, I know that many MANY other people are in similar positions and worse, who will likely always struggle with finances. So, it's hard to tell them that they have a choice when they don't really. People are going to buy what they can afford. 

Now, if corporations paid their workers a living wage, you'd probably find more people in a better position to vote with their dollar. So, this is another way to encourage that trend. But presently, I feel like there's too much focus toward personal responsibility as the cure for the systemic issues of climate change and pollution... when the lion's share of the problem is with corporations and governments who cater to those corporations.

But yes... people have a responsibility too. And we should do whatever we can to help. Go Vegan, boycott Chinese goods, support green energy initiative where we can, vote for greener politicians, etc. 

But we should not put the onus of responsibility on individuals but on corporations. This will yield more results. 

[cetus]

From the Tao Te Ching- 

The world is sacred.

If you tamper with it you'll ruin it.

If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.

[RichardY]

@luckieluuke Will people in the community have the option to purchase their own parcel of land?