The Environment Thread :-)
58 watchers
4 May
9:34am, 4 May 2025
10,412 posts
|
MaT.T
I absolutely think that whilst we are working in jobs, bullshit jobs, that don't serve the planet in order to fulfil desires that are fed to us by the industrial military complex rather than just living to meet our very basic survival needs we are in our heads and kidding ourselves that 'we are trying our best but...' Is why I refuse to do it anymore. Giving or adhering to a system that thrives on suffering. So many people say to me when I tell them about our lives that they wish they lived this way. Well I've made a vow to stop worrying about being honest as long as it is compassionate. If it causes disagreement or loses me friends or family then it will be sad but not as sad as the end of civilisation, I can't continue to people please in the fear of conflict, it is so destructive. So to those who say 'i wish I could do better' I say yes I understand all the conditions of why you don't but at some point we will all face judgement and if we can't look at our every thought, word and action and say that our descendants seven generations from now, if they exist, will be grateful for our lifestyle decisions then we are part of the problem. It's simple, we must sacrifice what we don't need. But without the word sacrifice. It's not a sacrifice to not consume what is killing us all it is the greatest gift. I say it to myself too. I'm not without sin. By any stretch. And every time I am in Babylon I feel the pull of over consumption, suppression. My main reminder in this honesty is to myself to be the example. I can only imagine my carbon footprint is tiny but it doesn't mean I can't do more. |
4 May
11:23am, 4 May 2025
5,416 posts
|
run free
Whilst working in BS jobs..... we can maybe change the employers around? The company that now employs me and wants me to travel has to do carbon offsetting. I have provided them EarthWatch's tiny forest scheme. At the same time they are buying trees for the forests I am planting. I only go if there is no one else....but at the very least some action is taken for a flight compared with none being taken for hiring someone else. Whilst working in our jobs, we can be the eco-champion, create a sustainability group and in a group we can create larger meaningful actions. Just a thought |
|
4 May
11:56am, 4 May 2025
10,413 posts
|
MaT.T
RF I'd say there are many ways for us to educate and inspire others and create larger actions. And I thank you for what you do regards this. I'm not out to offend but I do believe that if the majority of businesses and organisations active today were to stop offering their products or services then we or mother earth would be no worse off for it other than not being able to consume in the way we are convinced we should and that those jobs for those organisations are only there to keep the economic wheels turning |
|
4 May
12:14pm, 4 May 2025
10,414 posts
|
MaT.T
Sorry that posted too soon. So to work for a company that isn't there to serve the greater good cannot for me be validated by championing their commitment to sustainability. I see only companies who are committed to the environment until it becomes too costly for them to do so. So is still profit over planet. And I get it all. I am being very idealistic. I realise it is not as simple as stop working bullshit jobs, only have organisations that are for the greater good. Except it is, enough want a more sustainable lifestyle we just have to actually do something about it. And maybe you're right. Maybe your platform as an eco champion may be just what is needed to inspire the change needed. My heart says no though sorry. But I know nothing, for which I am truly thankful as it is the only thing that gives me faith that ultimately everything is as it is meant to be. This is way bigger than any of us. I can't fix the world but I can stop hurting her. |
5 May
4:47pm, 5 May 2025
22,873 posts
|
Chrisull
@macca 53 - Yes the train was full. I shared my sleeping carriage on the way back, with 3 Dutch ladies and a young Geordie Brit now living in Berlin. On the downside I have a stinking cough on and sore throat (although one the Covid test tells me is NOT Covid) @HappyG(rrr) - Nope the alternative wasn't using no tech, otherwise we'd all be out of jobs. It's about education, awareness. Re-use of existing phones, laptops (I even put that to my company's CEO in a recent Q and A, he basically said they always try to, but with laptops the proprietary and sensitive nature of the info stored means some have to be destroyed). Programming using sustainable practices, less code, less libraries, smaller image size, no un-necessary third party storage. All good sensible programming practive anyway. And in the office using renewable electricity, switching everything off, no un-necessary commuting, choosing rail over air. Small things, but the sort of culture changes that can bubble up higher. |
|
5 May
4:50pm, 5 May 2025
22,874 posts
|
Chrisull
@MaT.T - have you heard of Rutger Bregman's latest book "Moral ambition" and retraining schemes? Not sure if it will work, but it's a fascinating idea from an intelligent and thoughtful author, theguardian.com
|
5 May
5:06pm, 5 May 2025
52,677 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Chrisull wrote: @MaT.T - have you heard of Rutger Bregman's latest book "Moral ambition" and retraining schemes? Not sure if it will work, but it's a fascinating idea from an intelligent and thoughtful author, theguardian.com Enjoyed that review Chris thanks. Not sure I'd enjoy the book itself, though I'm probably not it's target audience,being neither young and ambitious nor old and successful. (Well not the financially successful bit, anyway!) I want a simple (simplistic?!) list of "best things I can do for the environment " and their relative benefit. It needs to be quite broad, including where to invest money and what to with land. Any tips where to look pls?  G
|
|
5 May
5:09pm, 5 May 2025
52,679 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
And thanks re tech explanation. Glad it wasn't just a "go back to beads and abucuses"! G
|
Useful Links
FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.- why Kodak completely missed the boat when it came to digital cameras
- rf_fozzy: This is quite a good article about how disruptive technology work
- run free's Grand Designs example Ben Laws is a man who built his dream
- Carbon Commentary carboncommentary.com
- UK ombudsman for problems with electricity or gas
Related Threads
-
Ethical choices
Apr 2021
-
Electric car anyone?
May 2025
-
Solar pv and other domestic micro-generation technologies
May 2025
-
Reusable/collapsible water cups
Oct 2024
-
Reducing single-use/disposable plastic
Sep 2024
-
The Green Runners
Apr 2024
-
Today I will consume mindfully...
Apr 2024
-
Journey to Zero Waste
Jan 2024
-
Greta Thunberg - JFK for the Climate Generation?
Oct 2022
-
Preventing Food Waste Ideas
Dec 2021
Report This Content
You can report any content you believe to be unsafe. Please let me know why you believe this content is unsafe by choosing a category below.
Thank you for your report. The content will be assessed as soon as possible.