10-06-2009, 07:32 AM
Quote:Hi,
No one is arguing against not consuming very much. What we are arguing is that doing that voluntarily is not sufficient to solve the problem. The point is that not enough people will do that. And that those that don't will negate the efforts of those that do.
--Pete
I think I get Zenda's point here. I think he is right in saying that people should start wanting to behave (consume) in a certain way to make a difference. This is then fueled by advertizing/lobbying from groups like greenpeace (or local environmental organizations). And so there are many people that feel that they need to do something to protect the environment, and these people also feel good by actually doing something (I think I consider myself one of those people). This group of people is responsible for the 'succes' of eco-brand food etc.
Point is however that this will never be enough. There is a large group of people that simply doesn't give a crap, or that don't have the economical means to e.g. buy the more expensive eco-foods.
The same will go for worse forms of pollution. We all know that our electronic equipment when it dies is shipped to Africa and Asia where the metals are 'recycled' using open fires by children, but the 'eco-computer' is not a big thing yet.
Probably the public opinion (via special interest groups) has helped to finally put the environment on the political agenda....so in that sense 'doing your bit' is very impportant.....but that is as far as it goes......after that it is times for laws enfored by the state. And not the fascist type of fines that Kandrathe was talking about when he mentioned his banana-peel example. No, the guy that does the poluting pays directly.
The whole problem of unclarity, length of the supply chain, shady governments and the difficulty of establishing who is responsible is the reason why we are still burning and cutting down rainforest in Africa, Asia and South America. We all know that it is wrong but we don't manage to stop it.
A global enforcement agency for environmental pollution, or maltreatment of workers would be helpful.....but I dont thin k it is very easy to set up such a thing.