|
|
 |
Author |
|
| Message | |
|
jamesk
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 8
|
|
|
|
 |
tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45432
Location: Essex
|
|
|
|
|
jamesk
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 8
|
|
|
|
|
tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45432
Location: Essex
|
|
|
|
|
Lozzie
Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595
|
|
|
|
|
dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45515
Location: yes
|
|
|
|
|
dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45515
Location: yes
|
|
|
|
|
Hannah
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Location: Pembrokeshire
|
|
|
|
|
James
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 29, 06 10:16 am Post subject: |
 
|
I think an urban household trying to minimise their environmental footprint would be useful to see. The UK has a very large urban population, most of whom are divorced from their environment. The result is that our cities have a huge environmental footprint. To really make an environmental difference, it’s this population that needs to change.
“Its Not Easy Being Green” showed what could be done with plenty of space, many helping hands, a large amount of dosh, and quite a bit of time. Most people don’t have that.
They may have showed that being green isn’t easy given all the above, but in my opinion given very little spare cash, no time, no space and no help its REALLY HARD being green. A large (and increasing) proportion of the UK population are in this state. We can’t all have our 4 acres with a wind turbine and water wheel. To make a real difference to our environment, the people living in the inner cities need to be brought into the discussion. |
|
|
|
|
Chick-pea
Joined: 02 Aug 2006
Posts: 148
Location: Cheshire, England
|
| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 06 2:16 pm Post subject: |
|
That's a good point. I'd also like to say people on low incomes. I don't like the fact that you have to be middle class to buy organic food in the shops, as it is out of the price range of many people. So if you're well off you can afford to feed your kids organic foods, but if you're not your kids just have to have their daily dose of herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers, growth hormones and GMOs whether they like it or not. Same with hybrid cars, solar panels, low energy lightbulbs and many other things.
If the government gave 100% grants or some other measure to ensure that all low income families and pensioners had proper wall and loft insulation, PV panels and turbines if appropriate, low energy lights and water saving measures etc., then it would help those people to save money and keep warm in the winter, and it would help the nation by reducing our national energy requirements, oil dependency, and carbon emissions. |
|
|
|
|
crumbledust
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 127
|
| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 06 2:55 pm Post subject: |
|
| Chick-pea wrote: |
| If the government gave 100% grants or some other measure to ensure that all low income families and pensioners had proper wall and loft insulation, <snip>, then it would help those people to save money and keep warm in the winter, and it would help the nation by reducing our national energy requirements, oil dependency, and carbon emissions. |
Local councils do that - at least for pensioners - I think the funding actually comes from the energy companies in a number of cases. (Dad's over 60, and he had cavity and roof insulation installed for free.)
Personally I'd like to see short stories, or a topic a week, rather than one family at a time. I know the story of the people is part of the attractiveness of the format, but I always find the technology gets left behind. I agree about urban settings though - far more interesting showing something we could all do, rather than the lucky few. |
|
|
|
|
marigold
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex
|
| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 06 3:10 pm Post subject: |
|
| James wrote: |
I think an urban household trying to minimise their environmental footprint would be useful to see. The UK has a very large urban population, most of whom are divorced from their environment. The result is that our cities have a huge environmental footprint. To really make an environmental difference, it’s this population that needs to change.
“Its Not Easy Being Green” showed what could be done with plenty of space, many helping hands, a large amount of dosh, and quite a bit of time. Most people don’t have that.
They may have showed that being green isn’t easy given all the above, but in my opinion given very little spare cash, no time, no space and no help its REALLY HARD being green. A large (and increasing) proportion of the UK population are in this state. We can’t all have our 4 acres with a wind turbine and water wheel. To make a real difference to our environment, the people living in the inner cities need to be brought into the discussion. |
I agree very much with this - most people live in urban areas and will continue to do so. I'd be interested to see a programme encouraging suburban home owners to use their gardens as allotments - maybe with rabbits/hens for meat. Perhaps using wartime "Dig for Victory" suggestions as a model? In villages Local Authority houses built after the war often had large plots which were supposed to be used for growing veg - how about finding a row of houses of that kind and organising a collective "going green" project?
Chickpea makes a good point that little attention is given to helping people on low incomes make green/ethical decisions about their lifestyles. |
|
|
|
|
tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45432
Location: Essex
|
|
|
|
|
sean
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
|
|
|
|
|
Northern_Lad
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere
|
|
|
|
|
|
View Latest Posts