Global warming: fact or fiction
A few weeks ago there was a programme on Channel 4 about global warming. Although I only saw about 10 minutes of this programme it was obvious what the main message was - global warming was one big con!!!
The people presenting seemed impressive and had a myriad of letters and qualifications – although I have to admit that my knowledge of scientific credentials leaves a lot to be desired. However since the programme was aired there have been a number of radio and newspaper articles which have refuted the arguments in no uncertain terms. As far as they are concerned, global warming is real and imminent.
Now whilst I consider myself to be relatively green (we use energy-efficient light bulbs, always switch off equipment at the plug, compost all our food waste etc) I am fast coming to the conclusion that I am not sure that it matters whether global warming is fact or fiction.
The reality is that the resources we are using up are scarce and expensive. Given that fact, how can it possibly make sense not to conserve those resources wherever possible?
Why would someone want to drive an impossibly big 4*4, use up twice as much petrol as the rest of us and pay twice as much insurance to drive something which looks completely out of place around town, is difficult to park and has been proven to be no safer than any number of other cars (in fact, less safe than a lot of cars)?
What is the point of paying expensive fees to join a gym if you can’t actually be bothered to get up and turn the television off standby? What is so difficult about switching off a light as you leave a room or switching your printer and PC off at the plug when you leave the office at night?
And why have your heating turned up so high that you need to open your windows (shops, please take note – if your assistants are slowly baking in the shop then your customers in their outdoor clothes are positively suffocating!). This seems to be rather perverse!!
But not only are you helping to conserve the planet by changing your behaviour, you can also save money. Rumour would have it that a printer left on overnight uses enough energy to print 1,600 pages – why would you want to pay for electricity which has served no purpose? Even a mobile phone charger left plugged in is using electricity even if there is no phone attached!!
I’m not an environmentalist by any means, and I am not perfect by a long shot (how many times do I drive to the shop when it is only a 15 minute walk away!). However there are so many little things we can do to help save precious resources and which will also save us money. How about having a go at changing one “environmentally bad” habit a week and see how much difference it can make?
March 26th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Whether or not global warming exists or not is likewise not something I have enough knowledge of to debate. However, l do recycle as much as the local government will take off me and I have replaced many of my light bulbs. I also have my own compost bin and reuse my tea bags at least once before skipping.
However as an ex retailler - where have you been shopping? I have had staff wanting to walk because the temperature has been so low. Thankfully, it has never been less than the statutory 16 degrees so have been able to get away with it and told them to borrow a jumper to put on. You must be going to the retaillers that are making stacks of profit if they can afford to have the heating up that high.
Unless of course you are referring to the summer months when alas for the staff there is no statutory healthy and safety requirement to keep the temperature at a reasonalbe level. In this case the poor dears have sweltered through the lack of decent/any air condiditioning AND can’t take any more clothes off for decency purposes.
And no of course I didn’t send them home as a kind and self sacrificing employer. They would never have made their bonuses then would they?
Laura
March 27th, 2007 at 3:21 am
You’re right about it being the businesses that make lots of profit. I’m talking about the big department stores and have quite often had conversations with staff who are very uncomfortably warm in the middle of winter because the heating is so high!!
I have to say, I have yet to experience the same thing in a smaller store!!
And yes, I also agree about the summer months which can become unbearable for them!!
March 30th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Ah yes and worse still when you are a customer! You have to take your coat, hat, scarf, leather gloves and snow boots off whilst you are cooking in the queue to pay for something??
I wouldn’t know I do all my shopping on line now!
Laura
April 26th, 2007 at 4:13 am
The whole “green” issue suffers from a mixed mesage sales platform.
I find myself wondering which data to believe.
It’s kind of like the health issue:
One minute wine is bad for me, then I’m told that RED wine is fine
Red meat is bad…or is it?
Eggs are bad…or are they?
So, whilst it’s pretty obvious that global warming issues are here to stay and for us to deal with, where do I get the best raw data from?
Have you watched the film, “An inconvenient truth”
April 30th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I haven’t seen the film but it sounds intriguing.
Whilst I might eventually believe that red meat, salt and eggs are bad, I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER believe that wine and chocolate are bad for you!!!
If you spend too much time listening to the “experts” I truly believe you will go slowly mad. Sometimes being an ostrich seems a very appealing prospect.
June 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Brake…
No! You shouldn’t do that!…