Have you become more ethical in the last 2 years?

[FabianPattberg]

Hello members,

I have a question for you:

Do you think you have become more ethical in your daily life of the past two years?

I define ethical as really changing something in your life you did not necessarily have to do but waht you chose to do because it would be more ethically correct and the right thing to do.

I will start this as a poll but I would really also like to know waht you di change in your life.

Share it with us and make us more ethically aware!

[Metyu]

[Edit: I have just thought of something! I have, within the last two years, started switching off my electronic equipment at the plug socket before I go to bed. Does that count?]

Great question. I would love to say "yes", but I'd be lying.

I don't drive, don't have any kids, use low energy light bulbs, try to eat local, and I gave up smoking - yadda yadda yadda - but in that time period I have probably become less concerned.

All the hysteria over climate change, while people continue to ignore the 150,000 children that die each month from malaria (etc), just annoys me.

Sorry to be miserable but being "ethically aware" is just not as easy as people make out. I would however join your call for people to tell us what they have done - there are 6 "yesses" on your poll but no details!

[Johnny Electriglide]

Not in the past two years. I built my Earthship over 8 years ago(self heated greenhouse made with re-used tires), and was on totally solar power over 10 years ago(with low water use). My addition using tires for retaining walls was over 9 years ago. I had one child only, 19 years ago. I've been driving small engined vehicles for 30 years(along with a lowered meat diet), and have been speaking out about overpopulation for 40 years. I have been writing politicians, professors, newspapers and organizations since 1993(about over and illegal immigration, depletions, pollution and GW, the crash, the methane feedback loop, etc.), and have used email and faxes since early 2002 (I resisted the internet for a while). I have tried for years to get it through stubborn heads that "sustainable development" is an oxymoron. It should be development of sustainability.

[windy1]

I can feel a definite difference in my outlook from the way I thought only a couple of years ago. I don't think this is simply because of what I believed myself, because I have always held quite ethical views, but because of the changing climate of opinion I see developing in the world.

In the past I could be fairly pessimistic about how things were moving, but there is now a much greater body of people pushing for an ethical approach, whether that be to prevent climate change, to protect wild life and nature, in sustainable farming, etc, etc.

It doesn't take much from each individual to do something small, but when millions of us do the same thing then it can have a real effect. For example, if we all change our light bulbs to low energy ones, or we buy fairtrade goods, or if we buy free-range chicken rather than the battery ones. The important thing is that we believe we can ourselves make a difference, and then go on to encourage others to do the same.

[fbermann]

For most people it will be a difficult question to answer because most of us don't know our carbon footprint and certainly don't monitor and manage it over a period of time.

Carbon-info.org has tried to address this by launching a new PC based Carbon Footprint Calculator (CFC) that allows anyone to accurately identify their annual CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, it is possible to compare carbon footprints for up to four consecutive years. This put the individual in control as it is possible to discover if you actually are more 'green' than 12 months ago.

Flemming Bermann (Chairman)

[windy1]

Originally Posted by fbermann

Carbon-info.org has tried to address this by launching a new PC based Carbon Footprint Calculator (CFC) that allows anyone to accurately identify their annual CO2 emissions.

I see that this is a commercial product for sale from that website. I think we should use information from official sources wherever possible as there is more accountability for its authenticity. I posted details of the Envirowise website calculators some months ago, because Envirowise is a government-funded agency and not open to commercial pressures.

[fbermann]

Originally Posted by windy1

I see that this is a commercial product for sale from that website.

The Carbon Footprint Calculator is a serious piece of development.

Based on a UK Government approved model, which is visible within the calculator for everyone to see, it has taken us more than a year to develop the software because we wanted to set a new standard in carbon footprint calculation that actually is useful to UK households i.e. it is possible to monitor and manage your footprint over a long period of time.

We have found it important to show the financial impact of the carbon footprint. Not many understand what 12 ton CO2 looks like.

And yes, we hope to raise funds from the sale of the calculator, which will help us in our work with local schools where we help educate children about global warming. To continue such work we need to generate income, which we do from the sale of our eco-software.

Flemming Bermann
Carbon-info.org

[windy1]

OK Flemming, this commercial program may be good value for money, but your posts still amount to advertising.

[FabianPattberg]

I agree windy1. Well spotted.

The price parts, etc will be deleted immediately.

Sorry Flemming but please do not make it so commercial next time.

Fabian

[fbermann]

No problem, thank you for the advise. I possibly got a little carried away, but as a group we are quite excited about the calculator because it addresses so many problems with current carbon footprint calculations.

Problems (inaccurate and too general models) which makes many on-line calculations little more then a "point-and-click" exercise rather than a call for real action.

Flemming Bermann (Chairman)
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