For some, the very debate over how much difference they should try to make in their own lives is a distraction. They despair of individual consumers being responsible for saving the earth from climate change and want to see action from political leaders around the world.

Here's the best quote, imho:

"A legitimate beef that people have with green consumerism is, at end of the day, the things causing climate change are more caused by politics and the economy than individual behavior," said Michel Gelobter, a former professor of environmental policy at Rutgers who is now president of Redefining Progress, a nonprofit policy group that promotes sustainable living.

"A lot of what we need to do doesn't have to do with what you put in your shopping basket," he said. "It has to do with mass transit, housing density. It has to do with the war and subsidies for the coal and fossil fuel industry."

The issue of green shopping is highlighting a division in the environmental movement: "the old-school environmentalism of self-abnegation versus this camp of buying your way into heaven," said Chip Giller, the founder of Grist.org, an online environmental blog that claims a monthly readership of 800,000. "Over even the last couple of months, there is more concern growing within the traditional camp about the Cosmo-izing of the green movement -- `55 great ways to look eco-sexy,' " he said. "Among traditional greens, there is concern that too much of the population thinks there's an easy way out."

Abnegation:  to refuse or deny oneself (some rights, conveniences, etc.); reject; renounce.

Thus, self-abnegation must be refusing to deny oneself any abnegation ...

But leaving that aside, is it really props when someone from new media is selected by the epitome of mainstream media to comment on environmentalism and uses the opportunity to equate "old-school environmentalists" with preaching self-denial?

I hardly think that environmental realists' concerns about "Save the Planet by Shopping" only began in "the last few months."  Nor is it a favor to the environment to spread the meme that "old-school" environmentalism is about self-denial.

The 5% Project

The MOST important information, analysis and conclusion for the future of humanity, and in effect I am actively blocked on all fronts.

Denial and disbelief are the two front runners... unfortunately as each day goes by the prognosis for the world grows dimmer.... and still no one really cares enough to open their minds.

Oh well, to each their own fate.... and in this case it will be one of their own choosing.

Don't ever come back to me and say that
"I did not say it long and loud enough for deaf people"

omegafour.com

Proud to be an Environmentalist? Does anyone know how to get in touch with Lee Greenwood? Now that would be a coup!

Randy Cunningham

Randy Cunningham

Addendum: The Bamboo Bike and Other Oddities: Inventions that never took off

An amazing picture is provided for:

"Light n' Shaky made in 1906. The American Bamboo Bike in Prague's Technical Museum. At the time, an average bike weighed between 30 and 40 pounds. The bamboo frame was light but flexy, I suppose."

The bicycle is such well-explored territory, it is surprising how many "new" ideas we see on TV are really old.  There is a turn of the century drive-shaft bike as well.