Will you take the pledge?

‘People will have to learn not to own a dog or cat just for a lifestyle choice’. If that it all you think of these wonderful creatures who give so much love and happiness to so many it’s a good job you stuck to goldfish! While as an animal lover I profoundly disagree, as do many others, with the hideous practice of ‘puppy farming’ etc and believe that it is better to give a home to a rescue animal rather than pay exorbitant prices to breeders, I think that owning a pet is a joy. It teaches children to love and respect a species other than their own. It teaches responsibility and empathy. Pets are a comfort to the lonely, the elderly, the disabled, the traumatised. They are a non judgemental friend through all the difficult paths of life. They love us unconditionally. If these experts, in addition to that preachy and rather joyless list, are recommending that we no longer have our pets, then perhaps they should put a ban on children too! (I have both!) Nice clean planet then. Very ‘woke’. Very worthy. But empty!

Lots of counsellors suggest having pets as it makes you get up and look after them

I'm still reeling from the suggestion (admittedly not in the pledge), that people should give up having a dog or two! When you look at some of the photos of people fleeing Ukrain with their dog in their arms, try telling them what are the important possessions in life.
That's the trouble with campaigns, others start to jump on the bandwagon and before long another load of additional stupid stuff gets thrown in because people are actually already taking those actions.

Do you know, it's actually untrue that older people looked after things better, especially white goods. Normal brand goods are only required to last for 4 years now and even more expensive brands have a limit of 7. I have cover on my machines so electronics are replaced etc but understand not everyone can afford that. White goods especially haven't raised enough in price to be as reliable and long lasting as older versions.

Not quite the article I was after but google are full of evidence

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27266923#:~:text=The%20white%20goods%20in%20your,so%20has%20their%20expected%20lifespan.

No way, only concession is a hybrid car. I am scared of flying so I can't reduce my air travel

I guess I take care of things. I had to replace the old washing machine a few years ago but other electrical items such as the mixer and tv are a good many years old. Now I’ve said that they will all stop working and they’re so old that repair will be impossible …

Because I think the no flying commandment may not be a good idea, I think the fact that we can visit other countries has untold benefits in terms of understanding other cultures, I am not sure becoming more insular would be a wise move for the world at this point.

It's a campaign. It's about raising awareness, it's not a legally binding life long commitment. It's just a thing to get people engaged.

Not working for everybody obviously...

What extra would signing a pledge do, though, if you’re already taking those actions? It’s as pointless as a tee-totaller signing up to abstain from alcohol.

I find electrical items rarely last five years now never mind seven. In the last few years i have had to replace coffee machine, blender,microwave(twice), fridge freezer,television(because of eyesight problems)

I suppose I'm just a bit surprised how indignant people get about a campaign trying to highlight what we can do for the environment. Overpaid whippersnappers trying to make us sign things. Nagging us when we already do all those things

It's just a campaign... ?

? I fail to see what's different? Young uns make me laugh!? We live our life this way anyway and always have done, we call it "normal" how quaint of them to think to state the obvious?

I've done most of these over the years.
I'm almost a vegetarian, eating very little meat.
Much of my clothing is old as I wear things until they wear out and repair or replace if necessary.
I rarely buy electrical stuff as I prefer to keep things which I'm used to, rather than struggle to understand how to use new items.
I've never been on a plane.
I'll probably get rid of my car when I hit 70 when my car will be 21 years old, more expensive to maintain and difficult to get parts. Then I'll have to wait at wet, windy bus-stops with a shopping trolley which won't be entirely enjoyable, but hey-ho, if it saves the planet - plus it'll save money.
My fairly new-build house is well insulated.
What else am I supposed to do? Go and nag someone else.

I would sign the pledge.

We're not vegetarians but we very rarely eat meat. DH never eats fish and I don't have more than the occasional fish finger. Our meals are more usually vegetarian.

Fashion doesn't really interest me, so I don't buy clothes often and I keep them for years. We also try to keep our electrical appliances for as long as possible - our cooker and dishwasher are ancient - but they don't seem to be built to last now. Our tumble dryer has packed up, though it's not particularly old, and I am thinking about not replacing it. I was considering a heated drying rack from Lakeland but my DD read online that they take ages to dry things, so you have to have them switched on for hours.

Our car is 15 years old and has always been a lemon, but we've spent so much on it over the years that we've practically rebuilt it. So we'll keep it till it packs up for good. I don't know what major change we could make to save energy but I'd be open to ideas. I would like solar panels but suspect that they would be too expensive to install, plus we don't have a south-facing roof which I imagine you would need. One change we'll probably make is improving our insulation, although it means shifting all the junk in the eaves.

We haven't flown for years and I don't see us flying in future, except maybe a long haul flight to the USA to visit our DD in Wisconsin (and back again, of course.) But our health may make it too difficult.

volver

Would all those answering "no" be willing to tell us why they don't want to save the world for future generations? Just wondering...

People aren’t saying they won’t follow those ideas, they’re just saying they don’t need to sign a pledge to do things to save the world.

For myself, we eat much less meat than we used to and I try to buy local produce. I also try to eat seasonally and locally eg I don’t buy strawberries in winter or asparagus from Peru.

I like clothes and buy more than three items a year but I take good care of them so they can be resold in charity shops when I pass them on. I still have some linens that were my niece’s and she is now 51yo.

No public transport whatsoever here so a car is essential.

I haven’t flown since 2019 but I will continue to fly to see my son and family.

I’ve been recycling goods since the 80’s and we have very little waste in our rubbish wheelie bin.

Electrical goods get replaced as-and-when. Current dishwasher, fridge freezer & microwave are about 18yo. We have a vacuum cleaner that I bought some time prior to 1990.

Doodledog

Academics at Leeds University have come up with six pledges that they say would make a big difference to the environment if we all signed up to them.

They are asking us to sign up for one, three, or six months, but clearly if people changed their lifestyles and kept to as many as possible for life it would be even better.
Would you be willing and/or able to take the pledge? These are their suggestions:

Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste
I only eat meat when out, as my husband is vegetarian, so it's easier for us both to eat a plant-based diet at home. I am trying not to throw away food by using up leftovers wherever possible. I don't always succeed, but I do my best.

Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
I haven't bought many clothes since Covid hit. If buying knitting yarn and things like socks and underwear don't count, I could stick to three items a year, I think.

Keep electrical products for at least seven years
I keep electrical products until they break, but sometimes that is before seven years are up. My TV is over seven years old, and my hairdryer is more like 30 years! I'm not sure that that pledge makes enough allowance for built-in obsolescence, though.

Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years
I haven't flown since Covid struck, and am happy to take holidays in the UK these days. I've never been one for domestic flights, and only flew long-haul on business anyway, so that one's easy enough.

Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer
I don't drive, although my husband runs a car. I wouldn't want to give that up, but he's not interested in 'status cars', and will keep this one until it's on its last legs.

Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier
I'm less sure about this one. It's too late to change my pension, and I'm not sure how to 'move to a green energy'. Things like solar panels don't appeal, but if something new comes along that can be done without too much expense or disruption I'd definitely consider it.

Great post.
We must reduce our reliance on the planet’s resources and produce less. Manufacturing uses energy, damages biodiversity and creates carbon emissions.
All good ideas, but no mention of recycling. Also shop locally.
Here's how to switch to clean energy:

bigcleanswitch.org/sussexgreen/

volver

Would all those answering "no" be willing to tell us why they don't want to save the world for future generations? Just wondering...

I said I had no need to sign an Academics Pledge what I do with regards to saving the planet has no need for a pledge

Life is hard enough without reading that some folk :-
buy more than 3 new items a year,
fly and have regular hols.
Join the real world.
This is not my life.
Good if you have the choice.
We live a frugal life because we must, not because of a fad craze.

I can tick most of those. I do have an old car but as I live out in the countryside it is necessary. All my cars have gone on till they were on their last wheels.
I haven't bought any new clothes for over 2 years and no plans to buy any.
Rarely fly anywhere as happy here in the UK.

Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste -
Nope. I'm a confirmed omnivore but we buy local meat from local beasts grazed outdoors, often on water meadows which encourages biodiversity, and killed locally. Yes, the meat costs more but one chicken breast from a free range chicken makes four servings at least.

Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year - Probably. Maybe. This summer I will need a couple of pairs of new denims though as I live in them. I've already bought a new winter waterproof coat this year (Seasalt, so it will last about five years at least) so I guess that means that's my allowance gone.

Keep electrical products for at least seven years -
Yes, unless they break.

Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years -
Yes, easy. Given up flying.

Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer -
Nope. Present car is under that three year agreement thing and hope to change it this autumn for a hybrid car. Despite living in a small town (so walk to shops, doctors, etc), it's impossible to do without a reliable car where we live.

Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier -
Nearly, just about. Already with a green supplier, house is already well insulated and snug, but I wouldn't know how to change my pension supplier - but I don't think my annual £500 will make much difference!

In most cases for most of us, I think we're already doing as much as we can.

Surely at least one of these points is acceptable to the No brigade?

Would all those answering "no" be willing to tell us why they don't want to save the world for future generations? Just wondering...

A definite ' no ' from me.

I have always lived a moderate and unwasteful life but this New Puritanism gets my goat. Greeniac concerns are the new faith and their 'scientific' basis is often as reliable as those Covid 'facts' and figures we swallowed from the science community via the Nudge Unit.

I shall continue to use my common sense and pursue a temperate, considered and balanced approach to all aspects of my life with regard to myself, others and the planet.

But, as for the virtue signalling, authoritarian green movement, it can do what the brave Ukrainians enjoined the Russian warship to do.

I could manage all of them ( have been veggie for 30 years and increasingly vegan) apart from flights as we live in Northern Ireland now and children and grandchildren are all in GB. Actually I don't fly very much now as my husband can't travel due to illness but our children fly to visit us so we're causing them to fly. We moved back here from England 20 years ago before becoming so aware of how bad flying is for the environment.