Will you take the pledge?

vegansrock

Basically no one wants to do anything about climate change and protecting the environment if it involves inconveniencing them or changing their lifestyle.

Some, or even most, of us are already doing what is suggested in the pledges.

If only goods were not so shoddy with built-in obsolescence then most of us would keep electrical items for longer. The cheap freezer we got rid of was 30 years old, still working and went to be upcycled but we wanted a larger, more energy efficient one.
It was expensive and went wrong within 4 months.

vegansrock

Basically no one wants to do anything about climate change and protecting the environment if it involves inconveniencing them or changing their lifestyle.

That’s a bit negative. Haven’t you read all the posts on here, where people are listing what they have done or can/can’t do?

Then I think of the queues at the airport with people saying how much they needed a holiday. I look at the adverts for all sorts of ecologically unsound purchases. I look at the use of electricity to power devices we use every day to conduct out virtual lives, posting comments, ordering stuff, reading and watching.
Maybe you are right. Would any of us stop posting on GN to save the environment?

Basically no one wants to do anything about climate change and protecting the environment if it involves inconveniencing them or changing their lifestyle.

There's a whole thread about the title not telling you what threads are about.

Rather than just reading the headline, I found out what it was referring to. A campaign to raise awareness about what well off people could do about climate change.

Yes, well off. So everybody going on about how academics don't know how real people live, and how we're being nagged, and how unrealistic it all is, would do well to read the actual link posted by Doodledog before launching into the complaints.

Good moral for life in general, actually. Read the content, not the headline.

But Volver (I typed instead of dictating) the title says ‘Will you take the pledge?’ So just substitute ‘taken’ for signed. The rest still applies.

You don't have to actually sign anything. Its a campaign, not a government directive.

Sheesh...

Anything that raises awareness of what we can do to improve things is a good idea. Reading this thread, it’s obvious that we know a lot more about saving the planet, and that even the vilified omnivores are doing what they can, but signing a pledge?
Another New Year resolution.
I have visions of people looking at those who boast that they have signed and posting about when they have noticed them falling from grace just like people did about neighbours who had four people in their garden or were going for more than one walk a day during lockdown.

Food: I eat most things. Having been a vegetarian for part of my childhood - I don't think I can give up meat again.

Clothes: I rarely buy anything unless it falls apart. Knickers are in regular use and are replaced when they fall apart.

Electrical stuff: if it keeps going I use it until it breaks or goes up in smoke.

Flying: Difficult one that. It depends on DH's work at sea when he has to fly, and where. I usually go with him but for the last 2 years the company put a stop to that, temporarily. Hopefully I can join him again.

Car: Drive it until it no longer runs or gets too expensive to maintain/repair.

Life change: I've lost weight at last. But regarding going to greener energy - we have looked into aerothermal or solar energy but it is expensive. The boiler is only on for 2 or 3 hours a day for hot water, less in summer when the tank can retain the heat better in the by then considerably warmer house (despite windows being open/curtains closed and walking on concrete floor to keep feet and body cool).

Similar to ChewBacca. PB diet, sorry but no. Maybe in my next reincarnation I might come back as a bunny.
Clothes - everything comes from charity shops for last ten years or more.
Electric prods - I'm probably the only person in the UK with a flatscreen TV 13 years old. If it ain broke, don't replace it.
Flights - haven't flown since 2010. My ears can't cope any more.
Car - I only drive local (within 5 miles) and I'd be lost without it. Won't be able to go electric so, until then ...
Pension - what pension? Govt stolef 6 years pension from me and what little I had in a private pension was needed to live on/pay off mortgage over last 6 years.
So, no pledges from me. I'm having live a day at a time.

No

Plant based food is actually more harmful to the environment and our long term health so not for me.

I don’t buy clothes unless I need them.

I only replace electrical items when they give up and can’t be repaired.

We don’t fly anywhere at all.

We already have hybrid cars.

Already have solar panels and air source heating. (Both of which are brilliant).

If we keep having the storms we might go for a wind turbine and battery storage!

I woke up from an “energy saving” and “ food saving” long doze in front of the Tv last night without even changing out of my work stuff (I know - shock horror,) on a second hand armchair cum dog bed ( so called because)? I was too tired to have a ?pudding and the dog was so warming and comfy.

Any how I digress, but Chanel 4 was on and what I thought was going to be a documentary about animal rights turned out to be a commercial promoting veganism and equality amongst all living things.
Only right, since there has been another advert extolling the nutritional virtues of meat and dairy shown recently but this was a first for me.
But don’t tend to watch much commercial tv generally.

Absolutely not!!

Sara1954

I think that manufacturers need to be 'nudged' into ensuring that their products don't need to be replaced so early, or to need extra parts in their lifespan. I'm thinking here of iPhones/iPads and so on (not just Apple - they are all the same) that become obsolete, or can't have their batteries changed, so you have to buy new ones. Also, I remember years ago having a heated brush styler that you filled with butane from a bottle. You could buy the branded stuff, but it worked just as well with lighter fuel. Mine lasted for years like this, but when it broke the new model needed cartridges. More expensive, and very wasteful.

Maybe a score out of 10 for ecological consideration should be required on all packaging, and it should take things like this into account? A bit like the energy efficiency ratings on house sales. That way those who are interested in killing the planet a bit more slowly could take it into account, and those who aren't bothered could ignore it.

I just read this to my granddaughter, she said, well okay, I don’t mind keeping my electronic gadgets for seven years but I’ll have to have new ones as well!
Not quite the idea.

Normal brand goods are only required to last for four years now……..

I know things last less time now, but that’s quite shocking isn’t it? Perhaps manufacturers need to consider their impact on the environment.

But I think the whole point of the initiative is to make it easier to get things repaired and so eventually there will be more people doing that sort of work? It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out even though we obviously won’t be taking part.

MayBee70

I believe there’s EU legislation in the pipeline saying that all electrical items need to be repairable? ( need to Google it, though….)

There may well be, but when you can’t find a repair person and then it costs almost as much to get an item repaired with no guarantee how long it will last, as it does to buy a new one . . .

Not in the EU any longer MayBee. Won't benefit us.

My sewing machine had been for a service not long before that

I believe there’s EU legislation in the pipeline saying that all electrical items need to be repairable? ( need to Google it, though….)

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

Bluecat
I think you have made a very valid point.
My old sewing machine was fine for 45 years until it started belching out black smoke. The new machine had to go back for repair under warranty.
The new energy efficient expensive freezer went wrong after 4 months, was repaired but never worked properly and had to be replaced under guarantee. The very old freezer (still working but not large enough) went to be upcycled.
Ditto a dishwasher, had to be replaced in the guarantee period.

Clothes - terrible quality at top prices.

I would keep items for ever if they lasted but they don't.

Owning a pet certainly is a reason to get up in the morning, and they can provide wonderful companionship and joy.
I have only ever had stray cats and rescue dogs. They’re not commodities on which to put a price. I’ve been ‘recycling’ unwanted animals for 50 years. Each and every one of them has given me so much love and happiness.
I feel so sorry for those who can’t afford to keep a pet or whose accommodation doesn’t allow it.

volver

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...

How would me signing a pledge raise awareness? Would I wear a badge? Sport a halo? Buttonhole people in the street to tell them of my virtuousness?

Like I think I said earlier, you’d have to have lived under a rock for a decade to not be aware of the issue.

Lucca

My post referred to callustemon/knittyintrovert post

I hope you didn't think I was being negative Lucca!

I was responding to knittyintrovert's post and hoping to get some helpful tips from her on what we can add to what we are already doing (or not doing) to lower our carbon footprints.